I'm 23 years old and graduating in May. I will have a 3.46 overall cumulative GPA, brought down from a 3.75 when I entered. I have a 3.1 nursing school GPA. I missed two A's in nursing school by 2 points (this keeps me up at night). I am graduating with no debt, so luckily money is no problem.
Where am I going with this? I want to be a nurse practitioner. I'm scared I don't have know it takes as far as GPA. I could have done a lot better in school, but some awful personal issues got in the way (family issues, relationships, depression, self-doubt). I don't know what path to take.
I don't know whether I should pursue an MSN-Ed and get a post-Master's NP certificate, or go through an online NP program while working.
I need some clarity. Maybe I'm worrying too much? Maybe I need to relax? Any advice would help. This is keeping me up at night.
What scared me the most was my GPA. But from what you all are saying, you do not need a 4.0 to become an NP.
You don't need a 4.0 to become an NP, but you will also be very limited with a 3.1 GPA. It is a big investment of your time and money to go to graduate school so you want to make the best investment possible in both yourself and your practice: this means going to the best quality program you can.
Your GPA may limit you to less quality programs, so you need to balance it with something. Make yourself a better candidate by getting more experience, expanding your knowledge base, becoming an expert in something, etc before you think of going down the grad school path.
You have a long time left in your career, don't make rash short-term choices that will impact the long-term.
You do not need a 4.0 GPA to get into NP school. I'm about to graduate and had almost a 4.0 from my undergrad but that is NOT the case for all my classmates. NP schools are businesses and they want to fill up all their available seats. If they limited their selection to every candidate with a great GPA their would be a heck of a lot less NPs trust me.
Anyway, you are putting the cart way the before the horse in my opinion. Graduate. Be a good nurse and see if this is what you want to do. If it is there is always a way
Relax. Graduate from college, pass NCLEX, get a job as an RN and then cross the NP bridge in a few years once you've figured out the area you want to be in.
ruby_jane, BSN, RN
3,142 Posts
This is why I like you!!!