How much does GPA count towards getting in NUR program?

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN · Jul 8, 2004

This is all variable from school to school. I have never seen or taken a pre-nursing program entrance test. I have heard of them, but obviously not all schools require them.

As far as GPA, some schools will average all grades in the case of repeated courses, some schools take the highest grade. It depends on the policy of the individual school. Admission is highly variable from school to school as well. I have seen posts from people with 4.0 GPAs that were wait listed. I have seen posts from 3.0 GPAs that got in. The schools will most likely be looking at your grades in those science prerequisites as they predict how well you will be able to grasp the science aspect of nursing (esp. A&P - nursing is pretty much based on that one).

Good luck.

cokegal19 · Jul 8, 2004

Oh my gosh!!! I'm so scared!!! I want to get in so badly, but I'm scared I won't be good enough! I'll just have to try really, really, really hard. I've been out of highschool for 3 years, and when I was in highschool, I took very easy classes and took it lightly. (Boy, do I regret it!) It's hard going into a Biology class with only 2 years of science (one freshman year, one sophmore year). Wow. I really I'm determined, though. Wish me luck for the next year that I can get all A's!!!!!!!!! :)

bioniclewoman · Jul 8, 2004

The school that I am going to take the nursing program in says it's 50/50 between your GPA and the grade you get on that pre-nursing program entrance exam. Well, I have taken Biology, Sociology, Speech, and Psycology so far, and my GPA is only 2.75. I got a C in Biology, a C in Sociology, and B's in Speech and Psy. I still have quite a few classes to take, but they are mostly the hard ones like Micro and A&P and Chem. Will I have a good chance of getting in a nursing program with a GPA of 2.9 or lower with a good score on the test? What if I do get a 3.0 or higher GPA, but do poorly on the test, could I get in then? Any suggestions on how to make my GPA higher? Could I retake classes that I did poorly in? How competitive is it to get in? THanks!

I don't get really good grades either. It seems no matter how hard a try I always end up with a "B". I couldn't get an "A" to save my life. You will here a lot about needing a 4.0 to get into nursing school, but in reality I don't think that is true. I've heard of students with 2.7s getting into really good BSN programs. I can't say why they got in, but it make me feel better to know they did. Maybe they saw that the student was taking a heavy load of classes or maybe they liked there personality. Since I do have low grades I have several back up plans in case I don't get acceted to the school I want.

cokegal19 · Jul 8, 2004

yeah, I could maybe see needing a 4.0 for medical school, but nursing? How could they expect anyone to get a 4.0! that's so hard! you can not tell me that there is that many people with 4.0's getting into the nursing program.... that's just rediculous. at least i hope it is! wow... you guys are really scaring me..... i want to have at least a 3.0 by the time i get into nursing classes.

mariedoreen · Jul 8, 2004

It's not really that they expect you to have a 4.00 The schools I'm applying to want either a 2.5 or a 3.0 as a minimum BUT here's the problem: getting into nursing school is competetive, there will usually be far more applicants than positions available SO they have to make a decision on who to take and often it comes down to your GPA factoring heavily into the decision. Thus, while a school I applied with said 2.5 is the minimum GPA, because of the competition you pretty much had to have as close to a 4.0 as possible or you'd get passed over in favor of someone who did have that level of GPA. As far as the BSN programs, my understanding is that you'll have more luck wth them if you're going in as a freshman and are willing to complete every class with them. In our state most people complete their pre-reqs at a community college (much cheaper) and then apply to a BSN program. If you go in as a freshman with little or no pre-reqs completed, the competition's not as high, but you'll sure pay A LOT more to go through school.

Bottom line is that you need to be getting really familiar with the application process at the schools of your choice. Find out how many usually apply, how many spots their are, and how those who were chosen usually measure up: are they usually 3.75 and above on GPA? what did they average on the exam?? Dive in and start asking questions of your advisors and your fellow students and then see what you need to do to make yourself competetive. Good luck!

klone, MSN, RN · Jul 8, 2004

yeah, I could maybe see needing a 4.0 for medical school, but nursing? How could they expect anyone to get a 4.0! that's so hard! you can not tell me that there is that many people with 4.0's getting into the nursing program.... that's just rediculous. at least i hope it is! wow... you guys are really scaring me..... i want to have at least a 3.0 by the time i get into nursing classes.

