GPA's! Do You Care?

flaced · Jul 31, 2003

I got a BS in Animal Science in another country. After the first 2 years I dropped out of school. I had no idea how to study at the university level. After another 2 years I came back to finish. I got mostly A, and I learned that is much easier to get an A than a C. It's a matter of organizing your time, material you learn and technique you use for memorizing and understanding things...

Anyways, I came to the US, got a BA in theology where I had mostly A. School in the US is soooooo easy.

Now I am starting the ADN program. I am not sure about the amount of study for the nursing courses, but in the prerequisites I had only As. School is fun!

However having the summer off, I went over the A&P courses to see how much I remember. I was dissapointed to see that I retained only about 50%. I read once again all the material and I feel that I know it a lot better.

I guess the grades are important. I want to go to CRNA school one day, so they should be important to me. But more important is what we retain and are able to apply in our carriers.

jgreenlady · Jul 31, 2003

Hi, I'm Judy(new, please read about me at "Introductions" thread) I have completed all pre-req except A&PII and have a 4.0. I'm an "older" student and feel very driven to maintain good grades. I guess just to prove I belong there and also my husband has such confidence in me. I start 1st semester Nursing August 18 and will be taking A&PII concurrently. I am aware that the A's may be about to turn into B's or C's and I can live with that as long as I know I've done my best. I have an 8 y/o and I can also relate with bluesky. There may be some times when I have to make that type of decision. He is accustom to mom at his baseball & basketball games etc. Hopefully dad will step up and fill the gap.

PennyNickelDime_RN · Jul 31, 2003

GPA matters to me too. When I started college two years ago I was terrified because I did not do well in high school. I did not apply myself.

After two years my GPA is a 3.8 and when I applied as a transfer student to a new school that I will be starting this September, my GPA got me a $15,000 annual renewable scholarship which requires me to retain a 3.0.

Since GPA's do not transfer, I have to start all over again and hopefully can do as well at my new university as I did at my last.

~~~sprklplnty~~~

ST_NURSE_MLD · Jul 31, 2003

Generally, my grades reflect what I "KNOW". I study hard and usually make good grades. But, my big issues is... EITHER YOU KNOW IT or YOU DON'T = your grade

marilynmom, LPN, NP · Jul 31, 2003

I would also like to mention cause a few people have brought this up. Not all of us with high GPAs make our children "suffer" somehow. I have a very high GPA and make A's in everything. When my kids are awake I do not study, I study when my kids are either napping or in bed for the night. I dont always get much sleep but to me it is worth it to have good grades *and* be there for my kids!

Marilyn

shirleyTX · Jul 31, 2003

I agree, u don't have to make your children suffer, but face it, without kids you do what you want on your time, with kids its when they allow you to study-especially small children... It is not impossible to maintain a high GPA, and even though it could be higher current 3.68 - I know I WILL graduate w/ honors from the BSN program and then pursue my dream as a CRNA. Believe me even with my 3.68 I KNOW I will get in---- It'a all about your ability as a nurse-not just your GPA..

rnnurse2be · Jul 31, 2003

Absolutley it matters... Im ANAL about it!

Lets see... First time in college (19-20 yrs Old) I couldnt give a Crapola about grades... in fact my GPA was a 1.5! I never thought I would come back... so who cares, Right??! WRONG

I came back to school 8 years later and have had to pull A's to get it up to a Whopping 3.0! SUCKS!

I figure after this year of A's, it should be close to a 3.7, which I can deal with. I would love to have a 4.0, but due to my past will never happen... or it will years and years later.

I try to warn the younger ones of messing around...skipping classes, blowing off studying, but we all have to learn our own way. ME? Well, due to my 1.5 taking me 2 years to get to a 3.0, I was put on the waiting list. My Priority Points were real high, but the cut off for acceptance was a 3.3. I had no chance. I was told 2.5 was the cut off. What was I to do?

So yup... GPA matters to me!:)

FullMoonMadness · Aug 1, 2003

My grades used to really matter to me. At the beginning of last semester I had 4.0. But, I made a B, and realized it was not the end of the world. I no longer have the highest GPA in my class and I don't care. I just want to get done. (Can you tell I am tired of school?)

kats · Aug 1, 2003

I do still care about my GPA especially since I haven't been accepted to a nursing school yet. I am hoping for January, but won't find out until at least November. Anyways, I had to stop stressing as much about GPAs after one semester when I got really sick. My husband was at sea, my son was being a typical teenager, and I had my first class with a really hard teacher. It was Anatomy and 30 out of the initial 38 students dropped the class before the end of the semester. Anyways, I was actually sick from the stress for over a month before the doctor realized what was happening. That was after countless lab tests. He finally realized I had IBS caused by anxiety. He gave me a prescription for Celexa which definately helped for a time. I never knew you could be that sick from stress. Now I have stopped taking Celexa because I am doing better with stopping the stress before it gets out of control. I may have to go back to it once I start nursing school, but at least I will know the signs. I have also realized that while needing good grades to get into nursing school and then stay in, I don't need to be top of my class. The most important thing is that I learn the information so that I can be a good nurse. I mean, really, how many patients are going to quiz you on your grades before letting you help them? But you do have to know the information. That's just my opinion.

caligirl · Aug 1, 2003

Originally posted by marilynmom
I would also like to mention cause a few people have brought this up. Not all of us with high GPAs make our children "suffer" somehow. I have a very high GPA and make A's in everything. When my kids are awake I do not study, I study when my kids are either napping or in bed for the night. I dont always get much sleep but to me it is worth it to have good grades *and* be there for my kids!

Marilyn

I agree.. Except I get up early instead of staying up late.. I am not a night person.. lol.. I often get up at 4 am and get a good 3 hours of studying before I have to get my daughter ready for daycare...

rnnurse2be · Aug 1, 2003

I also wanted to put that my kids dont suffer. I study when they are in bed, or arnt home. I make EVERY basketball game, and IEP meeting the school calls for, I go on field trips (although, not everyone) ect... for my boys. I feel it is important to find that balance, and have them see how vital education is.

Yes, there were many weekends I had to pass up going four wheeling, but that wasn't for the entire year, I also made Friday and Saturdays family time. No studying until Sat night, or Sundays after church...

Balance is the key, unfortunatly, its a difficult one to find sometimes.

giggles66 · Aug 2, 2003

Getting a High enough GPA only matters enough to me to get into nursing school. I am probably older than most of you who are posted here. I just want to get my BSN and that'ts it I will be done with school.

Carmen