I didn't get into Nursing School!! Help!!

FatsWaller, BSN, RN · Mar 21, 2016

Your thread states that you didn't get into nursing school. This post here contradicts your original post. So which is it? Did you or did you not get into nursing school?

I don't see where the contradiction is. I said I wouldn't have been able to get into school were I was from in California. I currently am in my last 30 days of nursing school in Kentucky at Bellarmine University. It's a private, expensive school, but let's basically everyone in (they recommend a 2.75 or higher) but I know people who got accepted with less. They just weed people out very aggressively.

melissamabd, DNP, RN · Mar 21, 2016

I think you need to reflect on why you have a 2.98, because nursing school is completely different and more difficult than the average prerequisite course. Many nursing students drop a grade or two once they matriculate in nursing courses because the ability to reason critically is required, both with patients and on all exams. There is very little learning of facts and spitting them back to the instructor. The learning levels quickly escalate to comprehension, application, and analysis levels (think "select all that apply" questions routinely). If your current GPA is average due to a lack of effort or time invested, you will need to face the reality of needing to ramp up to pass nursing courses, even Fundamentals. Those who make it through nursing school are able, committed, and responsible both academically and ethically. This is an enormous challenge. I wish you luck in your endeavor.

Taber24 · Mar 21, 2016

If I were you, I would take some time off from school and figure things out. There are some important questions that you need to answer for yourself here.
Most importantly, why did you do so poorly? If you got Cs in your prereqs, there's a pretty big chance you will fail out of any nursing program you're accepted to. So, why did you get Cs? Did you take too many classes at once? Did you have too many outside responsibilities (work, kids, relationships, etc.)? Did you have a hard time prioritizing?
Once you figure out where you went wrong, ask yourself how you can improve grades. Do you need to change your study habits, or maybe the way you study (visual, auditory, tactile, kinesthetic)?
You will most likely need to retake your prereqs. Both BSN and ADN programs are competitive because everyone and their mother is deciding to go to nursing school right now. There's a person who graduated from my school (community college) who was put on the wait-list for a 3.7 at first. You need to bring that GPA up, especially in your sciences. This will take time. There are some schools who only require a 2.5 GPA, but the 2.5s never make it in because everyone else's GPA is higher. And as far as lottery acceptance--I don't know of any schools in my area who do that. You would probably have to move to find a school that does that.
I know this doesn't sound fun, but I promise it will be worth it in the long run. You will struggle in nursing school if you don't have a solid grasp on the basics (which are all of your prereqs). Figure out what went wrong, fix it, and work really hard with the goal of understanding what you're learning instead of simply passing.
Good luck to you.

Love what this person had to say! I just got accepted into a nursing program in minnesota with a 4.0 GPA I however was very nervous about even being accpeted. I have a friend who is in your same position. And I find she is very capable of getting A's and wants to be in nursing school. But lacks when it comes to effort whether she knows it or not. It's worth putting your life aside for a time period to really excel in nursing school so you can set yourself up for a bright future. Good luck, I know it is easier said than done to pick yourself up and refocuse your energy.

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Mar 21, 2016

Come to AZ. Quite contradictory to what many people have said, there actually are options for nursing school outside of competitive entry. There are of course private schools just about everywhere that are insanely expensive but accept everyone. Even though there are very good private schools out there, there are also horrendous ones with poor reputations. And whether good, or bad, they are too expensive for the pay you will make after graduation.
Then em many places have lottery entry. So anyone who meets the requirements has an equal chance of being accepted, it just could take a while depending on your luck.
Lastly, like I was stating earlier, you could come to AZ. The community college district has a 2.5 GPA requirement and a 85 on the math portion and 75 on the English portion of the entrance HESI. They are wait list based and take 1 Semester to a year or two to get into from the wait list. The schools are well regarded, all regionally and nationally accredited, have fantastic NCLEX pass rates. The catch is that the programs are intense and do a lot of weeding out in the first and second semester due to not have competitive entry. Some students just aren't prepared because of their poor GPAs. You would be in that boat. I don't mean that to be rude, just that your poor science grades put you at a major disadvantage no matter the school you attend. But if you make it through the program, it will be from a well respected school.
There re are options. But beware, with your admittedly dismal GPA and poor science grades, combined with your poor study habits, your chances of actually passing nursing school are not very good.
I would suggest retaking all the sciences. Whether they make you more competitive or not. You wouldn't want a nurse caring for you who hasn't mastered the basic science courses from pre reqs and neither does anyone else.

I was not going to suggest any for profit, private schools. Why send her to a place of nothing but scamming? She already has poor grades, let's not compound the problem with putting her majorly in debt with a worthless degree and no job. She can get in, but she needs to speak with individual schools themselves and see what grades she needs to bring up.