No, not really ridiculous, IMO. I know of a lot of people with 4.0 or darn close to it. Many nursing programs are extremely competitive. It seems that the private universities are a little easier to get into, due to the higher tuition, which makes them less competitive.

Good luck! You might call your school and ask them about previous years - what was typical GPA and entrance test score for admission.

RXconnecticut · Jul 9, 2004

yeah, I could maybe see needing a 4.0 for medical school, but nursing? How could they expect anyone to get a 4.0! that's so hard! you can not tell me that there is that many people with 4.0's getting into the nursing program.... that's just rediculous. at least i hope it is! wow... you guys are really scaring me..... i want to have at least a 3.0 by the time i get into nursing classes.

I did really well one my ent exam ...but probably not as great as I should have to get into this particular program...anyways, I think the Interview has a great bearing on the results...you would be surprised how an instructor can decifer(spelling??) weather you will be good "material"for the proogram or not...not all these HIGH TECH classes say "a good grade means you will be a great nurse"..theres more than an excellent grade....you need to be a kind good person too,and an instructor can usually see that. lots of luck to you.:)

youknowho · Jul 9, 2004

At the CC where I go 1/2 the applicant get in on GPA and half lottery. This past last year the bottem GPA was 3.51 for the people that got in on GPA. I should get in this next year since I am finally all done w/ pre reqs:) I expect the GPA cutoff to go up slighly since we are all SO SO competitive. Mine is 3.89 right now and hopefully thats where it will stay this fall:rolleyes: By the way I know more than a few people w/ 4.0s. Like I said REALLY competitive.

carlalogan · Jul 10, 2004

I agree with the previous poster. My school's GPA requirments aren't too extreme but because they have so many applicants with 4.0 GPA and the only requirement for getting into my school is the GPA, it becomes all about having to have very close to a 4.0 to get in. Not very encouraging, but that is what is happening at my school.

Lilnurse0803, RN · Jul 10, 2004

Sadly, in my school, the GPA is very important and the sole indicator of acceptance since admission is based on the applicant's average on the pre-clinical courses. The lowest accepted GPA for the Fall 2004 clinicals was 3.73.

On the program website, the minimum GPA for the program is listed a 2.5, HOWEVER, this really only means that you must have at least that 2.5 to apply. To get into the clinicals is a totally different story. I don't believe anyone has gotten accepted into the clinicals with anything less than a 3.2 in the last several years.:stone

Anyway, this is not to discourage anyone since every school has different admission requirements. My school happens to be a community college, therefore, there are more applicants than there are seats for the clinicals making it an EXTREMELY competitive program. I know this because my preclinical GPA is 3.7 and I just missed the cut-off. :crying2: Luckily for me, I transferred in one of the pre-clinical courses with a B, so I got approval to have it untransferred and am now retaking it this summer . I am aiming for an A (fingers crossed). I am praying to God that I get my A so that my preclinical GPA will rise to a 3.94. This should increase my chances of getting admitted to the Spring 05' clinicals. Wish me luck!

Keep your head up. The greatest nurses are not always made from the best GPA's.

michelle95 · Jul 10, 2004

That's kind of sad. I mean, I knew a girl in LPN school that was very intelligent but when it came to clinicals....forget about it. She failed clinicals 2 times in a row and was out of the program. But, after being a student with her...I wouldn't want her touching me with a ten foot pole. I know that sounds mean....but, it's true. Little things she should have known at the end of the program, she didn't....like "what's that thing on the wall?" "Oh, you mean a blood pressure cuff?" :rolleyes: I really hope that she just went on to research or something. She was more cut out for that.

GPA's don't necessarily mean much. I think common sense and applying what you know means a heck of a lot more in nursing. :)