Low cumulative GPA - feeling discouraged

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Hi, about two years ago I was a freshman at UCI and was struggling academically and socially due to my depression. I had left the school before sophomore year so that I can get help, but I had left the school with a gpa of 2.791. I’m now currently in CC, and I am passing each prerequisite with A’s. If I keep up with the way I study and work, I’ll have a 4.0 gpa for my prereqs. However, the thing that is really discouraging me from applying to cal states nursing programs is my cumulative gpa. I have calculated my cumulative gpa and it has come out to be a 3.2. If I get good grades in my last two prereqs, I can get it up to a 3.3. My cumulative gpa doesn’t make me competitive at all, and this really discourages me a lot. I do plan on taking additional classes so that I can raise it up, but at most, it can get up to 3.6 if I continue to take classes until next spring (‘21), but I wanted to apply next fall (‘20). I don’t really know what to do, if I want to get it up to a 3.7/3.8, I’ll have done over 120 units (combo of my 30 units from UC to all the units I’m taking at CC).

Has anyone ever been in this situation? Any advice or suggestions would be helpful.

Thank you.

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Is the nursing school youre applying for looking at your other grades outside of your prereqs????

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I would look into a CC and get RN first (ADN), then get your BSN if you're not down with going to a private university for BSN.

I thought I have pretty competitive stats here in Socal (prereq GPA 4.0 | cum. gpa 3.7 | teas 93% - low reading score - 83%) but it's so competitive at CSU that I might not even get in with that.... I'm trying for ADN first...

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Oh! One more think. Have you taken your TEAS? I would that first before deciding as well. CSU counts the reading and overall score, so if you get above let's say 92 on both, then I think you will be pretty competitive.

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Specializes in Psychiatric and Mental Health NP (PMHNP).

My situation was similar to yours. My initial undergrad GPA in non-nursing majors was bad - I was young and struggling with a lot of personal issues. I ended having a successful business career and made a mid-life career change to nursing.

Here's what I did:

1. Got A's on my nursing school prereqs, which I took at like 10 different community colleges - you know how impacted they are in California

2. Retook the classes I could in which I got a C or lower

3. Completed a healthcare certificate program through UCLA Extension with a 4.0.

Well, I was accepted by Johns Hopkins, UCLA, and Univ of San Diego Hahn School of Nursing!

Note: I addressed my initial bad undergrad GPA in my admissions essay, and emphasized that my career and most recent academic achievements represent my true potential.

Good luck.

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Specializes in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology RN.

I had a 3.2 cumulative GPA. I heard that the RN school I wanted to attend was denying people with 3.6 gpa's even though the minimum requirement was 3.0 so I went to LPN school, then applied for RN school through a bridge program.

Im glad I did it instead of going to some crazy overpriced private school. Just wanted to share my path, because it is an option for you! Keep your head up. Theres always a way! @stormii

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Don't be discouraged! One of my friends was accepted into a competitive CSU program with a 2.9 undergrad GPA.. but was accepted with a 4.0 prerequisite GPA and 85 on the TEAS. Keep pushing!!!!

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On 10/18/2019 at 11:11 PM, Jeein Kim said:

Don't be discouraged! One of my friends was accepted into a competitive CSU program with a 2.9 undergrad GPA.. but was accepted with a 4.0 prerequisite GPA and 85 on the TEAS. Keep pushing!!!!

Can I ask which CSU she got in? That's really encouraging knowing that she got in with those stats!

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Your story is my story. I did terrible at UC during my undergrad years. Ended up with like a 2.7-something from there. It really killed my self-confidence. I didn't know how to study, was a first-generation college-goer, and experienced depression for the first time in my early 20s. After leaving the UC, I worked for 3-4 years and then finally started taking my pre-req's slowly. I applied to a CC with a 3.0 cumulative GPA, 4.0 pre-reqs GPA, and a TEAS score of 85% (didn't study). I was offered seat #34 out of 40 seats and ended up graduating as valedictorian. I will be starting my BSN this fall. I took the long route, but whatever it takes right! Please don't doubt yourself. It sounds like you've also matured and are serious now. You will get there!

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On 2/4/2020 at 10:25 PM, yangy said:

Your story is my story. I did terrible at UC during my undergrad years. Ended up with like a 2.7-something from there. It really killed my self-confidence. I didn't know how to study, was a first-generation college-goer, and experienced depression for the first time in my early 20s. After leaving the UC, I worked for 3-4 years and then finally started taking my pre-req's slowly. I applied to a CC with a 3.0 cumulative GPA, 4.0 pre-reqs GPA, and a TEAS score of 85% (didn't study). I was offered seat #34 out of 40 seats and ended up graduating as valedictorian. I will be starting my BSN this fall. I took the long route, but whatever it takes right! Please don't doubt yourself. It sounds like you've also matured and are serious now. You will get there!

Wow, that is really inspiring! What school did you get in?

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The school she was accepted into was Cal State San Marcos! Good luck ❤️

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I really related to this and find myself in the same boat right now. I was interested in applying to MENP programs and applied to 2 last year. I, unsurprisingly got rejected from both but received great feedback when I reached out to them. I spoke to one of the admission representatives yesterday for one of the schools I applied to and she let me know my GPA for the last 60 Semester units was a 2.7 (my cumulative undergrad is 2.3...my mom passed away less than a month before I entered college...my whole undergrad was quite an awful ride of ups and downs) and my science GPA is a 3.08. I haven't finished my science pre-reqs. I plan to retake Anatomy ( I got a B-) and take micro lab. I also need to retake Lifespan Psychology as well. I can bump up my GPA to a 3.4 if I get an A in all three..but that's it. I'm trying to figure out what to do or which route to take from here....

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