Published May 13, 2007
guestnurse
20 Posts
My overall GPA is 2.7 although my nursing courses GPA is closer to 3.0. What are my chances of getting into a program? Aren't there some that look at more than just overall GPA?
skipaway
502 Posts
Most programs expect a GPA of 3.0 and over. Some Graduate schools will not admit without a GPA of 3.0 and over unless you take some Grad level courses and do well in them. Then they'll admit you for a degree program. I'd suggest re-taking some of your classes in which you performed poorly in with hopes of raising your GPA. Good luck.
lizzyberry
440 Posts
NS is so competitive to get in to Try to take more classes to up your gpa.
meandragonbrett
2,438 Posts
Do some post-bacc work. Take some science courses and retake some of the other courses you have done poorly in.
justme1972
2,441 Posts
I agree with this. I knew a lady that is now the Chairwoman of Education of a very prestigous private college. She told me that when she got her undergrad, she graduated with a 2.0 GPA. Years later, she wanted to get into graduate school. She found an SEC school that would allow her to take graduate level courses as a non-degree seeking student. She took 5 courses, got A's in all of them, and was admitted to the Masters program.
She must have done will, because she now has her doctorate :)
There is ALWAYS hope!
piper_for_hire
494 Posts
A couple of things come to mind.
1) Don't retake any science classes *unless* they schools you're applying to really care about your science grades. Ask them. If they don't care, take transferable MSN classes instead.
2) How is your GPA for your last 60 hours? Many schools will consider your GPA for your last 60 hours if your overall isn't up to snuff.
3) Remember that GPA is only part of the acceptance picture. The six pieces to the puzzle are GPA, GRE, ICU experience, recommendations, interview and (the most important) your competition. If you have a lot of hardcore ICU experience this may trump your GPA. A killer GRE score will help. Great recommendations will help. You might assume that all of your competition has a 4.0, 20 years of cardcore ICU experience, a perfect GRE score and fifty-page recommendations from Dr. Swann, Dr. Ganz and Sir Issac Levophed - but they don't.
-S
Esther2007
272 Posts
Apply and see what happens. You may get in if you have volunteer experience. Good luck to you.
I have 10 yrs. nursing experience, 8 yrs. ICU with the last 2 being CVICU..post op hearts. I will have exceptional references from the 2 cardiovascular surgeons I've worked with, plus other references from professors and managers. I plan on shadowing a CRNA as much as possible until I apply. I haven't taken my GRE yet but will start studying for that now that school is finished. I plan on taking my CCRN in the next month and don't think I will have any trouble passing that.
CRNA, DNSc
410 Posts
Guest Nurse- Pay attention to the details- if the website or other program literature says the minimum GPA is XXXXX and yours is below that you will not be considered- period, end of story. There are hundreds of applicants to most programs and anyone who does not meet the cutoff GPA is an easy elimination when a program is faced with a large number of applicants who do meet minimums. Spend you time in bringing your overall and prerequisite GPA up to snuff- contact the program and ask for a transcript evaluation and recommendations. Your experiences and references can be great but they won't get a second look if you don't meet other published minimums. Good Luck!
smileyRn96
161 Posts
Very good point...I think one could get into CRNA school despite a poor GPA, but by most NA schools standards a poor GPA is 3.0-3.5...That being said, I would look at the schools you like and contact them about your situation. See if you can take some graduate classes, many schools will allow you to take 6 credits without being matriculated. See if they will consider your GPA differently if you get As in these classes. I bet there are many ways you could reach your goal of CRNA, but you will have to do more work to meet the minimum GPA requirements. Best of luck
gasmaster
521 Posts
I just met a nurse who was accepted this year who's overall GPA was 2.9. Her GRE score was >1100 though and she had many years experience working in a county hospital setting.
changed1
38 Posts
I would suggest talking to the program director of the school you want to go to and prove to them that you can meet their specific criteria. It does not hurt to ask. You will have a better gauge of where you stand. It is hard to retake a lot of courses to bring up the GPA without an agenda. Some of us get better at learning as we get older and more focused. Don't waste time with a "maybe" go for the for sure thing. Talk to the places you want to go and weigh out the options. Good luck.