iF NOT NURSING, THEN WHAT??

PJMommy · Apr 21, 2004

Consider calculating your GPA for the last 60 credit hours you took and writing or discussing this with the school. My GPA from my first degree was 2.9 -- but I was able to show that all my pre-reqs (close to 20 credit hours after my first degree) were all A's and my GPA in math and science courses during my undergrad was closer to 3.5 once you took out the elective classes I blew off during my undergrad days -- i.e. music theory, etc.

I'd just say that I seriously doubt PT/OT, RT, etc. will have easier entrance requirements. Your best bet is to nail the pre-reqs with A's and maybe retake any old courses that brought your GPA down.

TLC RN · Apr 21, 2004

I thought of other programs but with my undergrad GPA of 2.4 I was unable to apply for the PT and OT programs. Most of them had GPA requirements of 3.0 or above. If they were lower, the programs were getting many applicants with higher undergrad GPAs than me. I also thought of a post bachelor program for medical school but decided I did not want to go to school for 8-10 years till I start making money again.

I decided to stay the course and apply to nursing schools that will look at other factors. I found the following to be options.

There are schools out there that will look at just pre req GPA or your last 60 credits instead of your overall GPA.

Good luck, I know how you feel. It sucks, but what can you do but work hard from no on. I saved an email from a school that flat out told me don't apply, your GPA is not high enough just to remind me to get the highest grades I can.

The other good news is...I talked to a few masters programs that said if I do well in my BSN or ADN to BSN program that they won't hold the old GPA against me.

If you really want it, it is possible...it just may take a bit longer than you want it :)

rhiannonwolf · Apr 21, 2004

Hey chuck!

Dont feel bad! My first three years of college I walked away with a 2.1!! That's when I quit. A couple of years later I got my stuff together and went back to finish with my biology degree. My last two years I got nothing but A's and got it up to a 3.1! Its all a matter of dedication. Most school admissions understand that alot of people when they first go to college they are not really ready. Besides, what you do your last 30 or 60 hours weighs alot heavier than compared with your overall GPA in college! Good luck!

Rhiannon

chuckcamp · Apr 21, 2004

thanks for the feedback.. i guess the PT/OT route isnt anything to fall back on. i guess i'll just have to wing it and try my best. TOOTY, do you know of any schools that like to look at your final 30 credit hrs? every school i look at that says they look at the final 30 credit hrs also look at overall as well (according to the websites). do you think they are just putting that they look at "overall gpa" as a formality? a part of me feels like they just to that to look "more stringent" in their admissions-- whereas, they probably put a lot more favor on your final 30 hrs than what their website indicates

TopCat1234 · Apr 21, 2004

they do look at the overall, but what you've done in the last 60 units really does count. i think they do realize that either you were young or whatever, which is why they look at the last 60. and if you can address it and put a positive spin on it in a personal statement, that helps too.

i made it on the alternate list with a 2.6 overall, but a 3.5 in the last 60 units. what do your last 60 units look like?

topcat

angelac1978 · Apr 21, 2004

chuck, I just wanted to add this. In my research, I have noticed that some schools only look figure your GPA based on the classes relevant to the nursing curriculum. Like anatomy, micro, chem, etc. This was the case w/ the rad tech program that I applied to. Like you, my freshman and sophmore years of college really pulled my GPA down, but when I was older, I was more serious about my studies and pulled straight A's in the pre-reqs that I needed, which were similar to the nursing program.

A

moonbunnie · Apr 21, 2004

chuck-

i dont think youre anywhere near my area, but I can tell you that St. Anthony college of nursing has a cut off gpa of 2.5, and they take applications on a rolling basis, and basically if you apply early and meet the requirements, you will be accepted. i know quite a few people with not too wonderful grades who got accepted by applying early, while i got put on a waiting list with a 3.82 because i applied later. so if you would like to go to school in rockford, IL, you could try that one :)

alk3rainbow · Apr 21, 2004

My school doesn't even go by grade point average...they go by a points system, you take an entrance exam and the people with the highest score get into the program. Also my old community college used to have a program where they wiped the slate clean for people who messed up their first few years of college.

Here is a link to my old schools program. They called it 'new start'...might help you might not http://www.jjc.edu/newstart/New_Start_Policy.htm

chuckcamp · Apr 21, 2004

it seems like this is for a community college and i dont know how it is up there in illinois, but down in florida the community colleges tend to have waiting lists. since i have a previous degree, my credits would weigh a lot towards the point system. but i am willing to attend a university and even move, just as long as that i dont have to wait. i am probably going to apply to every school in the state (literally) and all the surrounding community colleges inside every adjacent county. I guess from what you all have put, even though they "say" that they look at overall GPA, they probably consider the final 60 hrs or the prerequisite classes (although they dont want to admit it!)

manna, BSN, RN · Apr 21, 2004

I don't think PT/OT is a good fallback, since those schools are incredibly competitive as well. At least in my area, most of all the health related educational programs have more applicants than they could ever accomodate, and end up being somewhat selective. That includes LPN, ADN or BSN, Rad tech, Surgical tech, etc

I'd call the schools in your state or area and try to get as specific an answer as possible about what they base admissions on.

Good luck! :)

Ruylupez · Apr 21, 2004

Try as many schools as you can. When I was much younger I almost flunked out of a university before quitting. When I decided to go back for nursing I found a local community college that only looks at your GPA in classes taken at their school. I spent a year getting A's in prereqs and then got in with no problem. They didn't even have a waiting list, just accept or reject based on prereqs, GPA, and entrance exam.