What do you think of these comments?

[Lisa CCU RN, RN]

A friend of mine that was recently accepted to nursing school said that she went to talk to someone who was on the admissions committee and she asked why she was accepted with only a 3.0 GPA. She was told that she put on her application that she worked an a CNA 20 hours a week and had one child. She is a single parent and took Micro, Chemistry, History, Women's Studies, and statistics all in the same semester. She got B's in the sciences and C's in the other classes. Apparently, the woman told her that she as impressed by the fac that she had failed her first semester at school and still managed to pull up all those F's and that she did not give up. Not only that, she seemed to give the important classes(the sciences ) more attention than the other classes, hence her higher grades in those classes. She does have an A in both A&P I and II and all her other grades are A's and B's. The woman went on further to state that anyone who could perservere and pull up F's and manage to work, take care of a child, and take that many classes would be successful in nursing school. According to her, she frowns upon people who have 4.0 GPA's, but took one or two classes at a time. to her, this is not indicatitive of a person who can handle a high course load and still manage to pass as anyone can take one class and get an A. A person who takes many classes and gets a B average is better than a person who gets an A while taking one class because in nursing school, no one takes one class at a time.

What do you think of these comments? The school she goes to chooses people based on individual decisions made on applications and not point systems or GPA ranks; all you need is at least a 2.8 GPA . my friend thought there was a mistake made (not that she was complaining) especially with all the competition and she asked how the decision had been made.

[Achoo!, LPN]

I take offense to some of that. I only take 2-3 classes a semester and get straight A's. I also work part- time, have 2 kids, work as a TA in A&P II( on top of my regular job), volunteer at the school ,and volunteer at the local St Vincent De Paul. I have to be able to prioritize, problem solve, study hard, and communicate well in order to acheive all of that.

Just because I am not a single mom and taking a full load doesn't mean I am not driven and able to take on a full course load when time determines that.

Tracy

P.S. Kudos tot heose single parents that do make their goals happen!

[AllyRN82, MSN, APRN]

ditto. I have to go part-time sometimes because I have a full time job that I can't just quit. Light load or heavy load, I can still maintain As. Anyone that can survive these classes period, regardless of the load, is someone of integrity and worth and that's not up to anyone else to judge.

That's my personal opinion though

[LydiaNN]

Schools can set their own admissions criteria, and it isn't at all uncommon to consider many different factors when making these decisions. I don't find it unusual that a woman like your friend would be chosen over "traditional" students with higher GPAs. Many schools look for applicants that will comprise a diverse class with a range of abilities and experiences that will broaden the horizons of their classmates. Perserverance is an excellent quality for a nursing student, and your friend has demonstrated her's in spades. She shouldn't feel like she "cheated" her way in; obviously, the admissions committee believes she will succeed and contribute to the class, and that is what they're looking for.

[KatieBell]

Agree with mercy Teapot. For many schools and programs, it is important to have diversity of opinions in the classroom, tends to make class time richer. In addition, as nurses, you will have to work with all sorts of people, and some people think that school is a good time to learn those skills.

However, I do understand what some other people with High GPA's could be feeling. However, that school was quite clear that it makes decisions on a case by case basis, so no one should be upset or angry that a case by case decision was made.

My school had a GPA cutoff that was decided each year. They told us they drew a line, and anyone under that line was out. Unfortunately this backfired on them when they rejected an older man who had a 3.88 GPA and accepted several with GPAS below this. He persevered, and with much protest of the class, was admitted the next year. :uhoh21: Seems some Personal choice decisions were made and it made us all in that next class very nervous during admission time. :)

[RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN]

Each school reserves the right to make a choice based on whatever they wish is most important.

Anyhow, good for your friend and much success to her too.

I am assuming that the school makes everyone aware of their admission's policy and that they are as fair as can be.

I for one, would probably not stand a chance at that school. Thankfully, I know what I need to know to raise my chances to get in (without having to be a mom).

Good luck to you too. :)

[Fun2, BSN, RN]

I have taken most of my classes THIS TIME one at a time, just to make sure I made A's on them. I more than likely could have made A's taking more than one at a time, but I chose to spread them out. (I'm more responsible at 31 than I was at 17!) :)

I have had to repeat several classes because I made B's on them the first time around years ago, so maybe this wouldn't pertain to me. lol

Anyway, if people choose to take one class at a time to make A's, it shows they care about their grades just as much as someone taking a full load, etc and making B's.

I realize that nursing school will be hard, and I'm not expecting A's like I did on all of my other courses. However, I will bust my butt as hard as I am now to make the A's....however many classes I am taking.

[talaxandra]

I like that your friend's school took a number of factors into account, rather than going solely or mostly by grade alone. As other members have posted, I think having students with a diverse variety of experience and strengths enriches the classroom as a whole. This is not to in any way diminish the efforts of anyone here with different experiences or results :)

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

According to her, she frowns upon people who have 4.0 GPA's, but took one or two classes at a time. to her, this is not indicatitive of a person who can handle a high course load and still manage to pass as anyone can take one class and get an A. A person who takes many classes and gets a B average is better than a person who gets an A while taking one class because in nursing school, no one takes one class at a time.

What do you think of these comments?

Well, let's see, i have to work 30 hours a week to survive, but i work 40-50 at least to eat more than just mac and cheese.

I'm taking 3 classes right now, and i got grades that happen to be above a 94.

My high load happens at work when i do 14 hours of straight ortho cases, and THEN go to a 3 1/2 hour class after that.

Someone needs to tell that "woman" to get off the high and mighty soapbox. Wee need the wood.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

Not to mention that no one even asked for her opinion, did they?

[Fun2, BSN, RN]

While I have taken most of my classes one at a time, they have all (besides A&P 1) been fast-track.

I have been working my butt off. I do study more than the average Joe, even for one class. I study just as much with one class as I would taking 4 at a time.

For that matter, does this person think that a person taking 1 class at a time and makes B's is better than a person taking 1 class at a time and makes A's?

Also, many people taking more than one class could not study that much. So, how can this be a rational opinion? She doesn't know the study habits of anyone else.

Her opinion is her opinion, but personally, I think it's a bunch of "horse poop".

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

I think it's great that a person was not judged by GPA alone and they took initiative and other considerations into account.

Making blanket statements about other people though is wrong.