How much does GPA matter?

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Hey everyone!

I'm currently a USAF/GS employee overseas (if that matters) and when I get back stateside, I'm finishing my nursing degree and trying to get commissioned into the USAF.

When I first went to college, I was a slacker (to be blunt) and my GPA tanked... fast forward 13 years and it's caught up to me. I know you have to have at least a 3.0 (I believe?) and I'm almost back up to that but the recruiter said "the higher, the better" but I know that my past is what's bringing it down. Has anyone else gotten commissioned with a less-than-perfect GPA? Age won't be on my side either as I'll be mid-late 30's by the time I get my BSN.

Thanks for any/all advice! Have a great day!

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Specializes in Plastic Surgery / ENT / Head & Neck Surgery.

Not too sure how competitive the AF is, but for the Army it wasn't all that bad. I had a 4.0 but others who came in with me were around 3.0 and got in just the same. If this is really a worry for you yet something you really want to do, I would suggest re-taking some of the courses that are pulling your OA GPA down. This is not only a way to bring up your GPA but also to take-in the 30-40% of the course you didn't the first time (assuming you got C's and D's). There are many online options that are offered by many colleges and universities so time should not be an issue. In the end, the better you look on paper the better chance you will have of getting a slot. Best of luck and get that GPA up!

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

I agree, retake what you need to pull your GPA up. There are many online options.

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The classes that are pulling me down are ones from 14 years ago that have nothing to do with anything in healthcare - i'm going to have to retake some no matter what because of the time limit (like A&P 1 &2) but i had done well in those anyway...trying my best right now but can't wait to get back in the land of awesome internet!

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

Yes, your GPA can be a major factor. When boards meet in all of the services and there a lot more packets/records going before them then slots they find a cut off point of where not to look at the records. Lets say there are 100 packets for 10 slots and the average GPA is 3.5. What one of the first things the board will do is say that all packets with less than a 3.5 GPA will not be considered. This just decreased the number of packets they have to look at by roughly 50% which makes there jobs easier. This also happens on promotion boards, school selections board etc., they find a way to decrease the number which they have to look at.

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