Is it too late for me?

jennafezz · Jul 30, 2008

There are a lot of schools that only look at your GPA in the prereq's. Not all schools, but I've seen quite a few. Also, if you were to get straight A's in prereq's, I bet it would bump up your GPA to at least a 3.0, which is the minimum at a lot of community colleges. Many CC's use lottery systems or wait lists, so you only need the minimum GPA to apply, as you don't need to compete with the other applicants' GPA.

Good luck, I think you should go for it.

karen230 · Jul 30, 2008

Wow, you sound a bit like me. I blew off high school and didn't bother going to college and yet have considered nursing since high school. I had the fear of not being smart enough to get in and this is the 3rd time becoming a nurse has entered my thought process and this is the furthest I have gone to actually doing it. See my post below, I am doubting myself right now as well BUT I will say this. Speaking from experience (see above mention of high school and yes I have failing grades on my college transcript as well), you can do this. Don't let your grades or people telling you that you won't make it get in your way. The only person who will know if you can do this is YOU. And the only way to truly find out if you are smart enough is to try. I have taken many courses in college (I'm the forever college student) and took human biology last semester so I could have a valid enough bio grade to be accepted into the program at my school. Guess what, I didn't get a chance to study as much as I wanted to but loved the course (which was a little wierd for me since I didn't like high school biology at all) and still got a "B-" in the course. I'm signed up for A&P I in the fall.

Now for the real advice: My school has a minimum GPA of 2.0 to be accepted and a "C" or better in biology in the last 5 years. Yeah they will weed out many in the first semester but they will give you a chance. My GPA is 2.37 overall BUT my program GPA is 2.9 which is the GPA they are using for my acceptance. Start looking at schools in your area and don't discount the ADN programs at the CC's (I am going in to an ADN program). Don't be afraid to ask if your acceptance is on overall GPA or program GPA. Ask them what you need to be accepted into the program (an admission person is probably best to speak with) and go to their website. Look at the ciriculum online (my school posts the ciriculums online so I have been able to see what I have already taken at the school like english and what I still needed like biology). Ask when they typically accept students (my school only admits in the fall but many schools admit fall and spring semesters) and ask if there is a waiting list. I started with the school that I already had grades at even though some of them were "F"'s, the "F" didnt affect my admission process for the nursing program. Ask if there are any pre-req's you need to be accepted in to the program, many schools require A&P before applying to the nursing program but my school allows you to take A&P with your nursing courses during your first year.

You can do this if you truly want to and don't be concerned about your age, I am currently letting my age get to me and kicking myself for it. And thank you, you have just made me listen to myself and refocus on my end goal and reminded me to take each semester 1 at a time. Worry about the semester I am in instead of the next one. Everything falls into place at the time it needs to.

serendipity123 · Jul 30, 2008

If there is one thing I've learned in the past year, it's that it is NEVER too late to turn your life around. You obviously hate being a paralegal and have the passion and drive to be a nurse, so that is very positive. That will help you a lot more than you think.

I happen to be from Florida so I know quite a bit about the nursing schools here. Miami-Dade college unfortunately bases admissions on not only pre-requisite grades but cumulative gpa. I know a lot about where you're coming from. I'm only 19 but really messed up my grades my first semester of college and in dual enrollment college classes that I took in high school. I am still going for nursing and I think you could too.

This is probably a crazy suggestion... but could you possibly relocate somewhere else in Florida? I am from North Florida and many schools here base admissions on a point system. This means that they give you points based on your pre-req grades (and ONLY pre-req grades... thank goodness!), on your entrance test to the program, and usually, they give heaps of extra points for being a licensed EMT.

