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Discussion

feeling a bit discouraged

Hi all,

I was thinking about applying to the accelerated nursing programs but I'm not sure if I can get in. I already have my Bachelors degree in a non-medical related field and overall gpa isn't that great. I finished all my pre-reqs and gpa is about 2.6, which most programs require a 3.0 and above. I took both pax and the teas exam and I did eh. Pax: 129 and Teas: 83. I don't even know if I should continue applying or retake the exams or go to a complete different field. I am currently working as a medical scribe at a doctor's office full-time and have felt like I should be doing something more?

Any advice?

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    Your grades and TEAS scores aren't really good enough to get you into nursing school, accelerated or otherwise. You have correctly identified your options - retake and get better grades or move on to something else. Only you can answer which is best. Why is your GPA so low? Did you prepare for the TEAS? Both of these may honestly indicate that nursing school may be more difficult for you than average. Only you can know if it is an issue with studying/preparation or an actual inability.

    There are a lot of other career pathways in healthcare that would give you patient contact. You may wish to explore some of those. Respiratory therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, nutritionist, radiology tech, surgical tech, etc etc etc.

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    Thank you for your input! I will definitely look up the options you gave me. I will admit science is a bit difficult for me to understand. I prepared for the TEAS, but I guess I didn't study well enough - especially the English and reading portions in which lowered my scores (75 for both).

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    Are you willing to move to other states? There are absolutely programs out there that have minimum GPAs of 2.5 or 2.75. Keep in mind, meeting the minimum isn't a guarantee, but if you have good grades in your pre-requisite courses and do well on the entrance exam (TEAS or HESI A2 depending on where you are), you do have a shot. The program I'm going to be attending next year put a lot more weight onto the entrance exam than prior GPA, although both were considered.

    My advice, if you're serious about nursing school, would be to retake and get an A in any pre-requisites you have a C or less in. Try to bump your GPA up to at least a 2.75. Study very hard for your entrance exam and do well. Be flexible with the locations of the programs you apply to.

    Another option is to do a traditional BSN/ADN program. I'm sure starting over is a pain, but these programs are more likely to look at just your pre-requisites, and your overall undergrad GPA doesn't matter as much.

    Finally, as rose_quartz said, there are many other fields in healthcare to get into if nursing isn't what you choose or doesn't work out. Most graduate programs (physical therapy, occupation therapy, medical school, physician assistant, chiropractic, etc.) will require you to have a GPA higher than most nursing programs. Programs where you are doing a second Associate's or Bachelor's (radiology tech, dietician, etc.) will more than likely not put as much weight onto your undergrad GPA.

    Good luck with what you choose!

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