Low GPA? Is there hope??? YES! Read this! Possibilities attached!

[Tela]

So I spent the last year taking nursing pre-req's...by my standards I was killing it (grade-wise), all A's and B's. Applied for several more programs...all came back as a no, but one! I actually had an interview...and then was put on their waitlist. It was my last semester of pre-req's and I believe they were trying to see what my final grades would be (making sure I had indeed turned my academic life around). Until (insert music for dramatic purposes) the last month, during my last semester of pre-req's I ended up homeless because of a ****-poor roommate situation! Anywho...did not do well on my finals, ended up with 2 Cs and a B. Who would take me now???? That waitlist school, lol...no. Denied!

So what now? Apply again? Sure. What happened...same as the previous two times.

So what happened today?!?!?! I was accepted to a BSN program!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I spent all Summer researching programs with lower GPA requirements because I am willing to relocate anywhere on the planet Earth! What I found was that my 2.4 hindered me a lot when it came to 2nd degree/accelerated programs.

Everyone here probably would love to become an RN and take the quickest course to get there, however, that was my problem. I was limiting myself and my opportunities by looking at only 2nd degree programs...but once I accepted that slow and steady might win me the race aka: tried looking at transfer programs, etc. I found programs that I would actually have a greater chance of being accepted.

And an extra side note: don't get caught up in a school's name/prestige... Because there are plenty of excellent schools out there (a lot in the middle of no-where-ville), which are not only accredited but will mold and adequately prepare you with the same title that comes from more 'notable' institutions---> RN!!!!

With that said: I applied to d'youville college (granted I did something I had never done before) I wrote an additional letter addressing the decline in my last semester's grades, why it had happened, why it was unlikely to happen again, why I hoped those last few grades didn't completely influence their decision because I am capable of maintaining long-term academic success...etc. And today, after stalking the mailman through the blinds, I saw it! A big, white, envelope...my acceptance letter!!!!!

Maybe all those who are looking for someone to give them a 2nd academic chance with have a chance with d'youville college in Buffalo, New York as I did!!!! Something fantastic about this program?!?! Once you are admitted to the school, you are automatically admitted into the nursing program! No 2nd application, no waitlist, (and in my case) no interview!

There's soooo much I would like to say/write...but this is getting ridiculously long, so feel free to respond with any comments and I will try to answer to the best of my knowledge!

A tad bit of extra program info that I have come across recently:

• If you have a previous degree (any subject) with at total GPA of 2.5, and complete specific pre-req's; you have an amazing shot with Remington college of nursing (Orlando, FL)
• Have a 3.0 overall? Or will have one soon?? Or willing to take extra courses (even filler courses: aka art, poetry, etc) to improve your gpa to a 3.0?!?! I highly advise you to look into Oklahoma city university. Accepted into the university = automatic acceptance into the nursing program. Why'd I mention the 3.0? This is what their website says: "because of the severe shortage of nurses, all applicants who meet the eligibility criteria and qualifications are accepted. Kramer school of nursing has no waiting list." "How many students are accepted into the program each year? How many students are currently in the program?" "as many students are accepted as qualify. During the 2011-12 school year, ksn anticipates approximately 500 students in total."

What are the admission requirements?

• A 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher
• grades of C (2.0) or higher in prerequisite science courses
• english proficiency
• not more than 9 credit hours of general education courses remaining

If you are like me and know that you are more than capable of excelling academically, and are given a 2nd chance to do so: let's do so this time around! Because this is probably our last time to show that we have what it takes to be good student nurses!!!

Also, those of you who were admitted to, or ran across similar programs that give lower-GPA students a chance, post them!!!! Don't hold on to that valuable knowledge!

Good luck to all, I wish your journey's all the best!!!!

Tela

p.s. All programs listed above are ccne or nlnac accredited

[hopefulprayers1]

wow this is great info!! i don't have bad grades but i do want to get into a nursing program quickly, graduate, become licensed and start my career! i looked into ocu and wanted to know if you knew anything about the prereqs. i'm trying to figure out whether we can use high school credit in replace of college or be waived for the foreign language requirement. i took four years of the same language in high school.

