gpa to get into nursing school?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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hello everyone...i'm currently taking some prerequistes to get into nursing school. i have already have an undergraduate degree in accounting, so i haven't taken a science class in a LONG time. i don't know exactly what kind of grades i'm going to get, so i was wondering what kind of gpa did everyone have to get into nursing school.

thanks

Specializes in Oncology, Research.
hushpupgrl said:
asherah

i saw in one of your posts that you listed some of the schools that you were applying to...i think duke, jhu were some of them. what type of gpa does one need to get into those schools? i'm assuming a 4.0

thanks

I think that you will find that many of the top tier schools look for more well rounded students that have clearly articulated goals unlike many CCs which have scoring criteria. I think they realize that a B or C in an organic chem class means more than an A in a fluff science course. I can say that the students in my class were definitely intelligent but more importantly they brought diverse life experiences to the table (Peace Corps, NIH researchers, teachers, etc.) I am not trying to downplay the importance of a good GPA, but 4.0 definitely was not the magic number.

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Specializes in SRNA.
hushpupgrl said:
asherah

i saw in one of your posts that you listed some of the schools that you were applying to...i think duke, jhu were some of them. what type of gpa does one need to get into those schools? i'm assuming a 4.0

thanks

JHU and Columbia would like to see candidates above a 3.0 cumulative, and around 3.4-3.6 is considered competitive for admission the past few years. This is due to the fact that as another poster stated above, these schools specifically are seeking well-rounded candidates who will bring a wealth of varied professional, personal and life experiences to the cohort. Most of us who are returning to school after obtaining at least one undergraduate degree (or even a graduate degree) are in our mid-20s or 30's and have gathered various work experiences, research experience and/or significant volunteer experience in the health care field. All of these factor into admissions decisions regarding schools that offer direct entry programs.

This is what makes these programs much more attractive to me, I can use the experiences of where I've been to help me get to where I'm going...as opposed to my local community colleges which process applications through a silly lottery system and a random number generator. (Ridiculous, if you ask me.)

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This is what makes these programs much more attractive to me, I can use the experiences of where I've been to help me get to where I'm going...as opposed to my local community colleges which process applications through a silly lottery system and a random number generator. (Ridiculous, if you ask me.)

I am glad there are many different options to get into the program, my CC doesn't use lottery they use only GPA, I chose this program for that reason, I started in my mid 30's I don't have a previous degree I have been home with my kids full time. I knew if I worked hard enough though I could get the grades and slip right in not having to worry about the lotteries of other schools close by, or worse yet they mile long waiting lists, at my age I wanted to do be as effecient as possible. I have several schools near me, they all have different criteria for applicaints, I don't think one is better then the other I just chose what suited me.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

The required GPA varies so widely from school to school, I highly doubt the information you get here will be helpful. My best advice is to just study as if you needed a 4.0 and you won't go wrong...

To give you an idea of the spectrum, the avg GPA for the entering class of my University last semester was 3.87, and the community college in Salt Lake doesn't even have a required GPA, just a waiting list and anyone who passes with a C or better is eligible...

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We in Colorado have to have a 2.5 minimum with C's and above in all courses.

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Specializes in ICU.

The schools in the Portland (Oregon) metro area are highly competitive. One community college posts Sats from the previous years applicants. http://www.mhcc.edu/pages/625.asp

As you can see from the 793 applicants, the minimum accepted had a 3.7 GPA - The minimum is 3.0.

(It's a nice breakdown of who got in... some insight on your competition!)

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2bmedstudent23 said:
when i applied for my pre-reqs at my school they said i couldnt have anything lower then a 2.5 thats in fl at a community college im not sure if its any different somewhere else

just a word of caution (not directed at you just in general).

schools will say you need a minimum of 2.5gpa to get in, but that is not the realistic number. If you were to look at my schools website or talk to the department they would say that you need a 2.5gpa, however they choose students (at my school) based on GPA only, so you realisticly need a 4.0 gpa.

again that is my school example, they are all different so many different ways to get in, but be sure to find out exact details don't go by what the website says, attend the workshops that most schools have.

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Here in Illinois at the community college I attend, a 2.0 is required!!

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I was excited to hear that a 2.5 in Florida is good I am in Tmapa and am planning on going to HCC in the Spring to start my PREREQS for the Nursing program that is offered in Brandon. I am currently taking an MA course at COncorde to get my in the field while I go to school for my RN. This has been a dream for a long time and I am at the point in my life that I am ready to start I am 40 and it is never to late. I have some legal stuff that is over 10 years old that I am presently working on getting sealed. I have to go for a pardon adn that is going to be the hardest thing that I do. I was told that I really did not need to do that as the charges are so old and substance abuse related. I have undergone treatment and have been sober for over 10 years. I have a few obstacles but this is what I want to do. I am not going to stop until someone tells me that I have to. I have my children that are watching what I am doing and if nothing else it will teach them never to give up on a dream. I am here for any type of suggestions that you all may have for me. I am open to any ideas to help me achieve my goal and live my dream.

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Hello All

I am new here and hope that you guys can help me to make it with Support that always helps adn I will do the same for anyone if I can ;)

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My school just upgraded to a College-formerly a CC, but now offers BSN's- and their program doesn't have a minimum GPA, per se. They basically take as many applicants as there are seats, and if the number of applicants exceeds the number of seats THEN they consider GPA's, but only as a percentage of an overall score. See, a lot of us, myself included, have past credits that don't even count towards the program, so they only score you on your pre-req grades (i.e. if you failed Enlish Comp II, or Trigonometry they don't count it against you.)

Is anyone else's school like this?

Either way, if you express your desire and determination to get into the program, you'll likely get your foot in the door. Good luck!:icon_hug:

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BlaineCM said:
I had a previous BS in psychology and I graduated with a 3.6. I got into an accelerated BSN program at a major state university.

I also have a Psych degree (a BA, though, not a BS), and am interested in an accelerated program. Had you already taken your pre-reqs. during the course of getting your first degree? If not, how did you fair in those specific classes? I am wondering how much emphasis is placed on your pre-reqs., as opposed to your GPA as a whole...

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