GPA woes . . . is there any hope?

soko2002 · Mar 27, 2006

You really need to look at the classes each nursing program is using in the GPA. I have an old BA degree, but the nursing schools around here only look at the cummalitve GPA of the pre-req's for the nursing program. Every school has different pre-req's except most include the A&P series and Micro classes. I retook my psych 101 class and english 101 because those grades were B's and I needed a 4.0 to be competitive. Good luck!

Lee-Lee · Mar 27, 2006

Soko2002:

Fair enough, but I have checked. Two problems:

1. Some of those classes (such as English) are included as the pre-reqs to the nursing programs, and

2. in nearly every school in nyc (at least public schools, of those i've checked, of those i'm interested in) you're not allowed to retake a course that you already have a grade for, no matter what school you're from

stpauligirl · Mar 27, 2006

I know many schools cut off applicants based solely on their GPAs.
Have any of you had this situation or heard of this situation and were able to overcome it successfully?
I was in college many years ago (about 4-5). I didn't do so great. There are a couple of Cs here and there, none of which are in the pre-req sciences, but they are there in my overall GPA.
I am planning on beginning my nursing science pre-reqs this fall and planning ( ) on making all As.
Is this a pointless endeavor if because of my poor grades in a past life, I will be immediately excluded? Is there a way around this?
Your feedback is welcome. Thank you.
Lee Lee

The best thing to do is probably talking to a degree counselor at your school, and also the nursing programs you wish to apply at later. Good luck, try to make A's in the science classes

Lee-Lee · Mar 27, 2006

So, ok, I called up my current school (haven't started yet, accepted but start in the fall) and the woman who answered the phone was SOOOOO NASTY to me. She didn't want to answer any of my questions and she wouldn't tell me any names of adivsors or admissions representatives!! She just kept sighing into the phone and talking over me. "Let me send you our brochure! Let me send you our brochure!!" But the questions I'm asking typically aren't answered in brochures, you know? I'm asking pretty specific questions.

Help! How does one handle a hostile staff? How do you get through the nasty staff to get to admissions people?

stpauligirl · Mar 27, 2006

So, ok, I called up my current school (haven't started yet, accepted but start in the fall) and the woman who answered the phone was SOOOOO NASTY to me. She didn't want to answer any of my questions and she wouldn't tell me any names of adivsors or admissions representatives!! She just kept sighing into the phone and talking over me. "Let me send you our brochure! Let me send you our brochure!!" But the questions I'm asking typically aren't answered in brochures, you know? I'm asking pretty specific questions.
Help! How does one handle a hostile staff? How do you get through the nasty staff to get to admissions people?

Go in person to your school, don't put up with rude receptionists! Talk to the nursing director of your desired schools. They usually have orientations that you can attend. Find out when such orientations happen and take all your transcripts (unofficial transcripts will be fine at this point) with you.

larosiliere29 · Apr 12, 2006

Im Pretty sure that schools pay close attention to the prereqs. So keep your faith!!! Try to excel in the Prereqs!!!

mommy2three · Apr 13, 2006

I recently had problems getting non typical questions answered at my university. I tried calling, and even going up there (but it was 10:15am, and they stop advisement at 11:00am). I looked on the schools website and there was the head of the departments e-mail adresses. I e-mailed the head of the department and explained that I was having trouble being seen and just wanted these questions ........ answered. I had a Phone call 10 minutes later from an advisor wanting to answer my questions!!!! I met with her yesterday and she was very polite, very helpful, and NICE!!!!

Raymond CA · Apr 13, 2006

Is this a pointless endeavor if because of my poor grades in a past life, I will be immediately excluded? Is there a way around this?

Hi Lee! It's ABSOLUTELY possible to overcome a poor GPA in the past. I got low grades in a very competitive school a decade ago, but after 2.5 years of incredible sweat, I just got accepted to one of the top nursing schools in the nation last month. :)

For details:

https://allnurses.com/forums/f198/got-into-rush-universitys-absn-program-chicago-148631.html

Don't worry about what the counselors say. You can and should retake any relevant classes in which you got low grades. Just take them at community colleges. Admissions committees want to see proof that you are a new, more mature, improved person who is damned committed to succeeding in nursing. They want a consistent record of growth and achievement. Also, in your application and interview, you can and should explain any academic deficiencies.

For example, organic chemistry was my nemesis for several years. I took it three times when I was getting my first BS degree. D the first time, C the second, and a "not pass" the third time at a local community college. Last year I faced it again in preparation in nursing school, and my study habits, maturity, and drive had shifted big time by then. I got an A.

Just make sure your new record clearly shows a new you, and you will make it! :)

JaxiaKiley · Apr 13, 2006

Basically, I have the same things to say as everyone else, so I will skip that part :)

But, I am in a similar situation, where I didn't do so good when I went to college right out of HS. When I first started looking into nursing schools, I was really upset because the school I wanted looked at TOTAL GPA. There was no way I could retake all those courses to bring up my GPA. But, I started looking around and found several other programs that were just interested in pre-req GPA.

As for the schools not letting you retake courses, that sounds like something at a 4 year school. When I looked at a BSN, they told me not to bother retaking a class because they went with the first grade earned. Have you looked into the community college degrees?

Good luck!

Lisa CCU RN, RN · Apr 18, 2006

I had a 3.17 going into the BSN program I'm attending, but in my prereqs I have a 3.7.

I had a lot of trouble the first time around with my first semester in college, but I persevered and pulled a 1.2 :uhoh21: up to a 3.17!

I won't go into detail about my problems, but none of them were academic, because I could do the work, I was just to0 sick to go to class.

So, yes, if you are meant to get into nursing school, you will, with God's grace.

good luck.