Is it too late for me to try to become a nurse?

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I'm a Junior year undergrad student in the process of changing both schools and majors. In the last year I have gone through a lot of growing up/recovering from past issues and am ready to start fresh with a new sense of motivation.

My GPA right now is a 2.7/2.98 depending on how you measure it. I know that nursing is very competitive and that no matter what my GPA is going haunt me. But is it still possible to start working toward a BSN? If I had a 4.0 in my prereqs, and jumped through every hoop imaginable? I'm also considering majoring in Biology and then working on the Nursing degree after. I'm willing to try for any (reasonably good) program, even if it's in the middle of nowhere if it would mean a smaller applicant pool.

Am I barking up the wrong tree? Any advice is appreciated.

A lot of nursing programs only factor in your pre-req GPA and not your all-college GPA so if that is the case, then you will be fine! Do some research into the schools in your area and find out which only look at pre-reqs. If this is really what you want, then it is never too late.

its never to late, just take more classes if you need to till you have the ones you need and the gpa you need, my school like to see a 3.5 gpa for rn school,, with anatomy and algebra as prereqs.

Hi Acolyte,

I'm not sure about BSN process in undergrad, but I'm sure a lot of it depends on your school. Maybe you could talk to the counselor for the nursing major and s/he could look over your classes and see how many more you'd have to take to satisfy the major requirements. If you're thinking about applying to nursing school after you finish undergrad you still have a lot of options. You could get a second bachelors in an accelerated program (about 2 years, some are less), you go through a community college or diploma program, or you could consider an entry level masters (which are designed for people who want to go into nursing but majored in something other than nursing). I'm currently in my first year in the latter program.

Good luck!

When I was in high school my family life literally fell apart and I struggled because of it. I had less than stellar grades my first go in college. I graduated and got a B.A. but with a 2.76 overall gpa. After a lot of changes for the good in my life and having children I decided I wanted to be a nurse. I started taking prerecs and have gotten an A in every prerecord I've taken. Things are so different this time for me. In college the first time I could barely pass college algebra and failed chemistry. This time around I got an A in chem and better than 100% in college algebra and stats. I knew I wouldn't be able to get into a program if the looked at my undergrad gpa but I found that there are a lot of programs that only look at your prerec gpa not your cumulative. So now I am applying to a local BSN program and I think I have a really good shot. I actually think I'm a top candidate based on my prerecord gpa (3.92 because I had a B in English 101 that has followed me). I got in the high 90's on the entrance exam. My entire outlook has changed. I knew I was smart but when I was in college the first time I just could't pull it together. Now I KNOW I can do this and you can too. Just decide that you can and that you'll work as hard as you need to in order to succeed. Best wishes.

iPad auto correct foiled me again . . . I meant PREREQUISTE not prerecord.

Thanks so much for your supportive replies. After reading other people's experiences going to nursing school on this board, I see there are more options and paths than I originally realized. Your experience in particular resonates a lot with me, NomadMomma.

I am lining up plans to work toward getting my BSN!

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