Low GPA

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I'm worried my low GPA won't get me into nursing programs - especially being in CA. My cumulative GPA is a 3.3 and science is a 3.0. I'm in the process of finishing up my CNA program and will be licensed by December, just in time to include that on my applications. I've had previous volunteer hours but that was in high school (five years ago). Does anyone have any recommendations on how I can improve my chances of getting into a program? Applying to ADN, BSNs including private schools too. Feeling super discouraged at the moment and worried for my future plans. 

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2 hours ago, llbean said:

I'm worried my low GPA won't get me into nursing programs - especially being in CA. My cumulative GPA is a 3.3 and science is a 3.0. I'm in the process of finishing up my CNA program and will be licensed by December, just in time to include that on my applications. I've had previous volunteer hours but that was in high school (five years ago). Does anyone have any recommendations on how I can improve my chances of getting into a program? Applying to ADN, BSNs including private schools too. Feeling super discouraged at the moment and worried for my future plans. 

What state u in? 

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24 minutes ago, Codeine said:

What state u in? 

California!

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12 minutes ago, llbean said:

California!

Why don't u try lvn schools then transition.

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There is a girl in my small town of NM that came here just for the nursing program from California because it's so hard to get in there. I'm assuming because there's a requirement for Cali nursing programs that a student can test out of all courses that there's a lot of out of state applicants driving up the GPA and HESI scores. I think if I was going to do the private school route in California (I saw some of them, $50,000 for an ADN...I doubt there's many applicants to those programs), I would first confirm that I could challenge exam some of the classes to try to get the cost down a bit/speed it along

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What's your TEAS/HESI score? I think if you do amazing on those, you have a better chance in ADNS than CSUs/UCs tbh. If you want a way where you know for sure you would get into nursing, you would need to go to private. Privates generally accept everyone because $$.  

I also live in CA, and it's really, really competitive here. Most CSUs/UCs applicants have a GPA above 3.8+, and their TEAS are generally around the 90s.

Before going to my current CC, I went to UCI for my freshman year and did absolutely horrible because I was going through mental health issues, and I left with a GPA of 2.791 LOL. Took half a year off to get help, and then started going to my current CC, and although I have an amazing science GPA, my cumulative GPA is not that great due to UCI.

I'm also discouraged about this and am also worried about my future. We probably have better chances at either ADNs, private schools, or out of states. It's the sad reality of living in CA ? 

I'd start looking at all the ADNs in CA and go through their requirements. Find out about how many times you can take the TEAS/HESI and their policy regarding repeats. Most schools in CA only one repeat of a science class, and that's it. 

It also helps that you have volunteered and are getting your CNA, which puts you at an advantage. 

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On 11/18/2020 at 1:54 AM, DMQ48 said:

There is a girl in my small town of NM that came here just for the nursing program from California because it's so hard to get in there. I'm assuming because there's a requirement for Cali nursing programs that a student can test out of all courses that there's a lot of out of state applicants driving up the GPA and HESI scores. I think if I was going to do the private school route in California (I saw some of them, $50,000 for an ADN...I doubt there's many applicants to those programs), I would first confirm that I could challenge exam some of the classes to try to get the cost down a bit/speed it along

Oh wow! Is it possible to challenge that? That's my first time ever hearing of it, I'll have to look into it some more if that were to be the case. Are you in a BSN or ADN program in NM? 

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On 11/18/2020 at 6:18 PM, stormii said:

What's your TEAS/HESI score? I think if you do amazing on those, you have a better chance in ADNS than CSUs/UCs tbh. If you want a way where you know for sure you would get into nursing, you would need to go to private. Privates generally accept everyone because $$.  

I also live in CA, and it's really, really competitive here. Most CSUs/UCs applicants have a GPA above 3.8+, and their TEAS are generally around the 90s.

Before going to my current CC, I went to UCI for my freshman year and did absolutely horrible because I was going through mental health issues, and I left with a GPA of 2.791 LOL. Took half a year off to get help, and then started going to my current CC, and although I have an amazing science GPA, my cumulative GPA is not that great due to UCI.

I'm also discouraged about this and am also worried about my future. We probably have better chances at either ADNs, private schools, or out of states. It's the sad reality of living in CA ? 

I'd start looking at all the ADNs in CA and go through their requirements. Find out about how many times you can take the TEAS/HESI and their policy regarding repeats. Most schools in CA only one repeat of a science class, and that's it. 

It also helps that you have volunteered and are getting your CNA, which puts you at an advantage. 

I'm currently studying right now to take the TEAS towards the end of December or early January. I'm really hoping I can score within the high 80s, low 90s if I'm capable. We'll see. 

I totally feel you. Mental health is so so important and I'm glad you took half a year off to find yourself and push through it. I wish it wasn't all about the scores sometimes and that schools would look at who you are as a person, what you've been through in life, and what makes you you and how you'd be a great nurse. Maybe that's possible through private schools. I'm currently looking at Cal Baptist University as an option....

It is so stressful as it is to be a prenursing student, and then living in California ON TOP OF THAT?? Geeez it's rough. But I'm glad I'm not the only one feeling this way. I'm sure there is a plan made for us already, we just got to stick through it and don't give up. If you're open to it, I'd be down to connect and keep in touch with each other about schools and applications! 

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yeah if you look through the student handbooks of all the nursing programs (well, the undergraduate haven't looked into any of the master's/doctorate) you'll see there's a phrase in all of them saying, "challenge exams available for all nursing courses" something along those lines. I take it since the sketchy for profit schools have this in their handbooks too that it must be a requirement. I know that California is weird about licensing. Like the Bar for lawyers, you can shadow an attorney for a couple of years a forego law school all together. There's something with lpn to RN special too, like if you are an lpn you can petition to take the NCLEX-RN over the NCLEX-pn.

I'm not in nursing school here (it's a long story that involved me missing the 5 year deadline on a few pre-reqs a couple of years ago) I just know her because I live in a town of 25,000 people LOL I actually got into a community college out in Dallas. I dk how I feel about doing nursing school with all this lock down stuff in NM, I got #5 on the waitlist for CNM but I think I'm still going to do the Dallas route even if I do get accepted. I just like the hustle there, weather and it being green. NM is such a depressed desert wasteland. If it wasn't for the oil money (this year has been pretty brutal) I think majority of people in my area would pack up and never look back ha

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Hi! I'm not in nursing school yet but I feel like I've done a fair share of research on schools haha. I have seen some schools that look at last 60 semester/90 quarter units for your GPA, which might be really beneficial for you ?  Off the top of my head, I believe Samuel Merritt's BSN does this. Or alternatively, if you are willing to go out of state, Roseman University in Nevada has an ABSN program that requires a minimum GPA of 2.75! 

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Specializes in Behavioral Health.

Roseman University in Las Vegas has become quite competitive as so many from California apply. They state that 2.75 is the minimum GPA that they accept, but so many applicants apply that 2.75 is not a competitive GPA. I graduated in 2018 from Roseman and got in with a 3.8 GPA and a 91% on the TEAS. For those not as competitive, they will have space for you if you are willing to attend the South Jordan, UT campus.

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On 1/8/2021 at 10:39 AM, VegasScout said:

Roseman University in Las Vegas has become quite competitive as so many from California apply. They state that 2.75 is the minimum GPA that they accept, but so many applicants apply that 2.75 is not a competitive GPA. I graduated in 2018 from Roseman and got in with a 3.8 GPA and a 91% on the TEAS. For those not as competitive, they will have space for you if you are willing to attend the South Jordan, UT campus.

Hello VeganScout,

I see that you are a scout for Roseman University!  Do you know if the California SBON approves the RN license for students that attend the South Jordan Utah campus to California?  Are there many students who transfer from the South Jordan campus to California as well? I am seeing a lot of them go to Nevada, but I am not sure if the curriculum is the same and both are accepted by CA SBON.  Thanks for your help ahead of time!

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