Low GPA looking for an ABSN program. Help!

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Hello to all the nurses/pros on the subject out there:

Wanted to give a little background on myself. I am 26 years old and have decided to go back to school for nursing. I have a BS degree in Marine Environmental Science with a Marine Bio minor. I currently have 156 credits (many science, bio and chem credits included) under my belt with an over 2.72 GPA. On top of that, I am a Naval Reservist and have had two year of sales experience. I will be taking community college classes over the next year to meet the pre-reqs of most programs out there (A&P I & II, Microbio, Nutrition, Lifespan Dev., etc).

Are there any programs that would accept under a 3.0 and that won't necessarily break the bank (I'd rather not go 80K in the hole)? Would I be better off doing an RN program? Are there accelerated RN programs similar to the ABSN programs out there? I'm starting to think it may be best for me to volunteer for a deployment with the Navy for financial purposes and take classes online while deployed. If anyone could offer some input, that would be great. Thank you

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

It's very hard to make general statements about a gpa that is acceptable to any given school. For-profit schools will likely accept most any gpa as long as the applicant is still breathing. Community colleges with a good reputation might not have to accept anything less than a 4.0 because they can fill all their spots with 4.0 applicants.

A school's published minimum gpa likely means nothing. Just because they conceivably would accept the minimum doesn't mean that they ever need to due to the quantity and quality of applicants.

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Typically, a 2.72 GPA is not competitive enough to get into nursing school, but not every school is typical. Some select by only looking at the GPA of your hard sciences. Some simply wait-list everyone who meets the minimum requirements or select by lottery. I even saw an application that allowed the applicant to add points for being the first in their family to go to college, working while taking prerequisites, coming from a low income household, etc.

I agree that published minimums don't mean much for competitive entry programs.

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Specializes in NICU, RNC.

If you got an A in every single pre-req, would that bring up your GPA above 3.0? Also, some nursing schools will only look at your pre-req GPA when considering an application, especially if the other classes were a long time ago....

Below 3.0, I don't think you really stand a chance, unless you go with a for-profit.

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I agree with others that it depends on the program. With that said, let's just look at your overall GPA and then I'll talk about programs that select for factors other than that GPA. You currently have 156 credits with roughly a 2.72 (assuming it's not over by much). In order to get a 3.0 overall GPA, you need to take an additional 45 equivalent credits (meaning if it's semester-based, you would need to remain taking semester-based classes), with perfect 4.0s in every class - =(156*2.72)+(3�*4) - Google Search . Judging by that fact that you sound like you still have to take many of the common prerequisites, that certainly is possible to do. Of course, if you average about a 3.5 GPA with you new classes, you would need 90 equivalent credits, =(156*2.72)+(3�*4) - Google Search . So, it's up to you to see if you want to go that pathway.

The first thing I would do is see what your veteran's benefits will pay for. Then, look up every nursing program in your state that's accredited, according to the ACEN (Search ACEN Accredited Nursing Programs) for ADN programs and CCNE (CCNE - Accredited Programs) for BSN programs (there might be some exceptions to that). Go onto those nursing school websites and see what they require for admissions. If it lists any numbers on the website, see if they are achievable (pre-requisite grades, TEAS test score average). Then, call up admissions and see if they have any advice for your situation. I can't give any other advice without knowing the state. As you mentioned, there are ABSN programs, which I would look into, but I would also look into BSN and ADN programs, as well. Finally, if you do not qualify for veteran's benefits, but are pretty close, based on active duty time, then I might take some ACCEPTABLE online classes (based on your phone calls with different schools) and study for your nursing school admissions test(s) (TEAS or HESI depending on what is needed) during active duty (if you think you will have the time). But, there are major risks with active duty (some lethal) that you should consider with that option. It is also really important you do well in those classes and test(s).

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I have a previous BA but had to take all the prereqs for nursing school. My school only counted the GPA of prereqs and their specific colleges GPA (so for me it was prereqs, only). I didn't do wonderfully (3.1) but I killed the entrance exam (HESI). This is a state run school, so not too expensive. You just have to start researching and see what is out there.

(My school didn't care about previous health care experience or do interviews so nothing else really mattered except GPA + HESI).

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I have a previous BA but had to take all the prereqs for nursing school. My school only counted the GPA of prereqs and their specific colleges GPA (so for me it was prereqs, only). I didn't do wonderfully (3.1) but I killed the entrance exam (HESI). This is a state run school, so not too expensive. You just have to start researching and see what is out there.

(My school didn't care about previous health care experience or do interviews so nothing else really mattered except GPA + HESI).

Are you talking about an ADN program? And what school is this :o

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

I flunked out of college the first time around. I spent considerable time with my pre-req's and co-req's making sure I got excellent grades and I got in to nursing school on my first attempt. So no, it isn't a death knell that you have a low GPA right now. You may, however, have to spend more time than you planned on raising your GPA up. I got a two year liberal arts degree prior to applying for nursing school just so i could have good grades more recently on my transcript. My school, which is highly competitive, then only considered the grades for the courses applicable to my nursing degree plus the score on my application exam (not HESI...I am forgetting the name at the moment..need more coffee). That helped me.

Please reconsider the accelerated option. I know it is tempting but in general those graduates struggle more than graduates from traditional programs.

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Look at Louisiana College. 4 semesters to your ABSN and relatively low GPA required. Tuition isn't that bad all things considered. It's a small town but like I said not a long program at all--includes a summer semester

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Look at Louisiana College. 4 semesters to your ABSN and relatively low GPA required. Tuition isn't that bad all things considered. It's a small town but like I said not a long program at all--includes a summer semester

Were you accepted to this program (or know anyone who was)?

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It's a BSN program in MN. Sometimes it's pretty competitive but I got lucky:)

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Were you accepted to this program (or know anyone who was)?

No unfortunately I missed the deadline but I plan on applying next year. Its only 1 year in duration and the GPS for consideration is a 2.6, you have to take the TEAS, need 3 references and to take a new testament course. It seems like a gem considering the short duration

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