How hard is it really to get a 4.0 in Nursing school

tmartin83 · Feb 16, 2012

Hi BenTram!

I, and a few of my other peers, actually graduated with a 4.0 from nursing school (4-year degree), and I also did a few independent studies, and completed a minor (psych) in addition to my nursing curriculum. So to answer your question, your expectations are not too high. You just have to really dedicate yourself to getting and maintaining that GPA. What I've seen happen is that 3rd and 4th year students have high averages like that, and then get that "senioritis" and begin to not care. But having that 4.0 GPA and latin honors on your resume is only gonna help you, especially when you're trying to get into CRNA school, which is EXTREMELY competitive (the standard is usually having above a 3.7 GPA, but most applicants have well over that anyway).....

Now, I will say that my As were mid-range (around 92-96), but it's not like ur numeric average shows up on your transcripts anyway :-). You can do it, and your expectations are never too high. If you can pull it off, it's gonna look awesome on your resume.

llg, PhD, RN · Feb 16, 2012

It depends what school you go to. At some schools, they give out "A's" fairly easily. At other schools, no one in the class gets an A.

Many years ago, I attended a major univerisity that was serious about fighting grade inflation. Every course was "curved" -- with the midpoint set at the dividing line between a B and C. Only people who scored 2 standard deviations above the mean received an A for any given test. On some tests, it was mathmatically impossible to get an A due to the distribution of scores: even people who got 100% correct did not get an A. In the end -- no one in my graduating class ever got an A on a nursing theory course -- ever.

Moral of the true story: You can only control so much: you can't control everything. If the numbers are that important to you, be sure to pick a school where they give A's -- and give enough of them for you to get one.

canthelpfalling · Mar 21, 2012

Getting a 4.0 in high school is do-able.

Getting a 4.0 in prereqs- do-able but challenging

Graduating from 4yr BSN with 4.0- incredibly challenging.

It depends on the school, the professors, if they curve, if you have responsibilities outside of school. The only person I know who graduated with 3.9 lived at home, had no bills, and didnt have a job during school. So good luck to you, but don't beat yourself up if you dont stay at the 4.0 mark.

iteachob, MSN, RN · Mar 21, 2012

It depends on the school. It has been years, more than 10, since any nursing major has earned a 4.0 where I work. It's because of 1 class, and yes, I have mentioned this in a nursing faculty meeting......odd...no one ever makes an "A" in this one med-surg class. Not ever.

MN-Nurse, ASN, RN · Mar 22, 2012

For a student with a high drive to excel, is it usually impossible to hold high A's within Nursing school? Are my expectations too high? Thank you.

It isn't impossible. I did it.

But it was freaking hard. I think out of our class of about 80, 2 or maybe 3 had a 4.0.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Mar 25, 2012

It's a lot of work, but getting a 4.0 is not impossible.

However, it's also not going to cause job offers to land at your feet after you graduate. It will help with graduate school and nurse residencies, but it's no guarantee of getting a job immediately after graduation. So be sure not to neglect prepping for the real-world job hunt in favor of bagging a 4.0.

applewhitern, BSN, RN · Mar 25, 2012

At the school I attended, it was hard to maintain a 4.0 due to the grading scale they used. You had to make 94 for an A; an 83 was automatic failure. 84 to 89 was a C. 90 to 93 was a B. That was in an ADN program. Then I went on to a different university for the BSN, and a 70 was passing!! I was flabbergasted that you could do that poorly and still pass.

RNfaster · Mar 25, 2012

You can do it.

I pulled a 4.0 in nursing school. It was hard and I only worked part-time so I could study. I have some debt from that.

I would consider working part-time rather than full-time in nursing school so you have a better shot at the 4.0.

Skips, MSN, RN · Apr 24, 2012

I wish I could get a 4.0! I am in a BSN program, and I currently have all A's and two B's. It's tough work, guys. Congrats to those of you who have scored 4.0's. (:

Edit: this is my first semester (transferred credits from another college, so technically my last semester of my first year), and we haven't even finished the semester yet...my last final is tomorrow! Then I'll get into my second year starting in the fall.

kelso1001 · Apr 28, 2012

Depending on the school you go to, it can be extremely difficult. In the program I am in, you would literally need to get 100% on every single assignment/exam to have a 4.0. Needless to say, I'm pretty sure no one in my program has it.

LovedRN, BSN, RN · Apr 28, 2012

4.0? What's that?

I am joking.

Yes!!! You can do it.