You can check out other programs in your area, but most are BSN programs that require close to a 4.0 for admissions. If relocating is not an option, sit down and talk to someone at Miami-Dade about your options and your chances of getting into the program. If that doesn't seem feasible, talk to someone at a private school in your area. They are often more lenient on admissions. I believe Barry University is in your area. The tuition there is very expensive but you will definitely be able to get loans, so I wouldn't worry about that. They have excellent pass rates on the NCLEX. Most of your classes probably won't transfer, but that could be a plus for you since your grades weren't so great. You may have to start over as a freshmen and take all your general ed classes over, but it would be worth it. That is an excellent program.

Hopefully this helps somewhat. Good luck on your journey to becoming a :nurse: . You will make it.

msdeannah · Jul 30, 2008

As long as you are taking you prerequisites and applying to a ADN program that is different from your first school, I would start from scratch. I would retake every class need for consideration like English and Math ect plus the prerequisites, and then submit only those transcripts. That way you will prove to yourself that you are prepared to be a serious student (when you ace all you classes) and you will also have a competitive GPA.

If not apply anyway and then try the lpn-bridge method as a last resort. I also know the ADN program I am applying to only consider classes taken in the last 5 years if they don't fit into the nursing curriculum. Check into that also. My new favorite quote (and I'll change it to apply to you)

At 27 you are now old enough to know what you want, and still young enough to achieve it. You can do this!!! :up:

Kimba819 · Jul 30, 2008

Wow. Thank you guys so much for responding so quickly. I really appreciate all the advice and words of encouragement. I am taking my first two pre-req classes at Miami Dade College (the only college I have ever attended. Although I took my vocational Paralegal classes at FIU.. non-college credit classes that is.) Anyway, I am going to look into other schools in the area. Relocating is just not an option for me for both financial and personal reasons.

It just so happens that one of my father's best friends is a Nursing teacher at Miami Dade College (Homestead campus). I wrote her a very, very lengthy e-mail and she called me back within 10 minutes of sending it. I spoke to her and really the only thing she said was for me to take my pre-reqs, concentrate on getting my GPA up, and apply. She said that as of this semester, the lowest GPA she has seen is a 3.2. So I have my work cut out for me. It wasn't the most encouraging conversation, but by no means discouraging. She said that I should even consider taking some of the BSN pre-req classes (like the math/statistics) and that could also help bring my GPA as well as knocking those classes out of the way should I pursue my BSN later.

Thank you again for everything. I'm sitting here at work and actually have a smile on my face (I think it's confusing all the attorneys).

penelopelp · Jul 30, 2008

You can definitely do it! My first time in college, I didn't do so well. I tried pre-nursing for one semester, but I made an F in pre-calculus, a D in chemistry, and a C in A & P. At that time, I was also taking a literature class. I loved it so much (and did so much better in there), that I switched my degree to English. I am now going back for nursing school. I think that now that I am almost 37, I am much more ready to take those pre-nursing classes. I have a much better sense of what my goals are, and what I need to do to achieve those goals. I know that chemistry will be a struggle for me, but I will get whatever help I need to do well in there. I'll get a review book, look at the info on this site, etc. My study skills are much better than they used to be, so I think I'll do fine in A & P this time around. Fortunately, the school that I am looking at doesn't need anything over the College Algebra that I have already taken. If I go to the CC, they will just look at my new grades there, and not count thee grades from my other university.

Whatever obstacles come up, I think that we can all overcome them. Did you see the speech from the dying professor at Carnegie-Mellon, Randy Pausch? He said:

The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out; the brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. The brick walls are there to stop the people who don't want it badly enough. They are there to stop the other people!

It's a very inspiring speech--if you need some inspiration. It's on youtube.

