Low GPA applicants for ABSN winter/spring 2012

ParkerBC,MSN,RN, PhD, RN · Feb 26, 2011

There are two out of fifteen in our cohort whose GPA was below 3.00. The rest of us were between 3.5 and 3.8. Interesting fact; the two who had the lowest GPA’s are the two with the best nursing GPA in the cohort. Don’t give up. Check to see what the average GPA’s are for the programs to which you are applying. This should give you a ball park of where you need to be. If the problem is that you are not at 3.00, have you considered retaking a course at your previous college to substitute a lower grade. Being only 3 hundredths of a point off is simply retaking a single course.

als224 · Feb 28, 2011

Thanks for the reply Parker. I no longer live near where I did my undergrad, and I get the sense that once you graduate, your undergrad record is closed. I don't think that retaking a class from my undergrad will change my undergrad GPA at this point. I have been taking pre-reqs though, and they have pulled my total cGPA up to about a 3.0 so far. With this semester's grades, it'll climb even a bit higher! Its sometimes frustrating to think that I may have kinda screwed myself over during undergrad when I lost my way and my motivation for a while. I'm sure I will overcome these difficulties and get in somewhere!

tothc2 · Jun 21, 2011

Hey als224,

I applied for the Pitt's ABSN program to start in January 2012. The early decision date was June 1 and I still haven't heard a single thing from Pitt. I graduated with a 2.9 in Molecular Biology and Psych. I worked in Pittsburgh in a research lab for 2 years, took classes at CCAC and Pitt, made sure I got As, and now my cgpa is a 3.1. But I don't know if they only focus on the gpa you graduated with?? If so, I think we're screwed no matter what we do. Haha.

Have you applied? The above poster didn't give me much hope... 2/15 isn't a great stat... well, I can hope!

pawprints · Jun 21, 2011

Maybe look for a school that bases admissions on a point system? I have a very low undergrad gpa from a few years ago (much lower than yours), but the school I'm applying requires a certain gpa on the past 24 credit hours. They then take your grades in prereqs (I have a 4.0 in those) and give you points based on those and the teas v test. I did not apply for fall due to lack of money, but I would have been admitted because the cutoff for points was a good bit lower than the number of points I have already. I will be applying for spring. Good luck in your journey =)

JROregon, ASN, BSN, RN · Jun 21, 2011

My undergrad grades were far more dismal when I graduated 24 years ago. I am thankful that my comm college and most of the schools in Oregon rely on a point system that is based on grades in the science and psych class pre-requisites, an essay and a few points from prior degrees and CNA experience.

als224 · Jun 21, 2011

tothc-

I did apply to Pitt and haven't heard anything either. Do you know if anyone else has? Who knows- maybe you and will be this cohort's 2/15! (At least its not 0/15- that's kinda how I've been feeling about it these days!)

paw and JR-

I'm trying to stay mostly in large cities in the northeast with my applications, and few of those take teas test scores. I have tried to apply to schools that take GRE scores as I think my scores on that test help to boost my app. How do you know which schools use point systems? Does it just indicate it on their websites?

als224 · Jun 24, 2011

Finally got some good news! I've been invited to interview at Rush and will be doing my phone interview Monday. I've also been invited to the "essay round" at Kent State, which is on Monday as well. I feel like I've already made it past a big hurdle with the paper application round. They know my GPA is low and are still interested, so that's a great sign. I hope this gives all those with low GPAs trying to get into this type of program some hope!

Southern Magnolia · Jun 25, 2011

Have you considered a traditional BSN program? If you have a prior degree and prerequisites out of the way all you'd take would be the core nursing courses with many programs. Also many traditional programs use a point system and b/c they are usually dealing with undergrads they don't often look at cumulative gpa -just prerequisite gpa. Also, the cost is typically much less than aBSN or MEPN program. The only down side is that the length of the program is a bit longer.

als224 · Jun 25, 2011

Nomad-

A while back I had looked into traditional BSN programs, but decided it wouldn't be the best route for me. I have been relieved to find, however, that schools do value other things besides GPA, as shown by the fact that I have been invited to "the second round" of the admissions process at both Kent and Rush so far.

I think that where I went to school makes a big impression, as well as the other roles I took on while I was a student. GPA is important, but it seems its really just a part of the big picture!

Rooskenator · Jun 25, 2011

Have encountered the same problem w/ a 2.88 in Ex Physiology. I am applying to ADN programs again this year (yes, got rejected from the CC system in CT last year- awesome). Luckily, I have the means to be able to do the ADN and then do a BSN bridge program, so hopefully this is my year. In my case, I worked my ass off in HS, graduated at the top of my class with a full ride to a great university and then got LAZY in college. Have no one to blame but myself, so now it's time to pay the piper. Just keeping head to the grind and doing what I have to do, but not a day goes by where I don't kick myself in the orifice for being a lazy, selfish punk in college. Arg, the things we learn along the way :-) Good luck to you in the interview & keep us posted on how the 2nd round goes!!

tothc2 · Jun 26, 2011

tothc-
I did apply to Pitt and haven't heard anything either. Do you know if anyone else has? Who knows- maybe you and will be this cohort's 2/15! (At least its not 0/15- that's kinda how I've been feeling about it these days!)quote]
I haven't talked to anyone applying for January 2012. I know quite a few people starting this fall and it sounds like it all varied a lot. I guess it's not rolling or dependent on when you sent your app in. I called and emailed and haven't gotten a response... I talked to Mr. James Stein at Pitt a while ago (before I applied) and he asked me to send in the syllabi for the pre-reqs I had taken at the college I graduated from. So I sent that email and never heard back...
I'll keep trying.