GPA DILEMMA

[ST MeLa]

If anyone can get me any advice on this it would be gravely appreciated. I just recently graduated from college with my BS in Psychology(a degree that I really didn't want but was to far in to turn back), and I want to go to nursing school to achieve my ultimate goal of becoming a CRNA. My dilemma is that my undergrad degree wasn't the best 2.0 and i recently applied to a few schools and was turned away because my gpa wasn't the 2.5,2.75,or 3.0 they were looking for. I know I have what it takes to excel in the program. I have great references, recommendations, work experience(currently I have been working as a nurse tech or senior tech for a year and was a stna for 2 years before). I have contact several schools about my dilemma and they seem to all say the same thing that basically there program is not the right one for me. So I'm kind of at the point of throwing in the towel(giving up on this dream) because how am i to prove myself it no one is willing to take a chance on me? If anyone can help me out in what other possible steps I can take that would be great? Any schools, programs, gpa requirements, ways to prove myself other than the number they see on my transcripts?

[ST MeLa]

Thanks for that info. That's something to consider. I want to know if I begin another bachelors degree will the classes that r needed for nursing will they be used from my previous bachelors. But the gpa jus won't transfer. Do you think that going to a different school then I recieved my bachelors be better?

[JROregon, ASN, BSN, RN]

If you want the class to transfer, the grade will be coming with it. Have you looked at the application for the nursing program at your school? Do you need to take micro, A&P and other classes in order to apply? Are you footing the bill for your education? Community college can be a huge savings over a university. Your university may not accept you in their nursing program so why take classes there. Was there a reason for your poor grades? Are those reason gone now? I know I got lousy grades due to immaturity and tons of distractions at a party school university.

[JROregon, ASN, BSN, RN]

I just read your first post over. I forgot that you want to be a CRNA. The schools that have CRNA programs want the creme of the crop and have more than enough students with great grades applying. If you are truly serious, you will likely need to start from square one. You will need a strong background in chemistry and all the classes necessary for nursing. You think nursing (RN) schools are picky, a CRNA school is exponentially pickier. Reassess your ultimate goals or make sure you get straight As for the next 2 years in all of your classes at a community college as you work on your pre-reqs, again.

[ST MeLa]

Yea alot of my average grades were from just being spread to thin and not having full focus because there were other factors that mattered more like kids and supporting my family when my parents got laid off. Most of my grades are b and c's my gpa was so low due to my psych classes.! If I can get into a community college then I will pay myself and get tutition reinbursement from the hospital I work at! I have taken all the prereqs needed for nursing but I know that after 5 yrs at most of the schools I have looked at those classes have to b repeated cuz there to old. So maybe that is a good thing then, right?

[lifelearningrn, BSN, RN]

In Texas you can do an 'academic fresh start' where you can start from scratch and wipe your record clean. The problem with this is that it is an all or nothing deal, you can't pick and choose what you want to drop from your record. I think it would be kind of sad to wipe your previous accomplishment (a 4 year degree) out. To get an ADN, you'll need some of those general ed courses, I really don't think it is necessary for you too repeat them (personal opinion).

Also, colleges in Texas (and maybe other states) don't usually 'transfer' your GPA.. meaning once you get into a new college or university your GPA starts over. So even if you transfer credits from your university to a jr college, your jr college GPA will only reflect classes taken there. So if you take your prereqs at at different college you attended for your BS.. they may only look at that GPA.

I hope that all made sense!

[KB24]

Your best chance of getting into a good nursing program would be to retake your pre-requisites again and try your best to get an A in all the classes.

Even LPN and RN programs at a community college are very competitive. You pretty much need to have at least a 3.1 GPA for your science classes.

[dondk, BSN, RN]

Everyone has given great advice, while I can relate and appreciate the ultimate goal of CRNA. You are putting the cart in front of the horse.

You primary focus is on becoming a RN, start there and build. Your choices are either a ADN or finding a school that will take your current BS and allow you a BSN. You first need to know the entry requirements of the program you want. While the BS-BSN would be the quickest, you have to show your previous transcripts as a whole. As many have mentioned, a 3.0 is the bottom end for entry into many of these programs, and a 3.5 is competitive.

Now for the ADN, it comes down again to the program. Many community colleges will use your prior transcript GPA until you have X amount of credits at their institution for entry into their nursing program. Then the previous transcript is only used as transfer creidts and not the actual GPA. So, it is possible to have that 3.0 in a community college and be competitive for a ADN or use ONLY that transcript to attempt to transfer into a BSN. You only need to show those transcripts you want or need to. In other words you have to plan out what you want to show or not show.

The last part of this puzzle is the CRNA, as mentioned they are uber competitive. While it may show a 3.0 as entry, to be competitive is 3.8 or better. I would not say you are completely out of a CRNA, it is just way to early to tell. You are looking about 3-5 years down the road and some 80 or so credits later (at a minimum). Worry about the now, what comes later is simply that... later.

Is nursing school impossible for you? Nope, but you need to realize you may have to retrace some of your steps in regards to classes. Take your time and plan it out, I am sure you will find the way to become a RN.

[ST MeLa]

All of the information make sense. I think I really need to hear it from someone else. I will definitely look into all these different routes. I will also look into retaking some of my prereqs over also. I'm can't wait but now realize that i've been trying to do too much all at the same time.