Future Nursing Student, Please Help!!!

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Hello to all,

I'm starting college as a freshman here in a few weeks. I plan on majoring in Practical Nursing to become a LPN. Maybe eventually become a RN but for now a LPN.

Anyway my question is how smart do you really need to be? I didn't try my best in high school and my average grades were A's,B's, and a few C's. I'm going to take college seriously and do my best. However, I'm wondering if you have to be a true "brain" to be a LPN. I really want to be a nurse and I have a passion for it, but I know for a fact I'm not as smart as some people also trying to get into the nursing program. So how smart do I really have to be and how good of grades do I need to get in my general classes before nursing school?

Please help, and thankyou!!!!

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it all depends on your school and how competitive the lpn program is there, the more competitive the higher your gpa will have to be. in general you should shoot for a higher gpa in your [color=#0055bb]prereqs such as anatomy & phisiology, try speaking to an admissions counselor in the nursing program at your school for more information how they accept students, good luck =]

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I'll be attending Ivy Tech Sellersburg. I'm not sure how competitive it will be. I do know each time they accept around 60 students to be admitted into the LPN program. As for the classes, I'm actually looking forward to anatomy and the others...Just not so much my required math classes, math isn't the best thing for me

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Check into the admissions criteria at the school you are looking into. Ask how many applications they got last year. My school took 50 RN candidates and 50 LPN out of about 500 applicants (in fall). If you made A's,B's, and C's in high school but weren't really trying then you would probably be fine once accepted as long as you apply yourself. You might have to work really hard to gain entry though. At my school nursing students are admitted to the program based on points. For LPN's points are awarded for grades in English, Algebra, and Biology. You need to try and make A-B's in these. A large part of your points are given based on your TEAs score. 65% or so was enough for many. The LPN program at my school also begins in both spring & fall. I think the competition is less in Spring because there are more applicants for those 50 spots in Fall. Schools all do it differently but my point is that your GPA doesn't necessarily have to be perfect but you need to find out the specifics of your program in order to maximize your chances. Good Luck!

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Check with your school and see how many people apply, that way you'll know how competitive it is. If they accept 60 out of 1000 applicants, you are going to have to be on top of your game.

As far as being "smart", I'm not sure it matters. As long as you are dedicated and put forth a tremendous effort, I'm sure you'll be just fine.

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Specializes in CNA/LPN.

If anyone feels like you do, it's me, so I'm going to give you a few words of advice, along with my story.

To be a totally honest person, I averaged C's and F's in high school. I made an occasional B and every so often an A. I didn't care until my last year of high school, and then I had all A's and B's. I had it in me, to make good grades, I just didn't care in high school. I felt like there were more important things I could be doing (how dumb is that?!) :rolleyes:

There are a lot of things I'd like to go back and change, but I can't, doesn't mean we still can't be amazing nurses! I'm in my last semester of pre-reqs and since high school, I'd say I've definitely got my priorities in check. Don't let what grades you made in high school weigh you down from grades you can make in pre-reqs and in the LPN Program. If Nursing is truly your passion, you're going to find this as a whole different ball game, as opposed to the way things were in high school.

I've made A's in all of my pre-reqs so far and I only have two more left, and I'm going to try my hardest to make A's in those. If you haven't yet, discover which ways you study better. Flash Cards are my savior. I'm pretty sure I'd be up a creek with no paddle, if I didn't have those to help me study. You'll be just fine! Just make sure you set aside enough time for studying!

There may also be a couple of classes that you have to have a B in by the end of the semester, or you'll have to retake it. For me, that was Math, and A&P which I have coming up this coming semester. To find out which one of those your college requires, get with your adviser or look over the LPN pamphlet they may have given you that breaks down each semester and it's requirements!

I'm a nervous wreck, I won't lie -- but if I can go from maintaining mostly C's and F's in high school, to maintaining A's in Nursing Prerequisites, so can you! ;) Good luck!

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