How to increase GPA for NP admission

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Hello,

I'm working on my application for FNP program. I completed my BSN in 1993 in the Philippines. My GPA is low, 2.3. I've been an RN in the U.S. for over 10 yrs. And due to demands I decided to further my education to be a Nurse Practitioner. Does anyone has any suggestion on how can I raise my GPA to 3, which is the require to most universities for admission to a graduate program. Please help!

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.

I'm not actually sure if there's a way you can increase your undergraduate GPA given your situation. NP school is not like applying to a BSN program where pre-requisite courses can be retaken in order to improve your overall GPA. As it is, you already have a completed BSN degree with a final GPA that does not meet the requirements in majority of NP programs in the US.

Having said that, you may still have some options. You could meet one to one with program directors or attend an informational meeting for some programs you may be interested in attending. You can ask about whether you can be considered as a provisional student. In some instances, programs may allow this if you have a reasonable explanation of why your GPA is low and at the same time prove that you have the ability to handle the rigor of graduate school (i.e., good GRE scores, recommendations from people who know your academic skills).

As a provisional status, you may be allowed to take only a few graduate courses (i.e., nursing theory, research, etc). Sometimes, you could be transitioned to a regular graduate admission from a provisional status if you could maintain good grades in the courses you are allowed to register in.

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Hello, I'm currently interested in the NP program, but my GPA is only 2.3. Can anyone tell me what courses I can take to raise my GPA to 3.0. I'm foreign educated U. S. RN. Thank you.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Moved to student NP forum

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Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.

If you have the BSN, can you take some courses at the 500 level that would apply to the NP (e.g. graduate level statistics, EBP, Pathophysiology, etc.)? That might help raise your GPA. Otherwise, your only recourse is to re-take some of the classes you had bad grades in and hope the school uses grade replacement. Some do, some don't.

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Specializes in Neurology, Psychology, Family medicine.

Unfortunately, I am not sure there is a way like previously mentioned. It would take atleast 60 semester hours or possibly more to bring up that gpa. I feel very strongly that not everyone needs to become an NP and not exactly sure what due to demands means. There are a multitude of different directions to take besides NP since you have your bsn. You can get msn and teach, or direct, or change specialitys but NP SHOULD be hard on the gpa to ensure strong academic rigor. Good luck in whatever you choose.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

I would identify a program to which you would like to apply and schedule a meeting with the department chair or head of the program. When you do that explain your situation and that you have grown as a person and a student and are ready for the challenge of NP school. Ask them what it would take for you to become a student in their program and see if you could take a few of the classes in a non-matriculating status and if you maintain a good GPA then you could be admitted to their NP program. The key is trying to make sure that you're not taking a bunch of classes at a particular school only to have them deny your admission and then you're forced to look at another school to transfer credits yet again. It's better to meet with a few different schools in order to identify the right place before deciding than to start taking credits and having to hop around to a bunch of schools.

!Chris :specs:

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Specializes in OR Nursing, Critical Care, Med-surg.

In no way do I mean to be a downer, but bringing a 2.3 up to a 3.0 at the least would be pretty difficult and it would take a ton of credits hours, meaning it will also be very expensive. Though I am a true believer that a person's GPA does not reflect their intelligence, a 2.3 to the graduate committee would be head turning. As the previous posters stated, you could schedule a meeting with the Dean or a higher up in the graduate program you'd like to attend to. Tell them your situation and go from there. In addition, there are a ton of students wanting to pursue a NP education which would make it even more difficult to be considered if there are more qualified candidates - just keep that in mind. Good Luck.

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Hi Pearl, I just want to asked what did you ended up doing? I have the same situation as yours and would like to know what are my options too. Thanks!

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Specializes in ER.

Find a program that does provisional acceptance. Apply for the MSN in Education which requires all the same prereq, most include advanced Patho, Pharm and health assessment. Do well and apply post graduate. You are only taking an extra 3 courses for the education track, in most schools. The education track is usually easy to get into and has extra seats because no one wants to teach any more. Some programs may let you change midway through the track.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.
Find a program that does provisional acceptance. Apply for the MSN in Education which requires all the same prereq, most include advanced Patho, Pharm and health assessment. Do well and apply post graduate. You are only taking an extra 3 courses for the education track, in most schools. The education track is usually easy to get into and has extra seats because no one wants to teach any more. Some programs may let you change midway through the track.

Respectfully, I would be very careful before doing this and here is why...

I should start out by saying that I obtained my MSN in Nursing Education because I have a passion for teaching and I wasn't sure exactly what speciality of NP I wanted to be when I began my MSN program (I'm now in a Post-Grad. Cert. program for FNP).

With that being said, the school where I received my MSN had a very small but competitive FNP program. About half way through my MSN in Education I inquired about the FNP track (general info. about the program) by taking with its director. She said in no uncertain words that they were "getting wise" to applicants who were "not strong graduate students" applying to the "less rigorous and less selective" education and leadership MSN programs and then trying to "slide into the FNP program" ahead of "more qualified applicants". I kindly reminded her that I had a 4.0 in the graduate level classes at their university and was an honor society student in my undergraduate program. I was not attempting to "slide" into any program or somehow cheat the system. I then told her that I was actually inquiring about the Post-Grad. Cert. or DNP programs which would keep me as a paying student at the university for at least another 2 or 3 years after my MSN but based on our conversation I would only be applying to other programs.

My current FNP program was happy to have me as a graduate student and thought it was great that I got my MSN in Education and already have some teaching experience. I just wanted to share my story because anyone who tries the "apply for MSN in Education or Adminstration and then switch to the NP track" route may face more hurdles than anticipated.

Best of luck OP!

!Chris :specs:

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Hello, Chris. Thank you for that insight. I, too, don't have the best GPA, 2.8, trying to get in FNP school and wondering what my options are. I have only inquired in one university & GPA does play a major role in acceptance. May I ask what you do now? And how you liked the MSN Education route?

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