Have I screwed up my chances to get into a nursing program?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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In order for you to understand, I need to give you some background information. I've worked as a direct care counselor in a group home setting for 9 years. My list of credentials is pretty impressive in the healthcare field. One night out of boredom I sent my resume online to several hospitals. Ny Presbyterian answered within hours and asked me to come in for an interview. Top two of 500 applicants for an entry level position at the number one hospital in NY! Sixth in the country! I was elated to say the least. Unfortunately I didn't get the position, and it broke my heart. The other person had experience working in a hospital, I on the other hand had the same experience but in a home care setting... Sucks right! Well this finally opened my eyes! For years I was told that nursing was my calling, but I rebelled, I didn't take college as seriously as I should have. I let a lot of personal problems at home take precedence over my education. I dropped a lot of classes and as many w's as I have I also have A's and B's... Well I finally decided nursing was for me at 27 years old, only to have my immature past come back to bite me. Turns out I have 2 WU grades in the same subject, one was for a class I dropped online through esims before the semester started, it must not have updated in the system and i was too careless to double check, resulting in a WU grade. The other, I let problems at home deter me from going to school and I missed twelve days of class. I kept up with the work however the professor was unwilling to work with me, also resulting in a WU grade. The most ironic part of all of this is they are both in English 1, English has been my best subject my entire life. I never get less than an A. I am currently trying to get the grades changed. But if I am unsuccessful, how badly can this hurt me? I have not taken any of my science classes yet, or psych. If I maintain a 4.0 gpa in science, and retake the English and get an A, will they take into consideration that I made a mistake? The CUNY and SUNY nursing programs are fiercely competitive! Some schools only take 100 applicants per year! Average gpa accepted is a 3.5... Because of these WU grades my GPA went from a 3.27 to a 2.5. I have an appointment with a nursing advisor coming up. However in the meantime I am having a lot of anxiety over this. Did I ruin my chances of getting into a nursing program? Has anyone else had a similar experience?

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Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but withdrawals don't count against your grade point average. It simply means you withdrew. Does WU mean the same as an F at other schools?

I had to withdraw from the Eng 102 course in 1989. I went back to school a few years later in 1994 and was enrolled in the same course. During my last semester, I was told I didn't need the 2nd English class because they would accept my satirical writing course in lieu of Eng 102. So, I withdrew and got my Associate's degree in science. Fast forward 18 years and I decide to go back to school for nursing. No problem with the W's for an ASN program, but the university will not accept my writing course in lieu of Eng 102, so unless I re-take it, I won't be able to get a BSN. Because I've had 2 W "grades", I am only allowed to take Eng 102 one more time and that's it. (They only allow 3 attempts). So, yeah...the past does come back to bite you sometimes. However, the withdrawals did not affect my GPA.

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A WU is worse than an F, however it brings down your gpa the same amount. unfortunately, the difference is a WU will never be removed from your gpa even if you retake the course, unlike an F grade.

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I think the WUs will affect your admission chances when it comes to BSN or ABSN programs. But your chances for ADN are still okay. You can consider a 2 year ADN program to become an RN, then easily enroll in an RN to BSN or MSN bridge program in the future. But don't worry, you will be fine. There's a lot of different paths to nursing. Good luck!

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Some adn programs look at Ws. Mine does. If you have to many you will not make the cut.

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Also, there's always the LVN-RN route. I know it's probably not an ideal option but don't discount anything. Consider all options and having a backup plan will help you feel more confident about your future. You are already headed on the right track by meeting with your advisor and planning which classes to take, etc. The bad grades and low GPA will make it a tough road, but you will get there if you are determined. You have options, don't worry you will make it. Lots of people do! :)

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I was in a similar situation (bad grades) and I had to comment... I was an undecided major and chose not to apply myself. I made some SERIOUS academic mistakes when I first started college in 2007 through 2009 which included a semester of W's (which did not count against my GPA but they still showed up on my transcript) and the following semester I chose to stop going to school altogether and I recieved 3 F's which annihilated my GPA. It was then I attended the local community college, I took course that introduced me to careers in healthcare and the rest is history.

I went back to school full-time, became an EMT, and a hospital volunteer. I completed every prerequisite for just about any RN/BSN nursing school out there to prove that I was serious about becoming a nurse and I brought up my cumulative GPA above a 3.0. (my GPA at the community college is above a 3.5.) Since then, I haven't received a grade lower than a B (General Physics I) and have made the Dean's List four consecutive semesters in a row.

In my application essay I wrote from my heart about why I want to be a nurse and my future goals. I acknowledged my past (no excuses) and explained what I did personally and academically to improve. I applied to 8 nursings schools (it was a pain, but it is incredibly competitive out there) for the Fall of 2013. I have been accepted to 1 BSN nursing school so far and I'm waiting to hear from a few more.

Everyone makes mistakes, no one is perfect and nursing schools know that. I firmly believe you have a decent shot especially because all aspects of your application are taken into consideration. Doing well in your sciences and nursing prereq's, a nursing school entrance exam or even volunteering your time at a local hospital or working in the field will definitely go a long way. I can only go by my experience, but it helped me.

It was not easy by any means, but it can be done with passion, persistence and hard work. And most importantly, never give up on something that is important to you :-)

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Thank you so much! You have no idea how much I needed to hear that :')

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so withdrawls hurt your GPA? I had no idea! I got a D in a computer class and have 2 withdrawls. I am wondering why my GPA is at a 3.4 when all of my other grades are mostly A's and a few B's. Is there any way to bring this up?

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so withdrawls hurt your GPA? I had no idea! I got a D in a computer class and have 2 withdrawls. I am wondering why my GPA is at a 3.4 when all of my other grades are mostly A's and a few B's. Is there any way to bring this up?

I think withdrawals only when you are failing hurt your GPA. At least that is the case at my school. Withdrawing before the last month of the semester does not affect your GPA (at my school).

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At my school, so long as you 'drop' within the first two weeks of classes, the course wouldn't show up on your transcript--there would be no record of you having ever even signed up for it!

After the two week grace period however, changes to a course schedule would be considered a withdrawal and recorded as a "W" on your transcripts. That wouldn't be factored into your GPA at my school. Unless, you've withdrawn from more than five classes. The sixth class, and subsequent classes withdrawn from are recorded as a 0.00--just as bad as getting a F! OUCH! That school was strict, to say the least.

Unfortunately, I used up all of my freebie withdrawals early on in my academic career at that school. So, I've got a couple of extra "W" grades on my transcript which decimated my GPA. I'm hoping that I can go the community college LPN>LPN-to-ADN>RN-to-BSN route. It's long process (if any school/programs will even take me), but that's what I've got to do to show that I'm not a total screw-up.

It doesn't sound like you're too far gone, SamanthaJCosta! Have hope. You'll get there. emt0089's post was really inspiring! It seems like people really can turn around a scary academic record if they're willing to do hard work.

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