2.35 GPA too low for Acc Bacc BSN Program?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Hello All,

I am in search of some serious, honest advice. I have a 2.35 GPA from undergrad of which clearly school was not my priority. I also lost my mom my sophomore year and do genuinely feel that played a role. Anyways, after college I participated in AmeriCorps NCCC, spent 3 years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic and now am a Public Health Educator for Planned Parenthood. I really want to be a nurse. I think it's where my life journey has been leading for awhile, I am very passionate about HIV/AIDS prevention, speak fluent Spanish and have incredible experience in youth development. I have started taking my pre-reqs, Human development and A and P. I have an A and B and plan to get A's in the rest. Does anyone think I have a chance to get into an accelerated BSN program with such a low GPA? Can I make an argument with my experience and a good pre-req GPA and good letters of rec?

I would look for a school that emphasizes, or only considers, pre-req GPA - and focus on getting awesome grades in all of those classes. Also try to find a program that emphasizes essays, interviews, and having a diverse background. Your experience since school sounds amazing, and very valuable to your future career in nursing. I would hope that a school would look at your great pre-req grades and all of your experience, and realize that you have a lot of offer, despite your previous GPA. Maybe talk to some advisors of the programs in your area, to see what their selection criteria are. Good luck!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Postpartum.

I read through some of the advice people gave you. So, hopefully I'm not repeating some things that were already mentioned.

Just start searching for ABSN programs that require LESS than a 3.0 GPA to apply. You may want to stay away from programs that require a minimum of 3.0, because they may be strict about that requirement. For example, all the ABSN programs in my area require at least a 3.0 and heard many students with less than that still apply because they have a 4.0 prereq GPA and had great references, however they received an automatic rejection letter within one week of applying.

Good luck to you.

Edit: Just realized OP's thread is from May, so don't know if this info still applies.

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I read through some of the advice people gave you. So, hopefully I'm not repeating some things that were already mentioned.

Just start searching for ABSN programs that require LESS than a 3.0 GPA to apply. You may want to stay away from programs that require a minimum of 3.0, because they may be strict about that requirement. For example, all the ABSN programs in my area require at least a 3.0 and heard many students with less than that still apply because they have a 4.0 prereq GPA and had great references, however they received an automatic rejection letter within one week of applying.

Good luck to you.

Edit: Just realized OP's thread is from May, so don't know if this info still applies.

I agree that before applying to a school that requires a certain gpa, to talk to them first so you don't waste your time. In your situation, I would consider schools that state in admission requirements that a certain gpa is "strongly preferred" as opposed to required, as it indicates they may take other qualifications into account.

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It might be too low for an accelerated program, BUT there are other options in to nursing. If it's what you want to do, I wouldn't give up without trying all avenues.

Look at schools closely for admission requirements. I applied to the community college I took my prerequisites at, and their minimum GPA to be considered was above a 3.0, HOWEVER there were different ways to apply. You could apply as a high school grad, college transfer, post bacc, or current community college student. Whichever track you applied in, they only considered those grades. Since I was taking classes, I applied as an internal transfer and they only looked at my community college grades which were much better than even my overall GPA.

Some schools look at the last 60 credits, and some will look at your application holistically, allow you to explain your GPA and take in to account your life experience. But you are going to have to contact schools to find this out, as it's not always well-advertized. In the meantime, take prerequisite classes and get your overall cumulative GPA above a 3.0 at least. Look in to taking the GREs and do what you need to do to do well on them. Look in to getting CNA or EMT certification and work in a hospital or LTC.

I graduated with a 2.795, got a 3.91 in my prerequisites, which brought up my cumulative GPA to about a 3.18. The need to prove myself academically was a really strong motivator for doing well in my prerequisites.

Good luck!

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Im sure someone already said this, but a lot of schools only look at pre-req gpa. Thats what mine does. So it doesn't matter what u made in other classes, just your pre-reqs count. I have like a 3.2 in gen ed classes but have a 3.5 in pre-nursing classes.

It would help if u could find a program like that and then do really great on all your other pre reqs

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I'm at the other end of the spectrum. I graduated with a B.A. in Psychology with a 3.9 and when I took my nursing prereqs I got "Cs" in a & p... and an "A" in Micro. I don't know what to do at this point.

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I'm at the other end of the spectrum. I graduated with a B.A. in Psychology with a 3.9 and when I took my nursing prereqs I got "Cs" in a & p... and an "A" in Micro. I don't know what to do at this point.

Ask the owner of your house for advice maybe?

Be Aware: Don't Go into Nursing - Nursing for Nurses

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Specializes in Critical Care, Postpartum.

Hiddencat: That's too funny. :lol2:

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Ask the owner of your house for advice maybe?

Be Aware: Don't Go into Nursing - Nursing for Nurses

LOL!!!!! :yeah::yeah::yeah::yeah::yeah:

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I like what she does, but the OT programs are very competitive. She suggested becoming a PA.

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2bejenurse, can you email me your spreadsheet? I have been racking my brain looking for schools that are more lenient when it comes to GPAs. [email protected], if you don't mind. Thank you

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This case is very specific. I would definitely try because you never know until you try. My advice would be to try to get your GPA up by retaking some classes if its not too much of an issue. This shows that you are determined to raise your GPA to get into a program. Try to apply to private schools although they will be more expensive- your chances of getting in are higher.

Honestly, a 2.35 GPA is very low, but some schools take other things into consideration like your involvement in activities, leadership, and work....and scores from entry exams like the TEAS. I would try to outweigh the GPA with other aspects than can increase your potential for nursing school.

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