Failed out of nursing school. Do I have a fair chance of getting into another?

Extra Pickles · Nov 4, 2016

Nursing credits from other schools never transfer over and I wouldn't have told them that I failed out somewhere else.They even take how many W's you have on your transcript into consideration. That makes it seem like you can't cut it

She wouldn't have had a choice in telling them about the failed nursing classes because in order to get her other general education and prerequisite courses accepted for transfer she has to provide a transcript. Can't hide that. If you go to most any college anywhere they will want a transcript from any and every college you've attended, that's pretty standard.

Kbl14 · Nov 4, 2016

I experienced the same thing. One school told me not to even bother applying. Going Lpn route. It sucks failing but if you want to be a nurse, you gotta do what you gotta do. In the end I will be a better, humble nurse. Just keep your chin up and keep pushing forward. You will get there.

elkpark · Nov 5, 2016

Nursing credits from other schools never transfer over and I wouldn't have told them that I failed out somewhere else.They even take how many W's you have on your transcript into consideration. That makes it seem like you can't cut it

Every nursing school application I've ever seen (and I've been faculty in a few programs in addition to my own educational history) has requested that applicants list all schools they have attended in the past and provide transcripts from those schools. Omitting info that you previously attended a nursing program and left, regardless of the circumstances under which you left the previous program, would be considered academic dishonesty sufficient to eliminate the individual from consideration, or to be kicked out of school if it is discovered later on during the program. And schools can find out (it's not guaranteed that they will, but it is certainly a possibility). Nursing is an occupation in which individuals' lives depend on our personal integrity and honesty -- I hate to think of people starting their nursing careers with a lie.

Buyer beware, BSN · Nov 5, 2016

The school that I was accepted into is a private institution! When I spoke with the director she told me I couldn't transfer from college to college but I could enter in as a " traditional " student which would be the the requirements that's considered for students applying to clinicals. I just assumed when she told me that and when registering the advisor told me I was considered " competitive ". It's just after the comment today it had me worried, being that I'm about to pay 3 times the tuition I was paying at the previous school! This sucks

So let me guess. You spoke to the good people at say South University? The dead give away was the "3Xs the amount you were paying at the other school" line.

At this point I would run for the hills and as I've deduced from many other posters on this thread, the dean, academic advisor or saleswomen is leading you to a bad place.

Stand back from this situation a while and reevaluate the possibilities. You owe it to yourself, your family and the rest of your young life.

There's more than one way to skin a cat and the for-profit way will skin YOU financially.

Don't be victimized. They will loan you up and their graduation and retention rates prove it. Go to (collegescorecard.ed.gov) and see for yourself.

So, I believe your suspicions were correct. You are not "competitive." Far from it. That's a recruitment lie to lure you in. But you may be in the future if you play your cards right.

Don't let them take your loan money and leave you standed. The statistics prove this happens way too often to many earnest but desperate people of all ages.

MsNewbee · Nov 5, 2016

I have been EXACTLY where you are. I too failed out of third semester and like you knocked the entrance requirements for my first school out of the park. Difference between you and I though is that I didn't make an announcement that I failed out of another program. It was obvious that I was in a nursing program before because they had my transcripts. I just didn't make a giant highlighted note for them so I was judged like all the other applicants. If they did take that into consideration they didn't tell me about it, which I was thankful for because I was already stressed out.

Something that I found out that may not apply in your case is 4 year schools will not accept you if you have failed out of a program previously. At least, not in Texas. I seriously called all of them. A community college program will take you though, you just have to call and ask. That's how I did it without paying an arm, leg and kidney. When you get in don't make the same mistakes again and you will show everyone how awesome you are. Trust me, it is possible! Good luck to you and please keep us updated on your progress.

Ellie G · Nov 5, 2016

I don't want you to feel bad, but at the same time, I don't want to sugarcoat things. I think you would have a hard time getting into a university nursing program. Your GPA is just average, and you have flunked out of a previous program. Both of these things will stand in your way. Nursing school is very competitive and your application really needs to stand out. You could try a for profit school but you would incur large amounts of debt as they are expensive. Also note that for profit schools close regularly without warning leaving students with incomplete education and credits that won't transfer. If this is really what you want to do, you really need to look at your options very carefully. i don't mean to sound negative but it was very much the case in 1991 when I graduated and nursing programs are even more competitive now. The school I went to did not take students who previously failed a program because there were simply too many applicants with better transcripts.

TravelRNdreaming · Nov 5, 2016

To the original post,

when I was in nursing school if you failed, you had to go to LPN school & come back to the school and continue where you had left off.

Is is there a way you can talk to your original school? I am sure you are not the only one that has failed at 3rd semester

Keisha2017 · Nov 5, 2016

As a nursing instructor at a for-profit school, I just wanted to add my perspective.
Probably 80% of my students have failed out of one or more nursing schools and that is absolutely not taken into account in our admission process.
Students either pass or fail courses on their current merits and meeting the outcomes, not on their past.
I realize there is a lot of negativity surrounding the for-profit nursing school business, but we do give everyone a chance, which I really appreciate. If anything, some of them learned quite a bit in their previous coursework; others, it is clearly evident why they failed and nothing changed.
But, at least they have a fair chance with our instructors.

That is awesome that students are given a second chance and not judged by their past. I hope, for my sake, that everything goes well and that is the case for me. This makes me happy.

Keisha2017 · Nov 5, 2016

I have been EXACTLY where you are. I too failed out of third semester and like you knocked the entrance requirements for my first school out of the park. Difference between you and I though is that I didn't make an announcement that I failed out of another program. It was obvious that I was in a nursing program before because they had my transcripts. I just didn't make a giant highlighted note for them so I was judged like all the other applicants. If they did take that into consideration they didn't tell me about it, which I was thankful for because I was already stressed out.
Something that I found out that may not apply in your case is 4 year schools will not accept you if you have failed out of a program previously. At least, not in Texas. I seriously called all of them. A community college program will take you though, you just have to call and ask. That's how I did it without paying an arm, leg and kidney. When you get in don't make the same mistakes again and you will show everyone how awesome you are. Trust me, it is possible! Good luck to you and please keep us updated on your progress.

i regret saying anything about my failings, because i am judged just based off of that and it's so hard to find a school to accept you. thanks for the advice, and i will def keep you updated.

ahmon · Nov 5, 2016

What the new school is saying is basically, if accepted, you start from scratch. You start over from very first year. The 3 years of classes you passed is not transferred.

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Nov 6, 2016

It's so weird that people being honest is rude. Do you wanna hear it? No. But life isn't always sunshine & rainbows.

Also, why go to a for profit institution & pay three times as much when you can go to a community college, go through the LVN program & pay a fraction. I mean, last I checked the 'N' in LVN stood for nurse.

Ellie G · Nov 6, 2016

I too had difficulty in my first nursing program. I was under so much stress from family issues (dad dying, mom sick, family business failing) that I dropped out before I could fail. I went back a couple years later and graduated with honors while managing a brand new baby and working 3 days a week. So, YOU can do it. I now have been a nurse for 35 years and am due to retire! Life is good, don't give up. Also, I think the LPN bridge is an excellent idea.

What you could do 35 years ago does not equate with the way things are now. I also go back to that time. Nursing school is EXTREMELY competitive these days. I really believe that it will be difficult for her to be accepted into a traditional nursing program (community or 4 year college) with her GPA plus a history of failing another school. A for profit school would be her best chance but she already has a large amount of student loans. This poor girl is going to be working a lot of hours to keep her loans paid.