Getting accepted into a CSU nursing program with just below a 3.0?

Honey Clover · Jan 16, 2016

You must raise it and you might offset the low GPA with a very high TEAs score (near perfect 100). You can also try to get work in a medical setting to build experience. Some of them gives you extra points for that. Some gives you extra points for where you live as well and languages too. I researched all that awhile back so I don't remember which ones but you can try to compile a list of CSU's with their selection criteria and calculate where you stand at each school's applicant statistics. It'll be very very very hard to get in though. it's already hard to get in as is. Most people have a 3.5-3.75/above but many have 4.0. I can tell you for sure, CSU Sacramento only give you 1 point (out of 112) for a 3.3 GPA and all the bonus points and perfect TEAS will not be enough to get you in since their cut off has risen to 79 total points right now for spring (and it's getting higher). But that GPA is not cumulative though; it's only pre-requisite and co-requisite GPA. I'm not sure where you stand at that though. Is there any way for you to retake classes and get a higher grade? Otherwise, I think you should consider private universities since most state CA schools focuses only on hard stats of a student which means most students who get in have high gpa, high teas, and extra bonus points. Private universities will look more at the person you are. It'll still be difficult to get in though but for pre-nursing students in California, applying everywhere (state, private, CC, out of state) is a good tactic anyways. It's just too competitive here if you're only considering the state schools.

onyida98 · Jan 16, 2016

Please do not give up. I was just accepted into MGH Acce Nursing Program with a GPA of 2.8. Just make sure you get A's and B's in your Science classes. If possible get a job in a Hosp, I am a Unit Coord in a Bos Hosp. Last, make sure you write a good letter of intentor whatever topic they ask you to write.

Good Luck!

willowita, ADN, RN · Jan 18, 2016

What grades did you get in the prereqs? Those grades are weighted more than overall gpa

onyida98 · Jan 18, 2016

Got all A's

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jan 18, 2016

Please do not give up. I was just accepted into MGH Acce Nursing Program with a GPA of 2.8. Just make sure you get A's and B's in your Science classes. If possible get a job in a Hosp, I am a Unit Coord in a Bos Hosp. Last, make sure you write a good letter of intentor whatever topic they ask you to write.
Good Luck!

This is the California Nursing forum. I see you're in Massachusetts.

California State Universities (CSUs) have the most impacted nursing programs in the entire country, and to be straightforward, a GPA of 3.0 won't cut it when the competition of 1,000+ applicants have significantly better grades.

APRN., DNP, RN, APRN, NP · Jan 18, 2016

You could also look at Masters Entry RN programs in your area.

Just a thought, as you might not have known to consider this option.

Get2theChoppa · Jan 20, 2016

Some schools only look at the last 60 or 90 units depending on semester/quarter system. If you take some fluff courses, you can improve your chances

PHhopeful · Jan 21, 2016

Prerequisite GPA is super important. As the above poster commented, the last 60-90 credit hours may be mostly what schools consider, so if your grades are improving, that might be sufficient. I'd also recommend taking "fluff" classes to raise your GPA, but classes that are relevant to nursing/healthcare (e.g. upper level biology, any healthcare electives that are offered). Also, other things to make you an attractive candidate, like volunteering, working as a CNA, etc. I'm not familiar with the CSU system but I got into every school I applied to (public and private) and had previously been in your situation. I had a 2.9 GPA from community college but ended up getting a bachelor's degree (another two years) in order to raise my GPA. I had a 3.5 from that, so overall my GPA was about a 3.2, with prerequisites around a 3.5. I just immersed myself in the healthcare field and made up for a lousy GPA with lots and lots of experience.

Socal_EMT · Jan 22, 2016

CSU Nursing Programs are among some of the most competitive nursing programs in CA due to the high volume of applicants. You are truly not considered competitive unless your sitting at a 3.5 GPA (give or take). I would recommend a few options: 1) Re-take courses you performed poorly in 2) take extra courses that will not only raise your GPA but set you apart from other applicants 3) Try applying to private (more expensive universities).

TheMaaddScientist · Jan 24, 2016

Though I will not be applying to a CSU school, about two years ago when I lived in California and was taking Anatomy and Physiology at a community college, a former student of the professor's came in to give a presentation on what it was like to be a nursing student at CSU Sacramento. This woman pretty much pointed out how hard it was to get into a CSU nursing program and gave us some brief statistics on her current cohort. Of the 30 students admitted into the program, 16 of them had Bachelors degrees from either a UC or a top school such as Stanford, Duke, Yale or USC. She herself had a Bachelors Degree in Zoology from a major UC with an undergraduate GPA of 3.7 , a 4.0 in all her prerequisite courses, perfect TEAS scores, and no patient care experience (which I thought was really strange). The reality of the situation is that you competing with very competitive applicants in a state where its already really hard to get into any health professional program to begin with but don't loose hope! There plenty of programs out there that are less competitive than CSU programs. Plus keep in mind California schools want to look good and keep there stats high, having a bunch of students with degrees from top universities make them look good and keeps them in Forbes Magazine every year LOL ! Try getting into an Associates program and maybe doing an RN to BSN program (might take longer but you may have a better shot of getting in). Best of luck to you my friend

Get2theChoppa · Jan 24, 2016

I'd also add that some CSUs are less competitive than others... at least in my opinion. Additionally, some schools look at other qualities. But yes, there are many roads to RN-BSN