I had to sit in on a BON meeting last week for one of my classes. Every school that had to appear before the BON were for profit schools. The BON was really on some of them for their dishonesty with incoming students and not disclosing NCLEX pass rates and the fact that many were on probation and in danger of losing their accreditation and not being able to sit for NCLEX. Nevermind the fact that they were nationally accredited which means the chance of getting a job if you pass, is slim to none.

mrsboots87 · Mar 21, 2016

I was not going to suggest any for profit, private schools. Why send her to a place of nothing but scamming? She already has poor grades, let's not compound the problem with putting her majorly in debt with a worthless degree and no job. She can get in, but she needs to speak with individual schools themselves and see what grades she needs to bring up.
I had to sit in on a BON meeting last week for one of my classes. Every school that had to appear before the BON were for profit schools. The BON was really on some of them for their dishonesty with incoming students and not disclosing NCLEX pass rates and the fact that many were on probation and in danger of losing their accreditation and not being able to sit for NCLEX. Nevermind the fact that they were nationally accredited which means the chance of getting a job if you pass, is slim to none.

As you will notice in my original comment, I did state that there are some terrible for profit schools and that all are too expensive for the income that will be made post graduation. But you are incorrect in your assumption that ALL for profit schools are scamming and terrible. I dont really feel the need to find them for you now, but there are actually some very good for profit nursing programs out there. They are just very expensive due to being a private school. Not all private for profit schools are one size fits all and terrible. Just like not all not all "regular" nursing programs are good and teach you well. Just because you witnessed disciplinary hearings for for profit schools, does not mean all of them are junk.

I also gave two additional options to OP for their situation.

Lin34 · Mar 21, 2016

I feel silly for asking but what do you mean by lottery based?

FutureNurseglen · Mar 22, 2016

So here in California, and I'm sure in many other states, there is a huge pool of applicants that are trying to apply to nursing school, and for that reason schools choose to do a lottery in order to give everyone a chance. However in order to actually participate in the lottery you have to have a minimum of a 2.0-2.5 GPA and a 2.5-3.0 GPA in the sciences. Your chances of getting in is really based on luck, but it is an alternative if you want to go to a specific school, and that school just so happens to be doing lottery... due to the heavy amount of applicants.

TheNurseStudentMom · Mar 22, 2016

I'm just outside of Charlotte, NC. Cabarrus College of Health Sciences doesn't have a particular GPA requirement, but requires an essay. Stanly Community College only accepts the top 60 TEAS scores, regardless of GPA. Neither has a 2 year waiting list. Good luck!

FatsWaller, BSN, RN · Mar 22, 2016

I feel silly for asking but what do you mean by lottery based?

Essentially as long as you meet whatever the base requirements are then there is no other criteria for admission besides sheer luck. Your name is essentially put into a hat with everyone else's and names are drawn until the amount of available spots is filled.

koreanbraves · Mar 22, 2016

You need to take a day to reflect and ask yourself why you got such a terrible GPA. if it was lack of effort, retake the classes and apply again for the next cycle, only if it is possible to bring your gpa above 3.4. If it was purely your ineptitude of skills and knowledge then you need to quit this route because nursing school is not easy. and I am sure your career will be even harder. look at alternative careers such as dental hygienist or occupation therapy assistant, radiology tech, etc.

Gooseontheloose, ADN · Mar 22, 2016

Actually, I applaud you! I live in Bay Area, CA and let me tell you...... it's brutal here. I actually work in the nursing education department at one of our local hospitals. We have nurses who have had to move out of state just to have a chance at getting into any nursing school. It's not that our schools are any better or worse, it's that there are just TOO MANY FREAKING PEOPLE in California. Honestly, I can't wait to leave this state, but since I am here for my kids, I need to make the best of it. I studied my butt off, have a 4.0 gpa, and am still waiting to see if I made the cut this year. It is what it is. So I get why you moved to KY (plus it's so beautiful there) to go to nursing school. I didn't take it as an insult at all. Also, EMS experience is something that can make you a great nurse. It teaches you fantastic critical thinking skills and good basic assessment skills. Nursing is scientific, but it's not rocket science. :) I work with several of the nursing professors at our local schools and they will even tell you that not all stellar, 4.0 students make the best nurses. The advice I would give anyone is, YOU NEED GOOD GRADES, but you might also want to consider private schools or other states that aren't so impacted.

pedseraprn · Mar 22, 2016

Agree with all of the above. You have to be sharp in science to learn and comprehend the material in a short time. Learn it Monday. Apply it in clinical on wed. Many students I had with similar gpa didn't make it through. Retake the science stuff and or find a new profession. Get ready to explain your science gpa if you re apply. Nursing is super competitive now along with pa, rrt, pt and others.