I need some encouragement :(

[lullaby]

Hi,

I am a 29 year old woman who has a BA in interior architecture/design. I live in NYC and over the past year I have decided I want to become a nurse. I feel SO great about this decision and I have never wanted anything more in my life. I have been researching heavily for the past 8 months and I am currently on the path to taking all my pre-reqs at a community college in nyc starting this summer. Once all my pre-reqs are completed I will be applying to several accelerated BSN programs throughout the country, but mostly in nyc. I will go anywhere that will accept me!!!

but lately I have been feeling pretty discouraged I know how hard it is to get into nursing school and how important your gpa is. I'm scared that it will be really hard for me to get into an accelerated bsn program because my gpa from my BA is only a 2.8

BUT the program I was in was VERY hard to get into and is so competitive [the top ranked interior architecture program in the country] and it was also a 5 year program. our PORTFOLIOS were what were most important NOT our gpa's and I was one of the top students in my class! just making it through that program with anything above a 2.5 was considered a huge accomplishment.

I guess what i'm looking for are any stories of people who got into programs relatively quickly, despite lower gpa's. I have some really great recommendation letters, my personal essay will be great, I'm doing volunteer work in a hospital, and I will HOPEFULLY get a 4.0 on all my pre-reqs as I know how important all A's will be!

I don't mind waiting a while to get into a program but i'm hoping i don't have to wait more than 2 years after i'm done with all my pre-reqs.

my other question is do you think schools will finally give you a chance if you apply like 4 times?! do they finally let you in if you meet all of their requirements and continue to apply for years?!

I need some encouragement. I really have never wanted anything more in my life and am willing to do whatever it takes to become a nurse!

:)

[casi, ASN, RN]

Let me give you this encouragement. This year I applied to 2 programs. A BSN (1 in 3 got in) and an ASN (1 in 5 got in). I have a GPA of 3.14. I got rejected for the BSN and am currently #66 on the alternate list for the ASN program. From the Alternate list 60 will be accepted for spring, so I just have to cross my fingers and hope 6 people decline acceptance and I’m in.

I’d suggest don’t just apply to accelerated BSN programs, but apply everywhere. Something has to give somewhere.

YOU CAN DO IT!

[07302003, ASN, RN]

My undergrad GPA was 3.2 - very challenging school. Pre-req GPA was a 4.0. Got into a very competitive BSN program. My BSN school weighed pre-req GPA more heavily - they believed that how you did in the science courses (A&P, Nutrition, Organic Chem, etc.) was a good indicator of how you would do in nursing school. And a lot of us were older and more focused for the pre-reqs, and older and more focused for our nursing coursework.

So ask about how they weigh your grades, do your best, and best of luck!

[anne74]

My accelerated BSN program was very competitive, and they placed a huge emphasis on GPA - BUT like the previous poster, they weighed more heavily the pre-req science courses.

They don't consider as much your GPA from your undergrad - they take certain key classes from your undergrad, add them to your science pre-reqs (which carry more weight) and then determine your new GPA for admission into nursing school.

The nice thing about compiling your new GPA is that you can choose some of the classes you want included in the GPA. So if the nursing school requires 1 English credit, and you took 2 or 3 English classes in your undergrad, you can pick which class to include. So naturally, you'd pick the one with the highest grade.

So the moral of the story is, study your orifice off this summer in your pre-reqs and you have a good chance. Do whatever you need to do to get a good grade - quit your job or cut back on your hours, get a tutor - whatever it takes. That's your ticket into nursing school. Good luck!

[cmc4n6]

Nursing schools, particularly the degree programs, like to hear and know about the applicant's ability to survive Life's Stressful Situations. Being older helps. Knowing what you're getting into helps. Nursing schools have had a lot of drop-outs recently, so the programs want people who can "wade through the trenches" and graduate. As if the average person doesn't know what stress is.... but seriously, because of the lack of instructors, cost, and high drop-out rates, your ability to work under pressure and familiarity with the hospital situation is a big plus. Just keep going.....keep working, keep applying and don't worry about what the Administration is thinking. The more medical/hospital work you do, and the more prerequisites you take, the less time you'll have to worry and the more you'll know "up front". When I was in my senior year of the BSN, my biggest fantasy was a bed with clean linens in a quiet room.

[Ebouster]

3.75 GPA, rejected from 4 schools before being accepted into a program i reapplied for the following year. it was a long and strenuous journey trying to get into nursing school :angryfire but god it feels good getting in.

g'luck.

[Oznurse2b]

Good Luck!! I am sure if you have the drive and determination you will be able to do it!!

[RNHawaii34]

I am 34 years old. took me 12 years of waiting until I finally got my BSN ( from the Philippines...), I was forced to come back home to my home country because the school I was in here in Hawaii has like a long waiting list for ADN program....my GPA is not that perfect either. I think I had like 2.5. I work full time back then as an aide, if I didn't go back to the Philippines and finish my BSN there, I probably still waiting to get in the nursing school here in Hawaii......hang in there, don't feel bad. there are many school around the country that will accept you. trust me, it will pay off later.

[lullaby]

thanks for all the feedback everyone! i do feel better, i'm just focusing on getting the best grades i can in the pre-reqs, and then i will be applying to as many programs as i can in NYC, chicago and cleveland. i will also apply to AAS programs but it's my understanding that it's actually easier for me to get into an accelerated BSN program.

hopefully it won't take too long to get into a program, good luck to everyone who is also trying to get into nursing!

[nghtfltguy, BSN, RN]

i wish you the best of luck.. have you ever considered an online program?. i have a friend that did her BSN online because she wasn't accepted right away and she seemed to really enjoy it.. she is a great nurse too by the way..she did not have a wait time at all.. she started her courses right away..

either way.. i wish you the best~~

[TDub, MSN, EdD]

One of the great things you have going for youis that you are an older (so to speak) nontraditional student. Many schools want students like you. When you apply, include a couple of shots of your best work and explain the emphasis on portfolio. Turn it around so that you can showcase qualities nursing school wants: artists have great attention to detail, architects design things with people in mind and need to adapt on a dime, designers are creative and solve problems with a blend of quick thinking on your feet and drawing on a large data base....something like that. Talk about successes with difficult clients, how you've dealt with disappointment, problems that you've overcome; heck, just the struggle to get into school is worth consideration. You are an excellent candidate for school. You already made it through a hard program--you're not stupid. You're determined, skilled, willing to volunteer, compassionate. You'll do great.

My daughter is an artist and I see many qualities in her that would make a good nurse.

[JaneyW]

May I suggest also looking into entry-level master's programs?? Do the best you can in your prereqs.