I can't find a program...need a 2nd chance

Dino · Aug 9, 2009

You need to specifically talk with a school you are interested in attending and tell them you situation. But before you do you need to take some of the prereqs. for nursing school over again or for the first time depending on if you had taken them in the past. Take Anatomy and Physiology I and II, microbiology at a local or community college, get at least B's in them, then talk to some schools you are interested in and let them know your situation and that you have matured enough to take nursing seriously because it is more academically demanding than people think. You can also consider a community college ADN program, might be a little less picky about total gpa. Remember an RN does the same thing initially, whether you are associate degree RN or BSN, and RN is an RN. If you want the BSN or MSN then work on that later while working as a nurse, that is what I am going to do. I was accepted to many 2nd degree BSN programs, however the cost is way too high to attend many of these 2nd degree nursing programs for the return on investment, better bet is if you know you want MSN just get your RN then when time arrives apply to an RN to MSN program. Anyway, if you take some of the preqs. over again get good grades, score well on an NLN pre-nursng test, if you elect to go to an ADN program, then explain how you have matured and are ready to work hard, you should get picked up by either program. Hope this helps.

eCentriCladY · Aug 10, 2009

Dino, thank you for responding to my inquiry with real, solid info! I will look into these things and by the way I had Anatomy and Physiology as well as Microbiology and got a B in Anatomy and an A in Micro...Thanks again.

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Aug 10, 2009

IME many schools place more weight on how you do in the science classes. Overall GPA matters but it is good that you've done well in micro and anatomy.

The problem is that you still have that academic record of not really putting your all in to the program. Look at what other prerequisites you need to take- do you need statistics? Psychology? Developmental psychology? Abnormal psychology? Ethics? Computer science? Are there literature requirements you might need to fulfill, other general ed requirements?

I had a really low undergraduate GPA with several (yes several) Fs on my transcript, many withdrawals....but spent a year and a half getting As in all of my prerequisites (except for statistics and I feel lucky to have passed with a B). I think having a solid block of time where I did well was as important if not more so than what the better grades did to my cumulative GPA. Several schools I looked at take a minimum GPA overall OR in your last 60 credits. Some schools will also place a lot of weight on personal statements and recommendations which would give you an opportunity to explain that you didn't take school seriously the first time around but since then have done XYZ that illustrates a new-found ability to commit. Some won't, but you won't know until you start looking in to specific schools, contacting their nursing programs, attending orientations, etc.

I would work on increasing your GPA with the prerequisite classes you may still need and I would consider taking additional, non-required classes if you only need a couple of prerequisites. I was accepted to a 2nd BSN program after completing 6 prerequisites (with another 4 to go) and doing really, really well in them.

eCentriCladY · Aug 10, 2009

hiddencat...again, thank you for the reply...what school and program are you enrolled/accepted in? I would love to speak with someone in admissions there. You are not just someone saying "you should do this or that", you are some what in my boat with your foot in the door. If you are comfortable providing such information I would like to know where you attend school, or will be attending the 2nd degree bsn program. Good job - by the way! Very good job on your behalf.

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Aug 11, 2009

I'm going to Drexel in the fall. I was also accepted to CCP, the local community college. They have 4 different tracks you can apply under, and since I'd taken more than 12 credits at CCP, they looked at my application as a CCP student and ONLY considered my CCP transcript for GPA calculations. You might find local community colleges that would do something similar.

I know Thomas Jefferson University will look at lower GPAs if you take the GRE (it's hard, so don't go in thinking you'll wing it or you'll bomb like I did). UPenn also has a pretty extensive application process that has several essays you can use to show them how you would excel in their program.

Another thing to think about is maybe working as a CNA or volunteering. That would show interest in the field that has some commitment behind it. You also might make connections that could become references.

I think above all the important thing is to be able to show on paper that you have changed, matured, etc, and a couple of semesters of consistently good grades will certainly help your case.

This was something I was so stressed out about- I cried when I got my acceptance letters. It's definitely possible to redeem yourself, but it might not be a quick fix. There are definitely other programs that will also look at more recent grades instead of just cumulative grades, so I would just start working through schools based on what your criteria is (local, close by, accelerated option, associate's degree option, etc).

Good luck :)

L&D_2b · Aug 11, 2009

Butler Community College's (http://www.bc3.edu) RN nursing program admission is based on your last 12 semester hours of nursing college credit. Admission is ranked by GPA from those last 12 semester hours. You can apply up until December for next fall (2010). There is no admission interview, pre-entrance tests, etc. So you can literally enroll as a pre-nursing student now, take 12 credits while trying to do EXTREMELY well, and get in next fall.

I hope this helps.

--Marci