GPA DILEMMA

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jun 11, 2010

What types of programs are you applying to? Are they accelerated BSN programs? Associate degree programs at community colleges? Or, are they traditional BSN programs?

My close friend earned a BS degree in public health nearly ten years ago with a cumulative 2.5 grade point average. This GPA was not competitive enough to get admitted into any RN programs since she was competing against applicants with GPAs that were 3.5 and greater. So, she completed an LPN program with lower admission standards, worked as an LPN for a while, then enrolled in an LPN-to-RN associate degree bridge program.

You might want to take this route to becoming an RN since LPN-to-RN bridge programs are slightly easier to get admitted into than traditional RN programs. There are also LPN-to-BSN degree programs, too. Good luck with whatever you decide.

ST MeLa · Jun 11, 2010

I have applied to traditional, and accelerated. I am currently in the process of applying for an associate program. I just fear that my gpa is not good enough and that is all that they are worried about. I will continue to apply to other programs. I currently work in a hopsital and all the lpn that i work with tell me to avoid that route of going to lpn school. I'm so lost. Thank you for the help and kind words. I will look into those options also.

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Jun 11, 2010

You could always look at the schools your interested in. See what courses are needed in order to graduate their RN program. If you haven't taken some of the courses, do so. EVen if you have some or all of the classes you can retake them. You can up your GPA simply by taking courses and doing well with them. I have a very good GPA from my past college courses. I'm taking a few pre-reqs needed for the RN program. Fingers crossed, I'll do well in these classes and increase my GPA even more as I go along until I meet all the requirements in order to apply to the RN programs.

Want to add that even the LPN to RN bridge programs (whether ADN or BSN) still require prospective students to follow and meet the same admission requirements, here in Connecticut anyway. So if they have a requirement of a certain GPA to get into the "normal" RN program, the LPN to RN program must also meet that requirement.

allnurses Guide · Jun 11, 2010

I had a pretty sad GPA when I started my pre-requisites for nursing school. Not as low as yours, but not at all stellar - around a 2.7. I worked hard, made As in my pre-req's and applied...and got in on my first try. Turns out my school only looks at the GPA for those classes that actually apply to the nursing program. This may give you some hope, if there are schools near you that do this.

You will without a doubt, unquestionably have to start retaking some of your courses and replacing your low grades with high ones. The GPA requirements and competitiveness won't be going away, but if you want this, you have it in you to achieve it - perhaps not as quickly as you would like, but time will go by no matter what, so you may as well start working on it! Good luck!

happy2learn · Jun 11, 2010

I highly doubt you will get into an accelerated program, most of those require at least a 3.0.

Also, the CRNA program is the most competitive of the MSN programs, and for good reason. All of the students I know wanting to go into the CRNA program here have a 4.0 gpa.

I would try to go for your ADN first. You may have an easier time being accepted into an ADN program, but that all depends on where you live. With a Psych degree, probably just a few of your classes would transfer. Although you may want to just retake them in the ADN program to get a better grade. You will still have all of the sciences to do, along with clinicals. Then get your BSN, then your MSN (or DNP if your schools switch by the time you are done.)

lifelearningrn, BSN, RN · Jun 11, 2010

Have you taken the nursing prereqs.. like A&P 1&2, chem, nutrition, stats, etc? If you still need these courses and knock them out with high grades that may really increase your chances of getting into a program.

woahmelly · Jun 11, 2010

Can you avoid sending your transcripts and just start fresh? Some schools in my area will do this while others won't.

basilisk06 · Jun 11, 2010

I just transferred my transcripts from another community college to my new one and the only classes that would officially transfer over had to be an A or B which automatically bumps up my GPA. And that's a GOOD thing because my previous GPA was a low 2. There are some prerequisite classes that I'll have to retake because of my previous low scores, but I'm okay with that because it'll help bump up my GPA prior to applying for the Nursing Program and give me an overall better GPA average before I apply. I Know I have more drive right now than I did when I took the classes previously... so I know I'll do better this go-round, too. It's hard to feel like we are starting from scratch, but if you want it bad enough, you can do it! :cool:

Don't wait 13 years to go back to your dream like I did! If you want it bad enough, do it!!! I'm now married with two boys and wished I had done this so long ago! But I want it, and want it NOW... so I know you can do it if I can!:hug:

ST MeLa · Jun 11, 2010

Thanks everyone for the great advice. I will start to look into all the suggestions. I really hope there's a program where I can jus start over( where do they let you start fresh). But I guess I can just start with retaking some of my prereqs to get a better grade. But I'm not sure how it works if I already took them and they are posted on my degree under my previous bachelors.! Or does it not matter

JROregon, ASN, BSN, RN · Jun 11, 2010

23 years ago I got my BS in business admin by just scraping by. I started up at my local comm college nearly 2 years ago and got As in all of my science classes and other classes that counted for points (A=4, B=3, C=2) to get into the nursing program. My previous class work allowed me to skip taking speech, writing 121 (English comp), and a couple of electives. My old grades had no bearing on whether I got into the nursing school. Start over with community college. That's what it's there for. You will get the support you need to get the better grades.

basilisk06 · Jun 11, 2010

That is a great question St. MeLa. I believe it would depend on whether or not you are going to go to the same college you received your BA at or not. If not, then they'd have to transfer your transcripts and in that case most only transfer classes that are either a B or better (or sometimes a C or better depending on the school) which automatically bumps up your GPA before you even start taking classes there! It would be worth it to go talk to a counselor first and find out what your options are. That is what I had to do & that is how I found out that all my other classes that were a C or worse aren't even considered into my GPA for that school. I can't tell you how that made my day!!! Now I do have to retake a math class because of it, but if I decide to take the placement test and score high, then the counselor said I'd just start at the math class that was recommended without having to backtrack.

I think that getting your AS is a great starting point. And it will give you more stability as you move up in your degrees. If you did take some prereq's already and you did good, then don't retake them (that could cost you a lot of money and time). But talking to a counselor is the best place to start because at least they could tell you what the requirements are of the school, and how to better your situation all together.

GOOD LUCK!!!