Help! GPA problem - Starting off higher or lower? RN-MSN Likelyhood

HeartsOpenWide, RN · May 22, 2010

You do not have separate GPAs. You have to combine them, that is just the way it works. No Masters program is going to look at your GPA at separate colleges, they look at your OVERALL GPA. No community college is reputable; they are a dime a dozen. You have to have a 3.0 to get into a Masters program; although I did talk to UCSF and they said that they look at experience and community/volunteer work. As tough as it is to get into a nursing program I would say apply to both and go to the one that takes you first.

listentofindout · May 22, 2010

Thanks for the reply HeartsOpenWide.

I should have clarified, I am already accepted into both community college adn programs starting in September. All of my pre-reqs are done now and are A's and B's (1 B-). I took my pre-reqs at the two colleges that I was accepted to. I'm not worried about my undergrad GPA because I plan to really have a great one in an ADN program.

My problem is that the pre-reqs are not factored towards my GPA unless they were taken at the school I am attending. For example my A's that I have at Community College A simply transfer to Community College B as transfer credit. Not an actual grade or GPA.

I'm stuck because I feel I'm starting off at a disadvantage because all but 1 course (the one I got the b- in) were taken elsewhere and because of that I start out the program with a 2.7 I was not sure if there is anyway to get around this.

happy2learn · May 22, 2010

You do not have separate GPAs. You have to combine them, that is just the way it works. No Masters program is going to look at your GPA at separate colleges, they look at your OVERALL GPA. No community college is reputable; they are a dime a dozen. You have to have a 3.0 to get into a Masters program; although I did talk to UCSF and they said that they look at experience and community/volunteer work. As tough as it is to get into a nursing program I would say apply to both and go to the one that takes you first.

I disagree with almost everything said here.

For one, I understand what the OP is saying about separate GPAs. I am applying to another school and they will take my current credits as transfer, however, it will NOT count towards their GPA. Only their courses count towards the GPA, so if I graduate from there, my GPA will be their GPA and will not include courses taken elsewhere.

2nd, My community college is reputable so I resent your statement. My school is just as respected as the local 4 year universities and is highly respected at the local hospitals and medical facilities. The only schools in my area that are not reputable are the fast track for profit schools. Every hospital I have been in and every medical professional I have spoken with speaks highly of my school. So community colleges can be reputable.

3rd, the MSN program by me accept people with a 3.5 gpa and up. You can't get in with a 3.0 because of competition.

To the OP, go with the school that you feel you will do better at. You haven't even started the nursing curriculum so you have plenty of time to raise your GPA.

dondk, BSN, RN · May 23, 2010

You do not have separate GPAs. You have to combine them, that is just the way it works. No Masters program is going to look at your GPA at separate colleges, they look at your OVERALL GPA.

this is correct, that is how it works

so if I graduate from there, my GPA will be their GPA and will not include courses taken elsewhere.

Any earned credits and its GPA do not vanish. Point being if you did crappy at school X and did not "transfer" the credits you could essentially "hide" that crappy GPA. If you use those credits (and GPA), you have to use them for any further degree's. They may not count towards your present degree, but they will count.

2nd, My community college is reputable so I resent your statement. So community colleges can be reputable.

Any additional education has value, regardless of where it is taken.

3rd, the MSN program by me accept people with a 3.5 gpa and up. You can't get in with a 3.0 because of competition.

I don't know what area you are in, the general rule of thumb is 3.0 or better is the minimum to even be considered. Of course each school can set it's own requirements, although you should be setting your sights on not getting below a 3.0 OVERALL GPA if a MSN is in your future.