How to get into nursing school with low GPA

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I feel like I've hit a wall. I'm 28 years old and graduated from an accredited Univ with a 2.56 overall GPA. Honestly, I went through college not knowing what I wanted to do. I graduated and started working in a medical program where I work with nurses on a daily basis. This exposure and 6 years in the field has helped me realize what I finally want to do when I grow up. I LOVE everything nursing and am totally facinated by it. The problem is, is my GPA from the previous bachelors is so low.

I am taking the pre-req courses for nursing school and have aced them (so far and hopefully I can keep that up!). I have taken stats, Anatomy & Physiology 1, and Chemistry -- all 3 with A's. I'm continuing the pre reqs with Anatomy phys 2, nutrition, and microbiology in the summer.

I keep reading so many conflicting things. Some places care about undergrad work (if thats the case then my 2.5 won't be so impressive and odds are I WON'T get into school). Others they only worry about pre-reqs but do require an undergrad degree with min 3.0 gpa (but in advising they say they care about experience and pre req grades and dont put a lot of emphasis on undergrad work since it's not nursing related).

I just feel lost. I dont know what to do and was wondering if anyone out there had any helpful tips, ideas, or any advice on schools they know look at the overall picture (experience, pre-reqs, etc.) instead of just GPA.

If you think I dont have a shot, please tell me that too. I hate to invest time and money if I'm just going to get rejected from every place I apply :(.

Thanks!!

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My guess would be to just contact the nursing programs at the schools that you are interested in. I went back to the school that I have my previous BA at and they just looked at my prereqs and sciences GPA overall, plus I had a preference since I was returning persuing my 2nd degree. Each program is different, so I would just focus on the ones that you are truly interested in and figure out what you may need to do with their advisors. You may have to retake some of the classes that you go low grades in to boost up your GPA.....it's not impossible, just may require more work. Good Luck!

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Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.

Moving this to the Pre-Nursing Student forum. Hopefully you will get more responses here.

Good luck!

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The programs I'm looking at weigh your pre-reqs and admissions test more heavily than your overall GPA, but there is still a minimum GPA requirement. I'd check with your local schools for the specific number. I'm sure there are schools out there. You will probably have better luck with an ADN program and then you could always bridge.

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You need to look around and see what programs are basing their decisions on!

I graduated with my previous degree with right around a 3.0 (maybe a 2.98?). I had to submit my transcripts from my previous school to prove that I had taken some basics like English but besides that, my previous degree (and GPA) was a moot point. My school bases admission on GPA in A&P, chemistry and math. Since I got As in all of those classes since starting back, I got in (it's a BSN program, by the way).

Even with programs that consider your previous GPA, you're going in the right direction. There are a lot of us who weren't stellar students at 18, 19 or 20. You have more maturity, experience and great recent school work on your side. I definitely don't think it's hopeless!

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You might look at ASN programs as well as BSN. Definitely talk to the schools you are interested in.

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You should really check out community colleges for their ADN programs. Why? Because most of them go on Quality points/TEAS test and not G.P.A. Quality points come from the required pre-reqs. (A&P,Microbiology,English,etc.)

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Specializes in Cardiac Critical Care.

There are a few schools that look at your GPA the least of all the admissions requirements... it really just varies school to school.

Congrats on doing so well in your classes now that you're back taking pre-reqs! I've had a similar experience... I was a so-so student when I got my Bachelor's because A) I had no idea how to study and B) I had no specific career goals in mind. Go us!! :)

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