[emcadams]

I have a 3.2 GPA from my previous BA in English/History degree I completed back in 2006. I tried to go to law school like my family encouraged, but hated it and dropped out. Ever since then I have wanted to be a nurse...and I have taken most of my prereqs (still in Psych and Micro) but have a 4.0 GPA in those classes. If I do well on the TEAS (maybe a 90%?...getting 80's on practices right now), I hope I can get into FGCU in Florida. What do you all think? I read on their website that the average GPA is 3.5-3.7 though, which has me down

[Tela]

@ Ladydeeb: IDK about transferring high school credits for foreign languages...I know that w/ my 1st degree they accepted my hs spanish credits during the admission process; However I ended up taking more spanish classes (for fun, & because I actually didn't learn anything during hs lol)...it could just depend on the school and what they require, but idk for sure.

Now if you're talking about the nursing program accepting your hs chemistry and biology credits...i'm going to say no. You're going to need college level math and sciences (aka: nursing prereq's) before you begin nursing courses/clinicals...hs science teaches no where near what you need to know in order to progress into nursing (and in my opinion hs science was completely boring, unlike Anatomy & Physiology)

But my understanding of OCU is that if you are admitted into the university and perform well in the basic required freshman courses (english, math), as well as your nursing pre-reqs (A&P I/II, Chem, Nutrition, etc) then you'll be automatically accepted into the nursing program. 1st two yrs = english, math, sciences, pre-req's; last 2 yrs = nursing courses/clinicals (this timetable is IF you pass all your courses the first time around, its not unusual to take 5 yrs instead of 4 to complete your first undergrad degree)

[Tela]

@emcadams: You have a 4.0 in microbiology?!?! OMG!!! Micro was by far the hardest course I've taken to date...I just could not wrap my mind around it...but I also had a teacher that just could not explain it well and whose english was quite questionable...I can still here his east indian accent "oh lawd tephaney what don't you understand now?" & I'd just go shrug and feel stupid while saying "Everything?" LOL!!!! I earned that C man!

But to answer your question...I have no idea about FGCU. I didn't come across it during my searching. But I say don't resign/give up hope because their average is 3.5-3.7...it's an average, meaning some are accepted with lower than 3.5 and some are accepted with more than 3.7. PLUS a 3.2 is really not that far from a 3.5...and if you complete your current courses w/ your 4.0, your gpa will jump up even further!

Don't stress, just do your best, and put your best foot forward during your application, essay, and any type of interaction you have with the program! Not all programs base entry off of grades alone, so if you have had any volunteering, or other type of extra-curricular activities, work experience, special circumstances, hardships, etc...some programs consider all of those things!

GOOD LUCK...come back and let us know how it went!

[emcadams]

@Tela---thanks for the response! Actually, I have not taken Micro or Psych yet. I have taken Chem, Bio, A&P I and II, College Algebra, and currently enrolled in the growth and development, nutrition, and stats classes...so I anticipate maintaining my 4.0 in my prereqs.

I was going to volunteer at the local hospital (live in Fort Myers, FL), but I broke my ankle August 14th, and I am still in a cast. I ride around on a knee walker all day. I took a CNA test prep class, but haven't tested yet because I still can't walk. It's tough.

But I am tired of waiting to 'start' my career. So I figure I will apply...will probably apply to FGCU, USF, and Edison State College (although I have been hearing some confusing things about their accreditation).

I guess I'll just have to apply and see! I am scared though. When I was in college I really wanted to be in the Navy, but didn't get into their baccalaureate degree completion program...it was devastating as applying for that was two years in the making..including losing 60 lbs! Oh well...some dreams come and go, but if you don't try your best, they will never become real.

[hopefulprayers1]

I called the nursing program but haven't received a call back yet. I would consider the program but it's quite expensive.

[oklahoma]

HI People,

I am a student at kramer school of nursing. The school is easy to get in ... no waiting list, low GPA, the school even promises a lot of financial aid. Remember you are going to pay $13,000 a semster (close to $1000/cr hr). You should know more before you enroll. I personally am not happy with the school and I have seen a lot of students failling and leaving with a lot of debt. I am not saying they failed because of weak acadamic system of the school or because they had weak foundation (low GPA). The bottomline is when you are prepared to pay $13,000 a semster you need to know more about the school. I personally regret paying this much and not getting quality equivalent to that amout.

Remember that once you enroll your objective is to pass the national (NCLEX-RN) exam, so you will work hard. I discovered that many schools advertise they have 100% NCLEX pass rate, it is simply a scam. I consider it conscious deception. They know you will work hard to pass NCLEX. You are on your own!!!!!!!

My suggestion.....there are a lot of cheaper universities in oklahoma with better quality of education! Why end up sitting in a computer at night sharing your dissatisfaction to save some innocent students like what I am doing right now! or probably paying so much and failing the board exam.

[oklahoma]

HI People,

I am a student at kramer school of nursing. The school is easy to get in ... no waiting list, low GPA, the school even promises a lot of financial aid. Remember you are going to pay $13,000 a semster (close to $1000/cr hr). You should know more before you enroll. I personally am not happy with the school and I have seen a lot of students failling and leaving with a lot of debt. I am not saying they failed because of weak acadamic system of the school or because they had weak foundation (low GPA). The bottomline is when you are prepared to pay $13,000 a semster you need to know more about the school. I personally regret paying this much and not getting quality equivalent to that amout.

Remember that once you enroll your objective is to pass the national (NCLEX-RN) exam, so you will work hard. I discovered that many schools advertise they have 100% NCLEX pass rate, it is simply a scam. I consider it conscious deception. They know you will work hard to pass NCLEX. You are on your own!!!!!!!

My suggestion.....there are a lot of cheaper universities in oklahoma with better quality of education! Why end up sitting in a computer at night sharing your dissatisfaction to save some innocent students like what I am doing right now! or probably paying so much and failing the board exam.

[carlad22]

Hello everyone!!

I really needed to hear these stories!!! Nursing will be my second degree and I have been prolonging pre-reqs, TEAS V and anything to do with the nursing program for fear that I wouldn't do well or that my current grades suck!! I thought I surely wouldn't make it in due to grades etc. Thanks for giving me hope that it is possible to get in with a less than perfect GPA.

[oklahoma]

Hi carla

Don't worry much about getting in to a nursing school. Worry about passing the NCLEX exam so you can be able to pay the 70,000 in tution back. The are a lot of quality schools in oklahoma that charge way less. I am not happy with the OCU's school of nursing. They are not helping me, they are just destroying me. Ask many other students before you get in.

[emcadams]

I highly encourage not attending For-profit private schools. They are a scam. I went to one for a year for Law School. I did very bad...my own fault. My husband (met at the school) did very well and transferred to a well-known state school. Anyway, you get same education at State schools. If you want a BSN, apply at smaller more local universities. If you just want to get out there and get working, a community college RN is the way to go. You make the same money, you are just limited in terms of upward movement I believe, although there a lot of RN to BSN programs out there as well. If your grades aren't that good, consider whether you did bad in your previous degree (that's me!) or if you did bad in your prereqs. If you did bad in your first degree, do really well on your prereqs and maybe include a letter in your application explaning the discrepancy. If you did bad in your prereqs, See what the schools you are interested in policy is on retakes. Also check with your current school to see what their policy is on dropping a class and redoing it later...I know my community college has something where you can redo the class once, and people looking at your transcript are none the wiser. Honestly, if you want nursing to be your career, you need to do well in science based classes. If all else fails, consider what you can do to work for a hospital that offers diploma programs. Basically you work at the hospital (maybe as a CNA) and you complete your nursing degree with that hospital.

Also, get a hold of the NCLEX pass rates. Apply to schools in your area that have the best pass rates that fit your academic profile. Many schools like Kaplan and the like have pretty low pass rates (70% vs 90% for state schools/community colleges)

[carlad22]

oklahoma said:

Hi carla

Don't worry much about getting in to a nursing school. Worry about passing the NCLEX exam so you can be able to pay the 70,000 in tution back. The are a lot of quality schools in oklahoma that charge way less. I am not happy with the OCU's school of nursing. They are not helping me, they are just destroying me. Ask many other students before you get in.

Hi Oklahoma,

I'm in Houston, Texas and we have to pass the TEAS V first. Also, I need to take the ACT and several pre-reqs so I'm feeling a little overwhelmed. I plan to take one class at a time to ensure I get awesome grades in all of them. I have taken A&P I(B), A&P II©, and Human Growth and Development(A) and need a few others to apply. I have a degree in business management and finished with a 3.27 GPA but I'm still nervous because I hear nursing school is a beast!!!