I need help...

VampyrSlayer, CNA · Oct 5, 2013

I'm kinda in the same boat... Started college when I was 17 and got bad grades. Went back to college and had a mental breakdown after finding my birth family (on Facebook at the age of 23 and going out to meet them). I took a semester off to clear my head and work. When I came back I took the prereqs I needed (mostly online) and because I'd already taken some of them, I had to spend the cost out-of-pocket on those. It sucks but if you take your time and take a few courses you can handle at a time and slow your roll, I have a very good feeling that you'll do great!

Whitwilke · Oct 5, 2013

Thank you for the reply, Sarahd333. How did you do when you repeated the classes? My problem is that I can't repeat the classes because I am only allowed one repeat, which I wasted with a W, not because I can't afford it.

Whitwilke · Oct 5, 2013

Thank you for the reply, Sarahd333. That's some serious stuff you went through... How did you do when you repeated the classes? My problem is that I can't repeat the classes because I am only allowed one repeat, which I wasted with a W, not because I can't afford it.

mrsboots87 · Oct 5, 2013

If your dream is to be a nurse, maybe start your courses for your current path. While in school apply to a CC with either a waitlist or lottery selection. Maybe you can get in that way for an ADN. Then later you can bridge to a BSN. The waitlists suck because they are long, and lotteries can take multiple times applying, but they will take much less timet hen waiting for grades to expire. Also, some programs don't expire or replace grades. SOme will use old grades even if they are 20 years old. If nursing is what you want, then find a way. I had to go the waitlist route in my state because of 2 science classes I got C's in when my first daughter was born. I didn't plan well for a baby and school. The unis in my area only take retake classes if you fail so my C's stand no matter what and my science GPA isn't competitive enough because of it. Ish happens, but it doesn't mean you wont make a great nurse if you want to be. You just have to find a program that you can get into with less than competitive grades like I did. I waitlisted for 2.5 years and will start in Spring 14.

Whitwilke · Oct 5, 2013

Thanks j.n.moore87. What was your science GPA? And overall GPA? My overall is about 3.2, but my science is 2.0. I got a B in my 5 unit chem class, but that doesn't seem to matter. I would gladly be wait listed... But I don't know of any schools that accept below a 2.5 in sciences.

Whitwilke · Oct 5, 2013

Do I just apply anyway? Even if I don't fit the minimum requirements for science?

Elizabeth Renee · Oct 5, 2013

I remember very vaguely being told that if a serious grief happens to you while in school out of your control that caused you to perform poorly in a class, you could contest the grade or W and advocate for it to be "written off." It's supposedly an involved process that requires a letter to be written sent with evidence of the disruption and is considered by some higher ups that weigh whether to count that grade/W or not and to decide if you can retake the course. Maybe look into that? I could be waaay off base (please don't quote me!) but I swore I thought I heard something like that existed.

Whitwilke · Oct 5, 2013

Elizabeth Renee, you are absolutely correct, in fact, I tried it, they denied me, so I appealed and they denied me again. It sucked. I had to make my case to a panel. One woman, one male student, and one adult male African man (I think one of the science teachers). The only one who had any empathy was the woman...but I lost anyway.

VampyrSlayer, CNA · Oct 5, 2013

I'm getting all As in the courses I'm retaking. Is there another college you can take them at even if you have to do it online? I used to suck at online classes, but now that it works so much better with my schedule, I'm thriving. Maybe look at that since you wouldn't be retaking them at another school, but it would be the first try?

GaGeek · Oct 6, 2013

First of all, that's really rough. I'm so sorry that you've had to go through that.

Also, do you have more than one school you could look at attending? Is the nursing program at the same school your are at now? I ask because of my own experience with re-taking classes.

My GPA wasn't phenomenal to begin with. It was like a 2.9 or something. I have three schools in my area that I was interested in attending, so I met with someone from all three schools to talk about my grades and my experience in the field (mine is animal related; some nurses are like "Oh yeah, you can follow me!" and others are completely offended at the idea that veterinary medicine is considered medicine at all). Anyway, I was just trying to get a feel for whether they thought I was competitive enough or not.

All three people said they look at only the highest grades in the classes I took. One school did count my overall GPA, but also calculated my pre-requisites based on the highest grades I had achieved, in order to break down how competitive I was. The other school only counted pre-requisite GPA and counted mine based only off the highest grades. And I don't remember what the third did. In the meantime, I've brought my GPA way up. I"ve already been accepted with the lower GPA, and that was based on my experience, my interview, and my recommendations. A low GPA doesn't have to mean it's impossible. It sounds like you have everything else going for you, even more than I did :-)

So I don't know if that helps or not, but it might be worth looking into. Don't roll over just because your current adviser told you to move on. Meet with a nursing school adviser! And it might mean spending the time and money to re-take some of those classes that you were disappointed in, again. But you sound like you're really dedicated to this and would be heartbroken if life turned out any other way. I say fight for it! Even it takes a little bit longer. :-)

FWIW, I've taken 7. I said 7! Anatomy classes of one sort or another. 2 were electives as college credit in high school. 4 counted toward my first Bachelor's degree. And this last one I had to re-take because it's been 10 years since the first. It's a pain in my @$$, but I want this badly enough that I'm not letting that stop me! Also, my grades ranged from C's to A's. They only counted 1, and they chose one with an A.

Elizabeth Renee · Oct 6, 2013

Elizabeth Renee you are absolutely correct, in fact, I tried it, they denied me, so I appealed and they denied me again. It sucked. I had to make my case to a panel. One woman, one male student, and one adult male African man (I think one of the science teachers). The only one who had any empathy was the woman...but I lost anyway.[/quote']
That is aweful. So what do they exempt then?! I can't imagine a situation more in need than yours.
It looks like you got a lot of good advice here. I will say though to be careful of some online courses, especially the sciences. Some schools may not accept online courses as satisfying the pre-req. I would ask the nursing programs you're interested in first just in case.