What's the best route for applying to schools?

[Jennierunz]

Hi all!

Brand new here and hoping you can help. If there's a better place to post this, just point the way and I'll gladly oblige.

I graduated college with a BA in English and a lousy GPA of 2.6 due to depression and bla bla etc. Now four years later I've decided to pursue a career in nursing, however I know I have my work cut out for me if I want any hope of getting into a decent school. I'm prepared for this challenge, as I know I am smarter and more capable than my GPA reflects. My question to you all is if it would make more sense to go to a community college to bulk up my transcipts and then pursue a BSN directly, or take a more roundabout route by becoming an RN and gain some work experience, recommendations, etc., and then try my hand at a BSN and possibly a Master's later on down the line. Any insight would be very much appreciated. I can't wait to soon join your ranks one day!

[AllSmiles225]

Just to give you an example in NY there is a program at a local state college that is an accelerated program. It is 12 months long. The requirements for admission are to hold a BA or BS degree and to have a minimum of a 2.8 in A&P I, A&P II, Chemistry I, Chemistry II and Microbiology. So you have to have all of those classes done before the 12 month program starts. I would DEFINETELY go that route. Do your pre-reqs for your nursing degree and go to an advanced standing program. Theres no reason not to.

[%63theend]

Some schools use and adjusted GPA for admission to the nursing program so I'd call around to the schools in your area and find one of those. An adjusted GPA is when you retake a class you did poorly in and the school uses the NEW grade in place of the OLD grade to calculate GPA. Your second option would be an academic fresh start. Some colleges offer this if you have been out of school for 4 or 5+ years they will let you petition to wipe the slate clean and start with a fresh GPA. With either course you take you'll need to take the appropriate pre-reqs. So once you've chosen the school and started see what pre-reqs they require. All that I know of require A&P 1 and 2 and Microbiology. Others require Nutrition, Developmental Psychology, Statistics, etc. So take everything you can get and then apply. GL!