In need of advice

[Giants8307]

I posted this in the graduate forum, but perhaps I can get more responses in this forum?

I'm really in need of some help here. Here's the short of it. I did well in high school and pulled a 4.0 to get into Cal Poly, SLO's bio department. I recently graduated (June), but with a 2.41 grand total. This is obviously not impressive to any graduate school. However, my grades in prereqs have been pretty decent. I've also been studying hard for the GRE. I'm applying for job after job, hoping for an interview at a hospital. I have my EMT license, so that will help. Anyway, I'm really set on nursing now. What programs are there out there for me? I keep seeing a 3.0 minimum at every school I look at. I've been interested in USF for a while, but I'm still unsure of whether they will look at my app. I'm trying to get into either an accelerated BSN or Direct Entry MSN program. Any ideas?

Relevant coursework:

Intro to Human Phys: A

Anatomy and Phys I: B

Anatomy and Phys II: B+

Physics I: B

Chem I: C+

Stats: B

Sociology: A

Microbio: C

Intro to Psych: C+

Calculus I: B

Philosophy: A-

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

Outside of the GPA, it sounds like you've got a lot of things going for you. Unfortunately, the accelerated and direct entry programs tend to be pretty competitive and they often set minimum requirements to whittle down the number of applications in the pool. If you can find a school who is willing to interview you, I have a feeling that you would do great at that point.

[Giants8307]

Thanks for the encouragement, Eric. Very much appreciated.

[sail81]

Promise me you will not let that stop you! I graduated with a Psych degree and a GPA of 2.6, there are schools out there that will ONLY look at your pre-req courses for entry, so as long as those are good you'd be ok....don't sell yourself short, a lot of "smart" Advisors are willing to work with you. You would most likely have no problem getting into an Accelerated BSN program however getting into a Direct Entry Masters program maybe a tad harder but it is definately doable. I e-mailed all the direct entry Masters programs in the country and some Advisors were very willing to consider me for the program. I hate the GPA requirements!! Some of us have very real reasons for having a low GPA. Good Luck!

[Giants8307]

Thanks, Sail. Can you tell me which programs were willing to talk with you?