Low GPA hitting road blocks

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Specializes in ER, rural.

Hi!

I am looking for some advice on what to do next. For two years in a row I have unsuccessfully applied to the NP Program at UVIC and once at UNBC/TRU. I feel like I am hitting a road block and don't know what to do. For context, I had a poor undergrad, my GPA was 2.77, I was young, my brother had a spinal cord injury a month before the program and I honestly didn't think I'd pursue higher education. Fast forward 12 years and my undergrad is bitting me in the butt. Since then I have done my BCIT ER speciality with a 4.00, the mandatory stats class with an A- and my remote nursing certification with an A+. This plus 12 years of remote and ER experience is still not enough.

I finally heard back from UVIC and they told me I still didn't meet their minimum GPA of 6.00 (they do a 9.00 scale) and told me to focus on 300 and 400 level course. UNBC and TRU told me to work on upgrading my Pathophisology mark and getting some true remote/primary care experience. I have started working in a remote outpost on Vancouver Island where I live. I have since registered for Patho with TRU but UVIC just told me the course won't count towards my GPA because it is a 200 level course. The only upper level courses I have found are through Athabasca but they are not open learning. The other piece is I was accepted into TRUs master of nursing program and UVIC also said those courses won't count towards my GPA: "None of the courses taken for credit for the purpose of independent upgrading may be considered for credit toward the graduate program.” Thus they couldn't be for another MN program elsewhere. Nor could they be for transfer to the program.

So, as you can see I am feeling VERY stuck and not feeling very inspired to keep spending 1000$ at a time on courses that might not even count towards my GPA. Does any one have any insight or assistance for this? I don't want to give up and I am feeling so frustrated that these schools just look at GPA and take baby nurses over nurses that are proving themselves in other ways, including proving the they are capable of much higher marks!

Thank you for any support!

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Specializes in Psychiatric and Mental Health NP (PMHNP).

Are you in Canada or the U.S.?  That will drive the ability of others to provide advice.

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Specializes in ER, rural.

Canada! I'll edit my post 

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Specializes in Psychiatric and Mental Health NP (PMHNP).

I am in the U.S., so will provide some general comments based on my experience.  You should be able to address some of the issues that caused your original low GPA in your admissions essay.  State something like "my career achievements and recent coursework are the truest reflection of my current commitment to my nursing career, as well as my academic abilities" or some such.

Take (or retake) science courses that are at an advanced level.  Problem is that most colleges require you to be an enrolled student to do that.  Some ways to get around that:

1) In the US, many colleges and universities have Extension - these are courses that do not require you to be an enrolled student - anyone who can pay can take them.  I'm in Calif and some of these classes will meet the Univ of Calif or Cal State requirements for credit.  A lot of pre-nursing and premed students here use these. I don't think they care if you are in Canada.  You could check if these types of classes would be acceptable in Canada.  Also see if Canadian universities have similar programs.  Make sure the course description notes that transfer credit or UC credit is available for a given class.

https://www.uclaextension.edu/

https://extendedstudies.ucsd.edu/

https://cpe.ucdavis.edu/

 

2) Some universities allow alumni to take courses if spaces are available - check with your school to see if they offer this.

3) Some universities here have Summer as "open."  That means anyone can take any course w/o having to be an enrolled student.  UCLA's Summer session is an open session and they might have online classes.  Maybe some schools in Canada have that.

4) Online courses can also be found at sites like Coursera and there are other similar sites.  In order to get certification of credit you pay, otherwise some classes are free (non credit).

https://online.ben.edu/programs/msn/courses/advanced-pathophysiology

 

Just make sure before you sign up for class, that the universities you are applying to will accept the class as a credit option.

Good luck!

 

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

I am assuming I am in a similar position and wondering if there's anyway around really old courses. I also have a masters, and I started Nursing School in 1992 (I was a baby nursing student, and my grades reflected that). My BSN grades are the best of all 3, and my MSN grades took a hit (working full time, marriage, baby, divorce). I know there is usually room in the essay section to address any gaps in employment or education, but I am wondering how much this is taken, and hopefully consider their employment successes and accomplishments. I feel like if not, I will have to succumb to a lesser level program, that hopefully I can swing financially, and hope for the best. 

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Specializes in ER, rural.
BeenThereDoneThat74 said:

I am assuming I am in a similar position and wondering if there's anyway around really old courses. I also have a masters, and I started Nursing School in 1992 (I was a baby nursing student, and my grades reflected that). My BSN grades are the best of all 3, and my MSN grades took a hit (working full time, marriage, baby, divorce). I know there is usually room in the essay section to address any gaps in employment or education, but I am wondering how much this is taken, and hopefully consider their employment successes and accomplishments. I feel like if not, I will have to succumb to a lesser level program, that hopefully I can swing financially, and hope for the best. 

It honestly feels like grades are the most important part. it is so frustrating. I will not be apply to UVIC anymore as the courses I have taken to upgrade my GPA (States and Patho) are not "upper level" courses and won't count towards my GPA for them. It is frustrating that experience doesn't play a part. I am starting my masters of nursing in the fall and hoping that will help boost my GPA. I will keep trying until it gets too frustrating to do so LOL

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Specializes in Psychiatric and Mental Health NP (PMHNP).
ReinventingMyselfAgain said:

I am assuming I am in a similar position and wondering if there's anyway around really old courses. I also have a masters, and I started Nursing School in 1992 (I was a baby nursing student, and my grades reflected that). 

 

ERNurseHailey said:

It honestly feels like grades are the most important part. it is so frustrating.I am starting my masters of nursing in the fall and hoping that will help boost my GPA. I will keep trying until it gets too frustrating to do so LOL

I will share my experience in the hope it will help others.  I started my ABSN program at the age of 53, after a successful business career.  Becoming an NP was my midlife crisis.   🙂

My original undergrad education was at Yale, but I flunked out my sophomore year due to severe PTSD resulting from severe child abuse that was physical, emotional, and financial.  I was rendered homeless.  I worked as a secretary, got married and slowly finished my college education by attending community colleges and a state college.  I started on an MBA, but gave up.  My GPA sucked, as in a cumulative D GPA.  

When I decided to become an NP, I retook every course that I got a bad grade in that I could.  I couldn't do that for the Yale courses or the state college, but I retook all the community college classes I could.  That improved my GPA.  I then took my nursing prereqs along with completing an Executive Education Program in Healthcare Manage and Leadership at UCLA through a collaboration between their School of Public Health and Extension.  My nursing prereqs and other relevant courses were completed at UCLA Extension, UC Berkeley Extension, UC Davis Extension, and various community colleges.  I had almost 4.0 GPA in all those.  I had to withdraw and drop a couple of classes, but retook them and got good grades.  I also completed a CNA ("tech") program and HHA program.  At the time, I was helping to care for my terminally ill mother, so was able to use those skills.

In addition to improving my GPA, I demonstrated excellent mastery of the nursing prereqs, plus completion of a relevant Executive Education program.  Furthermore, I was able to secure recommendations from UCLA professors, which carry a lot of weight in academic circles. 

In my admissions essays, I addressed my initial poor GPA by matter-of-factly describing my personal circumstances without crying victim endlessly, admitting that while I faced personal challenges, I was young and dumb and also made some bad choices.  I presented this as contributing to a rich life experience and also providing me with compassion and empathy towards patients.  Rising from secretary to senior executive demonstrated my true abilities as I matured blah blah, further borne out by my most recent GPA.  I also had some hands on experience caring for my terminally ill mother.

Result:  admitted to Johns Hopkins, UCLA, and Hahn School of Nursing (Univ of San Diego), all excellent schools.  I attended Hopkins for my ABSN, MSN (AGPCNP), and then the Post-master's Certificate for the PMHNP.  If I can do it, then anyone should be able to get into a decent school.

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