I want to be a nurse but I have a low GPA

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I went through a lot my first two years of college and I feel like they were basically a waste because at the end of them, I ended up with a low GPA of a 2.4. I really want to be a nurse and can't see myself in any other career but I know that my GPA is not going to allow me to get into a nursing school next year. I want to get my BSN but am okay with just getting an associates degree and then going into an RN to BSN program. Does anybody know how and if I can eventually get into a nursing program? I've been thinking about re-taking my prerequisites but my advisor told me that I shouldn't, since I passed the classes, although I didn't pass them with the best grades.

What's your science GPA?

Some schools accept the highest grade if you retake a course and some schools won't accept the highest grade and only accept the grade your first got in the class.

Wow - what schools won't accept your retake grade and only look at the initial grade? What on earth could be the reason for that?! I can see schools averaging the two grades together but ignoring the retake? Why? :confused:

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Specializes in Ortho/Trauma.

^Some schools deduct points for retaking courses because nursing is competitive. Can you imagine if someone retook a pre-req like physio 4 times just to get an A? It wouldn't be fair to those who earned the A the first time around. In additions, a lot of schools (at least in cali) only let you retake a course if you got a D or lower.

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There can be very valid reasons for needing to retake a course. I do agree somewhat, however. A prerequisite to my nursing program was a PCT course that taught a lot of basic med/surg techniques (sterile dressing changes, foleys, NGs, etc). Many students had to take the course 3-4 times to pass and I got an A on the first try and thought it was easy. I shudder to think those students might be nurses some day as they cannot even grasp the basic concepts.On the other hand, the first time I took Anatomy, I failed the course because my sister was involved in a serious car accident and was on the brink of death for weeks so I didn't attend lecture/lab/exams as I was at her beside. I petitioned to drop the course after the deadline, but it was denied because I was physically able to drop the course by the deadline despite being mentally incapable of even considering school at the time. I retook the course and earned an A. I would hate to be discriminated against because of something like that.

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I went through a lot my first two years of college and I feel like they were basically a waste because at the end of them, I ended up with a low GPA of a 2.4. I really want to be a nurse and can't see myself in any other career but I know that my GPA is not going to allow me to get into a nursing school next year. I want to get my BSN but am okay with just getting an associates degree and then going into an RN to BSN program. Does anybody know how and if I can eventually get into a nursing program? I've been thinking about re-taking my prerequisites but my advisor told me that I shouldn't, since I passed the classes, although I didn't pass them with the best grades.

Look into Associate's programs - I'm in a similar situation and happen to have a good local program that has a min GPA of 2.5. If your college/uni takes a cumulative GPA, start taking some electives or refresher courses to raise your GPA while you compare nursing programs.

Also think about volunteering in healthcare if you don't already work in the field. Help admissions see you're serious. :)

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My community college recommends retaking classes to raise your GPA. Entrance is based on your GPA there, though, not the TEAS or anything else.

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Specializes in none.

My school only takes the prerequisite gpa into account to get into the program and you can only take a prerequiste over one time.

Check what rules your school follows so you know what you need to do to get into the program. Good Luck!

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My school has no problem with people retaking courses. You have to have a 2.75 to get in and maintain a 2.5 to stay in. The wait list is not based on GPA. You get in once you complete the first 2 quarters of the RN curriculum (non-clinicals.) The similar priced school 20 minutes away has a wait list where priority is GPA based. You have to keep a 3.0 to stay in their program.

Look around at different schools if need be.

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hello Happy 2 learn!

Can you please advise the name of school that accept 2.75 GPA.

Thank you very much :)

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Specializes in CNA.
I went through a lot my first two years of college and I feel like they were basically a waste because at the end of them, I ended up with a low GPA of a 2.4.

I petitioned my school to throw out my entire previous (2 decades old) transcript. I restarted from scratch and applied to my nursing program with a 4.0 GPA. I actually only ended up retaking three classes: Comp 101, Chem 101, and Psyc 101. Knocked all those out in one semester.

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Specializes in none.

My community college only requires a 2.0 overall gpa and prereq gpa but there is a points system that they use to select students based on your prereq grades and the entrance exam. I had a very bad time my first time in college (a decade ago) and my GPA was horrible - I had a 1.18 from not going to class and not withdrawing.

I started back at school this January and now my GPA is a 2.3. I retook a couple of classes in order to pull it up. My prereq GPA, however, is a 3.4 and I got a very high score on the entrance exam. Based on the points cutoff of the last couple of semesters, I'm well within the acceptance range. So don't give up!:up:

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I didn't have so great of a GPA either. Had failed some high school classes my senior year (purely due to being absent half the year) and my college class grades were just average, but I did well in the upper 90s for the nursing entrance exam at a school funded by the state. It's possible to slip by with that :)

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You advisor should not be giving advice. If your GPA for your pre req’s is that low you need to retake them. As mentioned you could go to a different college and not transfer in your old credits. That will give you a clean slate. ADN programs are just as competitive as BSN programs if not more so. You will find that the ones not requiring a high GPA are usually very expensive (I.E. not as competitive to get in) some private ones are just diploma mills that will take just about anyone who can pay (or get loans). You also need to find out what is influencing these grades? Lack of study time, no support from family, or lack of self discipline. Not trying to be harsh but most programs are very competitive, and you have to want it to get in.

Best of luck

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