Published May 2, 2016
future_RN, CNA
89 Posts
Okay so I've been in school for around 3 years, started out at a university, didn't do too great, mostly Cs and Bs. Ive been at a community college for about a year now, and have a 3.1 GPA here at this community college. My cumulative GPA after this semester will be a 2.6. I am trying very hard to get into ANY nursing program, but I REALLY want to get into Chamberlain College of Nursing here in Tinley Park. I had an interview up there with an admissions advisor, who told me my GPA would not necessarily disqualify me, but I need to do very good on the HESI A2 Admissions exam. I took the admissions exam, and scored a 92% overall, and their requirement is a 75% i believe. I need to wait until this semester is over (in about 2 weeks) and get my official transcripts sent over as soon as they become available. The advisor told me that the admissions committee usually makes their decision about 2 weeks after everything is sent in. I'm just feeling hopeless because going to a university first, I was NOT prepared for the difficulty of the science classes there. I did everything I could, tutoring twice a week for the science classes, office hours, and countless hours studying. After my summer semester, if I get a B in A&P2 (seems realistic for me) and an A in my speech class (also seems realistic to me) I will have a 2.70 GPA, which is still .05 away from Chamberlain's minimum for admission. The advisors and everyone I've met at the school thus far have been so very helpful and really take their time to talk to me and encourage me, so I'm just wondering, would the admissions advisor have spent their time having an interview with me despite my GPA, if I had absolutely no chance?
I want this more than anyone, I really do. I'm willing to do ANYTHING to become a nurse and once in a nursing program, I know I can do whatever it takes to succeed. I work very hard in school, and although I have had my share of unfortunate circumstances while at the university, I know there is nobody to blame but myself. But my grades at my current school are much higher than at my old school, As and Bs in all of my classes. and I'm hoping that they will recognize my effort.
I'm hoping that my HESI A2 Admissions score will be a great indicator as to my knowledge and retention of information, as well as something they weigh heavily in their decision.
And due to me no longer at the university, I can no longer retake classes that I have already taken there, to replace the existing grades on that transcript.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thank you in advance.
Lunah, MSN, RN
14 Articles; 13,773 Posts
I would bet that your HESI score and improvement in grades will weigh heavily in your favor, but are you prepared for the hefty price tag of the program? Sorry if I am a buzzkill, but Chamberlain is expensive, especially for prelicensure students.
SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP
3,152 Posts
Since you would only be 0.5 away from the minimum GPA required, if you don't make it in, you could take another course to raise your GPA so that you would be at the minimum threshold. I know you really want to be a nurse, but there's a reason why they require a certain GPA in the sciences. You need a thorough, functional knowledge of anatomy, physiology & microbiology to understand pathophysiology and disease process correctly. Hopefully, they will see that your most recent efforts are trending in the right direction and you'll get in. But just in case, be prepare to take another class to raise your GPA.
Good luck to you, hope you get good news
Thank you! That is all very true. If there was no minimum requirement, everyone would be doing it.