Help Deciding for Nursing Schools

alwaysnervous · Sep 9, 2006

16 views??

nobody?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Sep 9, 2006

I'd hate to sound like the pessimist, but it will be tremendously difficult to be accepted to nursing school with a 2.91 grade point average. There are many nursing schools in my area, but they don't accept anyone with a GPA of less than 3.8 since admissions to nursing programs are so competetive. This same situation with GPAs permeates across much of the nation. If I were in your shoes, I'd be overly pleased to be accepted into any nursing program.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Sep 9, 2006

I almost forgot to mention that there's Maric College, located in San Diego, California. They're a private RN program with no required prerequisites and no GPA requirements. All they require is that you have some type of medical field certification, such as CNA, medical assistant, EMT, and so on. They have a high NCLEX pass rate.

hija de dios · Sep 10, 2006

:mortarboard: You'll need this soon keep exploring,get details,and review all your options you''ll find an answer,Hope the best for you!

Otessa, BSN, RN · Sep 10, 2006

Hello,
I'm currently applying for nursing schools and since most of you have already gone through this process I was hoping you can help me decide.
I'm from NY, I have all my pre-reqs, a 2.91 GPA and have some volunteer experience.
-alwaysnervous

You probably have looked at nursing programs and they have stated that 2.5 GPA is the minimum to gain entrance. Do you know that at many there is a waiting list? Many of them have 3.5 GPA or higher. It may be difficult to gain acceptance in to many programs with your GPA.

papergirlRN · Sep 10, 2006

My school (an ADN program)works with quality points given which works a lot like GPA, but they only look at your prereqs. You have to have a 2.0 overall GPA and a 2.5 in "Nursing Core Support Courses" (prereqs & coreqs), but they only rank you according to points given for grades in these particular classes (comp I & II, history, algebra, psyc, a&p, chemistry, micro, etc.)

So, yeah. You could get into my school with a 2.0 GPA, as long as you had good grades in your prereqs! They do take points away if you retook the course to make it fair, and it's a letter grade for every time you took it again. For example, if you got an F in algebra the first time, but a B the second time, you would get 2 points: 3pts for the B, minus 1 since you took it twice. They add all of your points up and rank you top to bottom, and accept the top 190 or whatever. The very top ones get into the accelerated program. There is no waiting list: if you don't get in you just don't get in, you have to reapply the next year. Make sense? :wink2:

Good luck!

Jules A, MSN · Sep 11, 2006

Have you looked at schools close to home? I'd start with local community colleges because they often have to give consideration for in county residents. It might be easier to reach a real person in the nursing department to meet with to discuss what you need to do. What classes have you taken? Do they include the typical pre-reqs like A&P, micro, chemistry etc.? Good luck.

buddiage · Sep 11, 2006

Been there, started nursing school this year.

Different areas have different amounts of competition. If your grades are on the low end, try doing some volunteer work, job shadowing, or CNA course.

I seriously doubt you will get into an accelerated program with "okay" grades. They are usually a little more strict with gpa's.

I moved from Wa State to Missouri. I applied EVERYWHERE. Students are hardly in the position to pick and choose. Where I came from, a 4.0 was needed in some schools. Here, where I entered in, they finally got a waiting list because of the surge of applicants, where they kept NO waiting lists in Washington where I was at. And, the obvious, make sure it's accredited. No sanford-browne or anything.

My suggestion: apply to every program in your vicinity.

It all depends on how bad you want it.

SBTLAWREN · Sep 11, 2006

I say apply any where you are willing to go. There are many people in my class who have relocated just to attend my school. People from Texas, North Carolina and Virginia. My school takes a look at a few things, they like to see high grades in the sciences and they look at your NET test scores and your application goes to the board. People with your GPA have gotten into my school. www.capitalhealth.org, it is located in Trenton NJ I wanted to add, if you are intrested apply now, thay only accept 60 students and it fills up fast

alwaysnervous · Sep 11, 2006

My school (an ADN program)works with quality points given which works a lot like GPA, but they only look at your prereqs. You have to have a 2.0 overall GPA and a 2.5 in "Nursing Core Support Courses" (prereqs & coreqs), but they only rank you according to points given for grades in these particular classes (comp I & II, history, algebra, psyc, a&p, chemistry, micro, etc.)
So, yeah. You could get into my school with a 2.0 GPA, as long as you had good grades in your prereqs! They do take points away if you retook the course to make it fair, and it's a letter grade for every time you took it again. For example, if you got an F in algebra the first time, but a B the second time, you would get 2 points: 3pts for the B, minus 1 since you took it twice. They add all of your points up and rank you top to bottom, and accept the top 190 or whatever. The very top ones get into the accelerated program. There is no waiting list: if you don't get in you just don't get in, you have to reapply the next year. Make sense? :wink2:
Good luck!

what school is this papergirl??

NurseyPoo, RN · Sep 12, 2006

I know of many nursing programs that will not even consider you unless you have a GPA of 3.5 or better. The waiting lists are incredible. One of the community colleges near me had 138 students enter last September and there were only 45 left by the end of the year. This is a community college and they expect their students to maintain a 3.8 GPA. If you fall below that you have to repeat your classes. And, this is a school that only offers an Associates Degree!