CBsMommy · Jul 30, 2008

That sounds a lot like me as well. I started off not knowing what I wanted to do, so I completed some of the basics. Some of them with not very good grades. Some of the classes I would go to for two weeks, then stop going, and never drop them which shows as an F. I finally got laid off from the mortgage industry and I just completed all of the pre-reqs for NS. My CC looks at only the GPA for the pre-reqs so that is a huge plus! I would say go for it. It is never too late to turn your life around and you have every right to be happy. If nursing is where your heart is, go with it! Forget what everyone else has to say. If you believe in yourself there is nothing that you can't do! Corny, I know, but it's true. I have had a lot of nay-sayers in my life, namely my mother, and even if you have to look in the mirror 100 times per day and convince yourself that you can do this, than do it! Good luck to you and on your future. Remember, no one is living your life but you. Make it count!

jamilyn · Jul 30, 2008

I kinda know how you're feeling. I'm 26 years old with a HORRIBLE college transcript that I created right out of high school when I had no idea what I wanted to be when I "grew up". I only went because my mom expected me to and even then I hardly ever ACTUALLY went. I spent my days at the mall or with friends and in the end, forgot to withdraw from my classes in time so I left with F's. About a year ago I decided that I was tired of not having a real career....I wanted to do something that I was proud of......so I did some research and realized that I KNEW I wanted to do something in the medical field but I really had no clue about any of it. I got a job as Unit Clerk in ICU at one of the hospitals in Baton Rouge for 3 reasons: 1) to familiarize myself with all things medical 2) help pay for nursing school 3) I chose a hospital that has it's own School of Nursing. So....I'm hoping that being an employee will help my chances of gettin in when the time comes. I'm still working on my prereqs so we'll see. In the meantime, I'm learning/seeing/doing tons of cool stuff at work but I can't wait for this leg of the journey to end and the next part to begin. lol I know it's going to be super hard due to my current "full plate". lol (I have a 3 year old daughter in dance, three teenage stepsons who live with us fulltime...one of whom is "troubled" over the death of their real mom who died when they were 2,3, and 4 and a husband in the Army who was recently diagnosed with cancer).

But I'm determined despite all the people who are telling me that it's gonna be too hard and I wont have time and I should just give up!! Where there's a will, there IS a way!

notthereyet0 · Jul 30, 2008

I think the grade scenario has been covered but I am sure you missed the posts that said the poster was 37, 47, 53, etc. If you saw how many there are then that would not be a concern because there are many who are probably your mom's age and just starting out. I am 45 and just starting ns in the fall. You have a great future ahead of you, just do it instead of thinking about it!! Good luck!

JohnnysGirl · Jul 30, 2008

. I have (had) a friend that is a nurse and she basically told me there is no way I could do it and she is so much smarter than me and it was hard for her so it will never work-out for me. (Nice.. I know.)

What a self-absorbed thing for your friend to say! Instead of giving you an inside look to what you will be in for, she brings you down and says you aren't as smart as she! What a turn-off! People who want something bad enough obtain it through perserverance and a burning desire. You said yourself that you felt you had no direction in school, so it's no suprise that you previously did not do well. Now that you have desire and direction, what is to stop you from wanting it so bad that you ACTUALLY DO WELL?!?! Your friend did well and passed becuase she wanted it enough, and so will you. Just apply yourself and do it. Plus, after so long ( 7 years?) or so many credits, you can apply/request academic forgivness which will either erase or not factor in one semesters worth of bad grades. Look into it. It may bring up that GPA. Nail your science courses! Not only are they important, but are worth a lot of credits and can bring up your GPA. I was in the same boat as you when I first started out - due to ignorance and illness. I managed to bring my GPA up from a 1.2 to 3.8! Just focus and do what you got to do. If you want it enough, it will happen!!!

pepperoni · Jul 30, 2008

Get on it! You sound ready for a big change, and here is your chance! A lower GPA can be really embarassing (I have a 3.21 and I tend to get a little mousy when people ask what it is!) but the only way to bring it up is to work hard in your current or upcoming classes! Once you get in the swing of things, you'll start to be motivated by your steadily climbing GPA and feel more confident and driven with every A that pops up on your transcript. You could always retake some of the classes you didn't do well in, that will replace the bad grade with a better one. Good luck! :wink2: