I'm losing hope....

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

Published

Hi, I apologize for lengthy post, but I'm at my breaking point and need advice. I'm in my third junior year at my local community college as a pre-nursing student. I finished all my nursing pre-reqs on December 2016. A little bit about my grades: My GPA is 3.50 but with the classes that I'm taking this semester, it will bump up close to 3.6. Unfortunately, I have a C in anatomy, B+ in physiology, and B in microbiology. I took anatomy in my first year of college and I didn't realize how devastating that C would be when I transfer. I applied for BSN program at the private school for Spring 2017 and I was rejected. I also missed the deadline for state schools for Fall 2017 semester, and I applied again to the same private school for Fall 2017, and unfortunately, I was rejected yet again. I called the school and they said nursing department isn't going to send out letters until April 1st but I got mine like 3 days ago...I have a feeling they didn't even look over my physiology grade which I completed last semester and my essay after they knew I was rejected the semester ago...

I'm running out of options, I feel like. My parents have been pressuring me to transfer out and my friends with different majors already transferred out to UCs and CSUs and I feel like I'm stuck at the community college. With the uncertainty of when I will be accepted, I don't think I'd want to wait forever until I get in. I feel like that would be so much time wasted.

Meanwhile, I set up an appointment with the advisor from the private college to see what I need to work on and if I need to retake anatomy. I do plan to reapply for Spring 2018. I'm also considering to take business classes while I wait for my hopeful acceptance letter, and if I don't get accepted for Spring 2018, I think I'm just going to transfer out for business although my parents are against it. I talked with them last night and they expressed their major disappointment in me. They said they feel like the past 3 years of me taking nursing pre-reqs would be a waste of time if I change my major to business at the last minute. However, if I start taking business classes this summer, I would be finished by Spring 2018, in time to transfer out for Fall 2018. I thought about LVN-BSN or CNA-BSN bridge programs, but my parents are not fond of either ideas citing that LVN/CNA is not something that I should even consider when I'm still young and can try for BSN.

At this point, I have too many thoughts and extremely overwhelmed. I don't know what steps to take or what choices are the right ones. I would really use advices from those who have been in similar situations as mine OR even any advices to help me out. Thank you in advance!

Edit: I also want to add that I'm almost at 100 units. I took too many classes that I didn't need but I thought would need. Those classes brought down my GPA a lot last year, and I had 3.76 GPA. If I decide to go for business, would 100+ units would be considered and be a factor when deciding acceptance/rejection?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

So what others classs have you taken for the pre reqs other than those 3 science classes and what are their grades? Did the school that reject you explain why they did? Your GPA is substainally high however that C in anatomy may be what's hurting you. I know it's passing but in nursing school they few the pre reqs as "if you get a C in a pre req you'll likely get a D in a nursing course" because it's all buildings ontop of old material. I think your parents are influencing you too much, do you really want to be a nurse for you or them? Business is also a good career but is that a second choice or actually a first choice? You didn't waste time in CC, all education is valuable!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Also CNA is not a degree it's a license or sometimes only a title, like me for example my hospital trained me to be a Nursing Assistant but I don't have a certificate. Anyway, does your community college have an associates degree in nursing? You might have to go one more year after your senior year(they are 2 year programs usually) to finish it since you're a junior now, but you could bridge to a BSN or skip the BSN and bridge RN-MSN, I already have a Bachelors so that's my plan and I'd still be able to work at he BSN level if I wanted to with an MSN

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You've only applied to one school, if I'm reading things correctly. Why would you give up after one no? Apply to more programs, broaden your options.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics.

I agree with your parents that LVN and CNA aren't the best ideas, because with the amount of courses you've taken you should have all your pre-reqs done for an ADN program. I would find and apply to every ADN program you can, and you can always do an RN-BSN bridge once you finish. Since you'll already have your RN at that point you can also work while you do it, so you'll start gaining experience faster.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I guess I can personally relate to how your feeling. Its not an easy career and at this point I feel you can always try ,but be realistic and look for a back up plan. You do not want to fall back waiting for something that may not happen or be for you. I feel a lot of pressure I did recieve my AA and am ready to transfer to a BSN program. I feel the lack of information is a major disadvantage for potential students with outstanding academic achievements. Many will probly tell you to keep applying I dont really think people care once they are in and have over come the whole experienece. You have to think about where you now and what is your current situation. Only you will understand your personal situation. Either it is financially , personally or emotionally. A way you can start is attempting to talk to an advsior, but even so if nursing is something that you still want and someting you are still willing to invest in keep in mind there is no guarentee of a seat. Just keep in mind that many schools are changing their requirements such as: pre reqs, admissions exams,( adding subtracting sections) etc. You may want to look at deadlines because that will also put you behind and you may want to look into pre req expiration periods. All schools have different requirements I am not sure where you are ,but choose 3 or more schools of your choice look at the admissions requirements and pre reqs and get with an advisor to be well assured.

I do not want to seem as if I am encouraging you not to strive for your goals. I can only imagine what it has been like or feels like because I been there I am there. I have no problem with people wanting to surpass there dreams and capabilities through these challenges. Approachimg life changing experieneces unknowing and being misinformed. Time is valuable ,but life is that way. We have to take it as it comes stay strong and remeber the world is not all nursing. It seems that most are called only through the growth in employment not through the actual responsibility and it may be the same for other careers. Due to these reasons it is becoming and has become challenging. Keep in mind your competing with LVNs RNs and second major students if your seeking a BSN. Well atleast depending ,but BSN is usually not only pre nursing students. As i previously mentioned based of your current sitiation seek out what is best for you dont beat your self so much. Also, check if you can gain some type of employment with your degree. It sucks to have gone through an eduaction and gained a degree with no possibility of finding a stable job to even get on your feet and help your self or family. My best wishes to you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
You've only applied to one school, if I'm reading things correctly. Why would you give up after one no? Apply to more programs, broaden your options.

I feel like if I've been rejected twice to the private school, I wouldn't have a lot of chances at state schools with my stats.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I agree with your parents that LVN and CNA aren't the best ideas, because with the amount of courses you've taken you should have all your pre-reqs done for an ADN program. I would find and apply to every ADN program you can, and you can always do an RN-BSN bridge once you finish. Since you'll already have your RN at that point you can also work while you do it, so you'll start gaining experience faster.

That's what I'm considering at this moment! Go for ADN and then RN-BSN route. But that will take me more years to get my BSN. And my C in Anatomy is extremely bugging me and afraid I won't get into ADN programs either.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.

Do you have relatives in another state? You seem to be focusing on one school and one area. There are schools that will admit you with your grades, maybe not in your area. People have a tendency to stay in their "comfort zone" and sometimes that hampers them from progressing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
So what others classs have you taken for the pre reqs other than those 3 science classes and what are their grades? Did the school that reject you explain why they did? Your GPA is substainally high however that C in anatomy may be what's hurting you. I know it's passing but in nursing school they few the pre reqs as "if you get a C in a pre req you'll likely get a D in a nursing course" because it's all buildings ontop of old material. I think your parents are influencing you too much do you really want to be a nurse for you or them? Business is also a good career but is that a second choice or actually a first choice? You didn't waste time in CC, all education is valuable![/quote']

I took classes to get my IGETC which is equivalent to UC system's 7 course breadth policy. I was also taking classes that would fulfill the transfer credits for state universities. I have mostly A's, a couple Bs, and 3 Cs including anatomy, philosophy critical thinking, and chem 210. My college has a strict policy on retaking C courses...so I feel like that C in anatomy will be the end of me.

Regarding to my career choices, it is true that my parents chose nursing for me. I've never really seen myself as a nurse but a business-related career. Business is now a second choice because I don't know if I can wait semester after semester, hoping to get a spot in nursing school.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics.

Regarding to my career choices, it is true that my parents chose nursing for me. I've never really seen myself as a nurse but a business-related career. Business is now a second choice because I don't know if I can wait semester after semester, hoping to get a spot in nursing school.

Woah, ok then you are probably better off having not gotten in. This is not a career that you can fake it through (well maybe you could fake it but you'd be miserable). If you don't really, really want to be a nurse, at best you'll get into a program and leave partway through, and at worst you may spend all that time, get your license, and then need to find a new career because you're miserable in this one. I know your parents are putting a lot of pressure on you but please don't let them dictate the rest of your life in this way. If business is your passion, go in that direction.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hello! I am a senior in nursing school. I saw that you said that nursing is your parents choice, your first choice would be business. It is probably better that you didn't get accepted. I don't really think that nursing is something you should go into if you really don't want it. Nursing school is hard enough when you really really want it. I can't imagine how hard it would be if you didn't really want to be a nurse.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment