Low GPA and NP school

Purple_roses · Jul 18, 2015

I think you should focus on getting above a 3.0 in nursing school. Right now you're already planning for failure--you're already trying to decide what to do when you don't get the right GPA. Work your butt off and get good grades so that you don't have to worry about a backup plan.

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Jul 18, 2015

I agree with purple roses. You need to get your GPA as high as possible NOW. Getting into nursing school is very competitive. For most good programs, a 3.0 won't cut it to even get accepted to nursing school.

After that, you need to keep that GPA high if you have aspirations of grad school.

windsurfer8, BSN, RN · Jul 18, 2015

Slow you roll. You are not accepted into nursing school. Focus on doing well on your pre reqs first thing. You are putting the cart in front of the horse. One things at a time. Earn the grades and doors will open. If you do not then they will stay closed. You are already talking about retaking classes you have not even taken the first time.

johsonmichelle · Jul 18, 2015

I think you have your priorities mixed up. Concentrate on getting into nursing school and successfully finishing nursing school. Then get some get some experience to see if you even like nursing. For now, getting into np school should be the least of your worries.

jarae · Jul 18, 2015

I understand what everyone is saying. I just want to be realistic. I always hear of people's GPA dropping in nursing school. I just want to know what one could do if their GPA was not good enough for grad school.

Purple_roses · Jul 18, 2015

I understand what everyone is saying. I just want to be realistic. I always hear of people's GPA dropping in nursing school. I just want to know what one could do if their GPA was not good enough for grad school.

I've met lots and lots of nursing students who have well above 3.0s. Manage your time well. The reason you must have a good GPA in grad school is because this shows the school that you have the capacity to succeed in both grad school and the job you will hold afterward.

And as others have said, you have not even made it into a nursing program yet. Try to get a 4.0 in your pre reqs and go from there.

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Jul 18, 2015

It all depends. I had a 3.977 going in, I have a 3.7 right now. I usually get all As in clinical and Bs in lecture. Get the awesome grades in prereqs and worry about nursing school when you get in. I have yet to score below an 87 in lecture. But I also devote more time to it than I did in the prereqs. You are worrying too early and listening to pwome you shouldn't. You will not have the same experience as anyone else. You have no idea what those people did in nursing school. They may have studied for 5 minutes or 5 hours. You just don't know unless you were with them 24/7. Realize right now people exaggerate and outright lie.

jarae · Jul 19, 2015

Your GPA from pre-reqs will carry into nursing school?

mrsboots87 · Jul 19, 2015

Of course they will. Many nursing school core classes don't take up 60 credit hours. An ASN will be about 35 ish credit hours. Then the pre reqs and humanities make up the remaining credit hours. Then all of that makes up your GPA. A BSN program will be about 10-15 credit hours higher since there are a few extra research and leadership courses added in. So yes, pre req grades do matter. Some schools will look at both you rmost recent 60 units and your overall GPA. And you need close to a 4.0 just to get into a competitive nursing program anyway. Just because a program has a minimum GPA of 3.0 or 3.25 or whatever, doesnt mean that those GPAs will actually get you into the program. In most areas a 3.5 or even a 3.75 with a high entrance exam score are needed to even be considered. This is why everyone is telling you to focus on your class grades now. There is no point in planning for some future GPA you don't have. If you have a poor GPA after nursing school and can't get into an NP programs, then thats that. You shouldnt be planning for failure. You should just be planning to even get in in the first place.

Also, I highly doubt you know a large group of nusring students who are saying their GPAs tanked in nursing school. Maybe a handful. If you are basing you thoughts on nursing school grades on complaints here then that is just silly. Most of the students who complain about bad grades here did it too them self by not studying enough or whatever and just want coddling. there are a few who truly struggle no matter how much they study, but that is not the majority. For every complaint here, there are at least 10 other people doing well who arent coming here to throw it in everyone faces. I have had a high B (almost A) for block 1 and 2. In block 3 I got my first C. I was devastated. But I didnt come here to complain. The reason for the C was only my own doing. I had sick kids for 2 weeks, but even outside of that I got lax and didnt study as much and kind of let things go. If you make enough time for study and really pay attention and participate in class, you should be fine to get at least a B.

mrsboots87 · Jul 19, 2015

Also, for the GPA, think about this. The reason you take all those pre req classes is to get into nursing school. But nursing school classes arent a degree by themself. The pre req classes, plus the core program classes make up the degree so every class you take is accounted for when you get your final GPA with your degree.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Jul 20, 2015

I think you may discover that admission criteria for graduate school is more rigorous than OP anticipates. In addition to high cumulative GPA, you'll need to achieve really good scores on GRE (or whatever entrance test the program uses) & have the "right" clinical experience. It's not a cakewalk.

PPs are correct. It's a journey; focus on one step at a time, keeping the long-term goal in mind.