Feeling SUPER discouraged and really scared. Do I have a shot?

idkmybffjill · Jan 27, 2018

One thing I feel the need to warn people is that once you complete a bachelor's degree (as you would with your exercise science one), you will no longer be able to receive federal financial aid other than loans unless you are going for a master's and higher. So, if you are currently relying on federal grants, etc, it might be good to check with someone and see if just switching now is better financially in the long run. I'm not sure where the cut off is for grants if you don't graduate after 120 credit hours, but I know it will definitely cut off after you get your degree.

Otherwise, your best option really depends entirely on your location and the competitiveness of the programs you are applying to. Generally, I've found the cheap-ish, but good programs, especially major ones, are going to be more competitive and need a higher GPA for acceptance. More expensive programs may have lower GPA requirements or at least have less people vying to get in. Some of those programs cost 40k+, way over what I'd suggest anyone pay. In those cases, I think re-taking classes to get a higher GPA, especially a higher pre-req GPA, would be worth it because it would ultimately lower your overall expense.

When you look at a program, don't just look at the minimum requirements. See if you can find info on the average stats of those accepted. One program I've applied to has a minimum GPA of 3.0, but those invited to interview for admission for this summer averaged a 3.7. I believe general acceptance GPA is around that as well. Of course, that doesn't mean that there aren't good programs that have lower GPA requirements. They may just be lesser known programs or be less common.

Healthcare experience can increase your chances of acceptance in some programs. I'd think especially ones that have an interview or essay component. Others may only look at GPA and testing scores and do not actually ask for a resume or about your experience. Pretty much, you'll need to find programs that put emphasis on components beyond GPA.

Lisacar130 · Jan 27, 2018

This was 12 years ago, but I was able to receive federal student loans for another bachelors after getting a bachelors in psychology. I had to write a petition and explain why, but I did receive it. Don't know if it's different now.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Jan 27, 2018

We are nurses, not academic counselors. You need to refer these questions to your advisor.

Best wishes.

Sour Lemon · Jan 27, 2018

Hi everyone!!! Thank you in advance for actually taking the time to read this :) I've been reading topics and articles on this website for the longest time for some help so I finally decided to see what kind of advice everyone has for me in pursuing my Nursing career. Please bear with me, I would be eternally grateful for some input!
I always knew I wanted to be in the medical field but everyone in my life steered me off of it. After being an Accounting major and receiving 2 F's, I realized I shouldn't have listened to anyone. Im currently in my last year of pursuing a Bachelors Degree in Exercise Science. As I was going through my new classes, I realized that my real passion was in Nursing! And this degree luckily includes all the prerequisites that nursing programs require. So I am fully planning on graduating first and then applying to a program.
However.. considering I messed up by thinking I wanted to do accounting at first, my GPA suffered. A lot. I was always a 3.3/3.4 student but that one year of business classes dropped me to a 2.6.
Although I received A's in English Comp and Psychology courses (which are the prerequisites for the nursing programs I'm looking into), I received a C in Statistics and C's in both A&P 1 and 2 (again, all prereq's for the programs). The reason for this was not because I didn't understand the material. In the span of both semesters, I lost 3 family members, had a baby cousin diagnosed with leukemia, and my father suffered a traumatic heart attack. Gratefully, my cousin and father are healthy now, but my head was NOT in my classes at the time. But I do know that I understand the subject fairly well because I am also a Certified Personal Trainer under the best certification in the country - I also passed with a 99%. I'm generally an amazing student - I really enjoy studying and challenging myself so I know I have what it takes for these challenging programs.
I currently have one year left until I graduate with my Bachelors. After a lot of calculations, I realized that if I can ace all my upcoming classes (Bio, Chem, Microbio and a couple of others), I can actually graduate with a 2.9, maybe a 3.0. I realize that still is not the best GPA, but majority of the schools I am looking to applying to all have a minimum of a 2.5 - 2.8. And it definitely doesn't make me competitive but I'm thinking of ways that I can spice up my resume and show these programs how badly I want this. I'm preparing to quit my job when and if I get accepted to make sure I pass with flying colors.
I'm looking into taking a CNA course this summer as well as volunteering at a hospital. I also worked as a Nurse's assistant in Istanbul, Turkey as a paid internship for a children's Day Camp last summer.
I know my grades are not the best at this point in my life. I know that there are far better applicants than me. But I have read so many topics on this website of students getting accepted with 2.3 GPA's and no prior experience.
Is there ANYTHING I can do to better my chances of acceptance? I'm planning on applying to about 4+ programs. I know I can maybe re take A&P to better those grades as well but I would prefer that to be worst case scenario.
Do I have a shot at fulfilling my dream one day?
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR ANY REPLIES. You're all truly incredible!

You really need to look at the specific requirements of the program(s) you're interested in. Mine only considered GPA of the hard sciences, so those As in English and Psychology would have been worthless and those Cs in Anatomy I & II would have been killers. I was admitted with a 3.7 ...as an alternate. The "requirement" to apply was 2.0, but realistically, no one anywhere near that had a remote chance.

Schools have different policies regarding all sorts of other things, too. Some don't count retaken classes when computing your GPA (or average the two grades together). Some assign no value to CNA experience or volunteer work. Get specifics on where you need to focus your effort(s) and go from there.

Good luck to you.

JBMmom, MSN, NP · Jan 27, 2018

As someone else already said, it's going to depend on where you're looking. I went to a CC program and I think that 40% of the class admitted was based on a lottery, so all you had to do was meet the minimum requirements, and you were eligible for a lottery position (after the first 60% was filled with the highest scoring overall candidates). Maybe there's a program near you with a similar opportunity? Good luck.

nursesunny, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN · Jan 29, 2018

Try a private school. In my area those grades wouldn't cut it so private programs might be your only option.

Thanksforthedonuts, MSN, APRN · Feb 3, 2018

Try a private school. In my area those grades wouldn't cut it so private programs might be your only option.

Even at a private school I'm not sure if you would get in. The private school I went to required a 3.0 or above. One student was accepted with a 3.1 BUT also put on academic probation from the start. It REALLY, really depends on your area. Especially since you have below a B on your core science prerequisites. In many programs in the Seattle area, they won't accept core prerequisites under a 3.0 (or 2.8). So depending on the grading scale (most colleges use the same, but some may be different) that would mean NOTHING below a B- (or C+, depending on the scale).