a 4.0 GPA does not help

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I just got answer from Evergreen Community College in San Jose with the bad news that I didn't make it into the program. After working very hard in my pre-requisites, driving 3 hours twice a week for classes for 3 semesters I achieved straight A's in all my pre-requisite classes. I thought that this would help to get me into the program, but I guess that it didn't matter because is a random lottery... I remember classmates that didn't show up for classes and struggled with the material and barely passed but they might be the lucky ones that got into the program. I just can say I am heartbroken....maybe because I'm a guy I'm not supposed to become a nurse. I feel terrible....

Specializes in Med/ Surg/ Telemetry, Public Health.

Sorry to hear, don't give up on your dreams. Maybe you can apply to another school or reapply one more time to the school that turned you down. Do your school go by gpa, merit points, or entrance test? You have a great gpa 4.0 you can't beat that. Did you find out what exactly will get you in the door?

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Never Give up!! Just keep applying and trying. You will make it, this might just be a test from the universe.

BTW you are BRILLIANT to achieve a 4.0 in all your prerequisites. Maybe look into reclocating for school?

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Specializes in interested in specializing in Peds or OR.
Thanks for your reply. I am applying to other schools but Evergreen was the closest one....in the Bay Area all the schools select by lottery. The only requirement is to complete the pre-req and have a 2.5 GPA. Everyone goes to a poll and the ones that are picked up get into the program. I thought I would have more chances and the computer would select better scores but obviously not... a so-so student has the same chances than a good student.

This is incorrect. I'm in the SFSU BSN program and admission is merit based. USF, SJSU and CSU East Bay (just to name a few) are also merit based. I think the schools you've been applying to are ASN (community college) programs which are all lottery based. My suggestion for you is to apply to BSN programs if you want to be considered based on GPA. Good Luck!

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Adriano,

I did most of my pre-req's for nursing school at EVCC. I applied there, and to Mission College in Santa Clara and was rejected with my first app, and accepted on my second. A 4.0 is awesome! Do you have your CNA? They didn't require a CNA first when I went there, maybe they do now, and you might need to be a CNA first. Apply to the LPN program, try DeAnza, try SJSU.

The thing is, whether lottery or GPA, they have many, many, MANY qualified applicants that are rejected. They can only fill a certain number of spots (75?) and they have way too many applicants, not enough instructors, and not enough clinical sites. It seems these days that everyone thinks nursing is their ticket in to a stable job and good paycheck, so everyone is applying!

If you have questions, go to the dean of the nursing program and make an appointment to review your app. They can tell you why you didn't get in and what you can do to improve. It may very well have been you were qualified but they had too many applicants.

And never, NEVER give up! You know what you want, go and get it. Don't let this stop you from doing something you want to do!

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Cast a wide net for nursing schools = better chance of getting in.

With the lottery if you apply next year do you get more than one entry? That is what happened to me, the first year I applied to nursing schools, I only applied to a few because I was still working on my pre-reqs and some schools in my area wanted pre-reqs done, so I didn't get into any programs. The next year with my pre-reqs done I cast a wide net hopping to get into a program, sadly I didn't get in, one of the programs I applied to was a lottery, however if you apply one year and don't get in you get 2enties into the lottery the next year. So the following year I applied again casting a wide net. And the only time I have ever won the lottery, was getting a spot in the nursing program.

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Specializes in Adult ICU/PICU/NICU.

I would encourage you to apply to a nursing school that cares more about your qualifications (grades, SAT/ACT scores) than some random lottery. If you are a strong student with a strong college prep background than apply to 4 year colleges that offer the BSN. These generally are based on your academic qualifications. I would AVOID the for profit schools that just want your money and could care less about your academic qualifications.

Best to you,

Mrs H.

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Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.

A school that has a lottery to pick its nursing class is NOT in my book a school that deserves someone like you. Apply to other schools that will embrace your hard work in your prereqs and your motivation to be a nurse. I don't like to read your rationale that said just because you are a male you are not meant to be a nurse. Quite the opposite, you are needed to join our profession!!

Also, I think you should take time out to read a post I made almost a year ago (link below). I think it will do you good to take with you the message within:

https://allnurses.com/pre-nursing-student/waitlisted-rejected-never-536186.html

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Specializes in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgical.

I'd look for a merit-based program that also takes into account your other work and life experience. I had a 4.0

going into my BSN program (haha, that quickly changed!) but I did also did well on the TEAS, had volunteered

in the community, and had a decent career in research before nursing school. Maybe I could write, I don't know.

But I felt like I brought enough stuff to the table to get in first time around.

Don't give up! +1 to the person that recommended re-locating to improve your chances.

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I'm with absolutely everyone else! Apply to a different school. I've never heard of anything like that before! None of the nursing schools in my area do things that way. And it's incredibly unfair. I'd say you're better than that school and they don't deserve you. Congrats on your 4.0 and don't give up! Esp just because you're a male. That doesn't matter. Best of luck to you!!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Flight.

apply to a different school. Having a 4.0 and it being a lottery is so disheartening. Go to a school that will value you and ur excellence :)

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I'd look for a merit-based program that also takes into account your other work and life experience. I had a 4.0

going into my BSN program (haha, that quickly changed!) but I did also did well on the TEAS, had volunteered

in the community, and had a decent career in research before nursing school. Maybe I could write, I don't know.

But I felt like I brought enough stuff to the table to get in first time around.

Don't give up! +1 to the person that recommended re-locating to improve your chances.

Yeah, keeping a 4.0 in the BSN program is hard! I have a 3.71....pharm did me in, LOL!

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Ugh I know how you feel! The school I did my pre-reqs in promoted to me how the only way to get in was to get high grades. 3.8 was their average cut off for a while. I had a 4.0 but the term I applied they switched to a lottery. Now students with 2.5 gpa's and no CNA experience are as apt to get in to nursing school as those of us with 4.0's!

Check out the CA board to help choose another school to apply to. I believe there are quite a few in the Bay area that admit based on multiple point systems.

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