How tough is it to get accepted into an accelerated nursing program?

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Aug 22, 2009

Depends HOW "not very good" your GPA really is .... I have heard of students with GPAs below 3.0 in their first bachelor's that have been accepted into accelerated programs, but mind you these are students who have also excelled in their prerequisites (and by excel I mean they have presented prereq GPAs in the 3.7 to 4.0 range) and bring to the table much more than stellar numbers (life experience, volunteering, compelling stories, high percentile entrance exam scores, etc.). Depends also how long ago your 1st bachelor's was earned, as it will enable you to show how much your focus has improved since then when you present your recent prereq grades. From what I have seen as well, you will have a much harder time it seems getting into the cheaper state schools, because of the demand to enroll in less expensive programs and the resulting emphasis more on grades than anything else. Some people have an easier time getting accepted into private colleges. It's almost like your transcript becomes a credit report: the higher your GPA, the less tuition you can pay; the lower your GPA the more tuition you will pay.

That's my take - as someone who is presently getting ready to apply to accelerated programs himself.

nohika · Aug 22, 2009

Well, if you've done the pre-reqs, in some cases, that's all that matters. So definitely look into what the programs consider.

Ted D · Aug 23, 2009

Depends HOW "not very good" your GPA really is .... I have heard of students with GPAs below 3.0 in their first bachelor's that have been accepted into accelerated programs, but mind you these are students who have also excelled in their prerequisites (and by excel I mean they have presented prereq GPAs in the 3.7 to 4.0 range) and bring to the table much more than stellar numbers (life experience, volunteering, compelling stories, high percentile entrance exam scores, etc.). Depends also how long ago your 1st bachelor's was earned, as it will enable you to show how much your focus has improved since then when you present your recent prereq grades. From what I have seen as well, you will have a much harder time it seems getting into the cheaper state schools, because of the demand to enroll in less expensive programs and the resulting emphasis more on grades than anything else. Some people have an easier time getting accepted into private colleges. It's almost like your transcript becomes a credit report: the higher your GPA, the less tuition you can pay; the lower your GPA the more tuition you will pay.
That's my take - as someone who is presently getting ready to apply to accelerated programs himself.

My GPA is just under a 3.0

does it really work like that at the private schools? they just adjust your tuition rate according to your GPA??

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Aug 23, 2009

My GPA is just under a 3.0
does it really work like that at the private schools? they just adjust your tuition rate according to your GPA??

No, not at all! My analogy with the credit report is that when your GPA is lower, it sometimes seems as if state schools are really out of the question. The high GPAs will get seats before you, and what's left for those with lower GPAs are the more expensive schools (if they get in). It was kind of a dumb analogy, forgive me :zzzzz ...

If you're just under a 3.0, don't give up. Ace your prereqs and be proactive with other aspects of your application (recommendations, volunteer experience, etc.) and you have a chance. Good luck!

Ted D · Aug 23, 2009

haha don't worry about it, I make much worse analogies. I plan on doing really well on the pre-reqs, hope that's enough.

I'm just looking at how many programs there are everywhere, seems like there have to be some that are a lot easier to get into (even state schools).