Low Gpa, help what should i do?

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · May 17, 2016

There are really only two options for you. First would be to repeat any pre-req lower than a B. The "minimum GPA" posted on a school's website is the minimum to apply for their program. The GPAs of the students that they have accepted are far higher (3.5+).

The other (DO NOT DO) option is the for-profit schools. They are easy to get into, but are very expensive, poorly taught, and have very low NCLEX pass rates. In addition, they are not nationally accredited which can make it difficult to find a job. Many of the hospitals I applied to had the statement "Requires that the RN has graduated from a nursing program accredited through the ACEN or CCNE". This path is not advised.

doxielover304 · May 17, 2016

Either retake certain classes you didn't do great in, or take some easy classes and get A's in them

windsurfer8, BSN, RN · May 17, 2016

First pretty much everyone is going through a "hard time in life". You are still expected to earn the required grades. If you became a nurse and had a "hard times your life" would your patients receive "D" level care? When at work (or school) you are expected to be a professional.

If you "really want to be a nurse" then you will earn the grades. It is no different than someone who "wants" to be a doctor, but gets a 2.5GPA.

Your best bet is to start talking to nursing schools and see if any will accept an application from you with below average grades. Good luck.

brittercritter · May 17, 2016

Hi! I started with a great GPA out of highschool and my first year of college I didnt know what I wanted to be and drop a lot of classes and I was very unorgainzed. My GPA, like you, ended up dropping to a low 2.3 (and I was put on acedemic probabtion)!! Yikes. After my first semester I knew I wanted to be a Nurse. However, I also knew I was never going to get into my schools program that required at 3.0 GPA. I basically started taking all the nursing pre-reqs. I took fewer classes than I should have each semester (around 4) to ensure I would make all A's and I also retook the classes I failed and took summer school. I now have finished all pre-reqs in a year and a half later and worked really hard and I have a 3.1 GPA. My advisor in the begining told me to switch my career path in the begining... but he had no idea how determined I was and no one should tell you cannot do it. Your allowed to have a hard time and mess up a little... I think its really unfair to say that failing a few classes during a hardtime labels what kind of person you are and what kind of nurse you will be. That is not true. You can be a great nurse! Its what you do now. Honestly I think people who have messed up in life will make great nurses because they are that much more determind to reach their goal and know what they are fighting for. And im not saying people who have maintained a greay GPA havent worked hard at all. College is hard. But the people who have pulled themselve out of a hole to do something they love have another kind of strength I believe. Please don't listen to people who say your not cut out or you wont be a great nurse... you can do it!! Do anythimg you can to acheive your goal. You will get there!

I mean ive read about the people who have failed the NCLEX because theu didnt study and kept trying harder and harder until they passes. Will they be a bad nurse because they didnt study the first time? No. They will be an awesome nurse because thwy didnt give up!

Zyprexa_Ho · May 19, 2016

The 3.0 gpa and up is probably a minimum to apply. You need to ask what the average accepted applicant's GPA is.

To me it sounds like you need to go the LPN route.

tchelsey · May 19, 2016

Don't listen to windsurfer 8. I work in a level 1 trauma center in GA as a PCT and some of the best nurses we have struggled in school. The key is to continue working hard and doing your best if you really have a passion for nursing. Retake your algebra class and also take some easy classes to get your GPA up. Also they are some private schools that have outstanding programs and are very well respected and prepare you to pass the nclex. Mercer university (Georgia baptist college of nursing) is one of them. They are expensive however they are well respected and have an amazing program. I was accepted into their program with an overall GPA of 2.8

Science GPA of 4.0 and math GPA of 3.0. It depends on the school. Good luck and don't give up if it's your passion to become a nurse.

Songbirdnikki · Jun 30, 2016

My passion is for nursing and will never give up on it my gpa isn't the best but my determination is what keeps me going every door close leads to a better out come trust me.....talk to an advisor and keep in contact with then them they well help

windsurfer8, BSN, RN · Jun 30, 2016

Yes..don't listen to me. Apply to nursing school with a 2.5 GPA and see what happens. I didn't say anywhere that someone who didn't get straight As in school is a bad nurse. That is assuming which I am not doing... what I am saying is you are required to meet certain standards in school to become a nurse.

So Tchelsky..if you are doing D level work in a hospital do you think you will keep your job? You are ASSUMING this person just needs to skip school and be a nurse because they "really want to". The OP is not a nurse..so what do we have to base their possible future performance on? Assumptions or quantifiable evidence (grades)? so yeah..go ahead don't worry about grades...they will just feel bad for you and make you an RN because someone knows someone who did horrible in school and is now a "great" nurse.