Low Science GPA

Published

Question for SRNA's, CRNA's or perspective CRNA's.

I just calculated my science GPA and it is a 2.6.

Here's the deal. I got my bachelor's degree in psychology straight of high school. While at the school, I had no idea how to study and no idea what I wanted to do. I overloaded my schedule with tough science courses. I got a D in biology and an F in biopsychology. I got a C in chemistry. I ended up with a 3.183 GPA overall.

I got into nursing school and have worked really hard. My nursing school GPA is 3.552. I received an A in microbiology, B+'s in physiology and anatomy, and a B in pathophysiology. I have grown so much since obtaining my first degree and I feel like I am finally figuring out how to do well in school. However, my science GPA does not reflect that at all.

I have my eyes set on CRNA school and have done a lot of research. I know that these schools look at the whole picture, including ICU experience and GRE scores. However, what can I do now to help get that GPA up. Should I try to take more science courses at nursing school? With a 2.6 science GPA, I'm pretty sure I do not even meet the bare minimum requirements for any schools. Suggestions? Is it a lost cause?

Thanks in advance

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yes you've got to get those grades up. Retake them at your community college. I had 4 C's in my sciences--chemistry, anatomy, physiology, org chemistry-- before I got to nursing school and got serious as well. I retook 2 of the classes, and got As which brought my science up from 2.7 to 3.2 which was my school's minimum. I applied with that and got in. I had the other 2 booked for the next semester to retake as well in case I didn't get in.

Many times your hospital will have a tuition reimbursement as well, so you could get them paid for that way. I paid out of pocket about $1500 for the ones I took.

They understand young and dumb, but you've got to prove you can ace them now, especially at a community college. It can be done! Good luck.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OR, ICU, CVICU.

I was told that you have to report both grades unless you go to the school where you received the bad grade and retook the class there. Schools look at a university grade as more important than a community college grade.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.

Every school does things differently. I had one school tell me they take the higher of the two and another tell me they average the two grades together. Bottom line: retaking classes looks good on you. Recognizing your previous shortcomings and working to fix them is huge. Best of luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CRNA.

Find out how the programs you are interested in calculate the science GPA. They probably don’t include everything but have several defined courses that are included.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
On 11/14/2019 at 3:58 PM, DreameRN said:

Yes you've got to get those grades up. Retake them at your community college. I had 4 C's in my sciences--chemistry, anatomy, physiology, org chemistry-- before I got to nursing school and got serious as well. I retook 2 of the classes, and got As which brought my science up from 2.7 to 3.2 which was my school's minimum. I applied with that and got in. I had the other 2 booked for the next semester to retake as well in case I didn't get in.

Many times your hospital will have a tuition reimbursement as well, so you could get them paid for that way. I paid out of pocket about $1500 for the ones I took.

They understand young and dumb, but you've got to prove you can ace them now, especially at a community college. It can be done! Good luck.

The advisor at Broward college told me they no longer allow to retake classes to raise your grades. It started in january 2019. I have a c in enc1101 that i took yearsssss ago and its proving to be my obstacle.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi Morduna,

I'm on the same boat as you. I graduated last year with a bachelor's degree in Biochemistry and an overall GPA of 3.088. I am currently finishing up science prerequisites for nursing schools. So far, I've gotten A's in physiology and anatomy. I am considering applying to a second bachelor's degree in Nursing or an ADN. However, due to COVID-19, the nursing schools close to me aren't accepting applications this Fall for the Fall 2021 cohort. As a result, I will be applying to an ADN program close to home. After I obtain my ADN, I'm planning on doing either ADN-BSN or ADN-MSN. I just don't know if the ADN-MSN track will land me an ICU-RN job.

Which nursing program did you get into and how did you get into that program?

Thank you so much!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Just work on taking more science classes and doing well in nursing school. It's a very long journey. Do well in your nursing courses, try to be flexible and move to an area where you can get into ICU nursing right away, and start taking science classes on the side. Do well in those classes. You'll eventually need to get your CCRN certification after a couple years in the ICU, and also work on doing the GRE. During that process look into schools, open houses, specific requirements that they may have. Join committees and organizations, do foreign aid trips, try to teach something, become a charge nurse, do all of the above and prepare for the interviewing process. Be prepared for everything you planned to go to s*** and things to take even longer than initially anticipated.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi @Jkloo,

Thank you so much for your advice! I had been stressing out and feeling lost as I was trying to figure out how to navigate this whole thing and get into a DNAP program. So I thank you for laying out pretty much everything for me to become a competitive candidate.

Also, do you mind elaborating more about joining committees/organizations, teaching "something", and how to become a charge nurse?

Thank you so much for your time and response. I appreciate it!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yeah, join any hospital committees you can get your hands on. Join your local AACN when you get into an ICU and go to the meetings. Oftentimes the hospital will have everyone do refresher training on equipment twice a year or so, so try to get in there and volunteer to teach the training on equipment. Sometimes local RN schools need people to help in sim labs too which could also be handy. Becoming a charge nurse just takes time and being a capable individual that can make decisions under stress, some hospitals they are more like office bees so obviously don't gun for that it that's how it is where you end up working.

Also forgot to mention you're going to need to eventually shadow someone and keep a log of what cases you saw, interesting things you did, and most importantly the CRNAs name and contact info for later.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in SRNA.

Get yourself an academic shovel and get to work digging yourself out that hole. I repeated some gen eds that I got Ds in my Freshman. I retook them at the same college and they eliminated the first grade from GPA calculations. Not every school calculates gpas the same. You still need to retake the ones that you got Cs or less in and get an A. After you have retaken those science courses with poor grades, take a couple upper-level science courses. It will be a long road. I'm sure someone in your position has done it before. Think of it like this, you only have to accomplish like 6 more things.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi @Jkloo,

Thank you for giving me a very insightful response and for giving me hope. I will make sure to do all of these before I apply to DNAP programs! I wish you all the best and luck in the world!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion