Just tell me flat out if I am out of luck :)

Nurses LPN/LVN

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Ok, I tell myself that I am just going to focus on something else, but I keep coming back to the thought of one day being a nurse. I have a 3.2 GPA at a technical college for the LPN program and less that at a 4 year college. With a GPA of 3.2, do I have any chance whatsoever of getting into an LPN program? If so then WHERE???? Doesn't anyone know of some secret school out in the boondocks where there is no competition?

you need to do some digging and some telephoning. perhaps you can become an alternate. i do not believe that 100% of the people in your area have a 4.0, did you review their transcripts?

are there any community colleges near you? did you go to the state nursing website and look for links to nursing schools in your area? we can hold your hand, but you have to want it! if you really want it, you won't let anyone stop you.

i've dug and i've telephoned. unfortunately, most of the people that i have talked to over the telephone concerning the nursing programs are not helpful for me. they just say apply or talk to admissions. and i did not say that 100% of the people in my area have a 4.0. i said that everyone nearly has a 4.0. i say that because i have done my research. i know that a lot of people read these posts and i thought that there might someone in another state that knows of a less populated area that i could look into. anyway, thanks everyone for all of the replies.

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Specializes in Adult and Peds ED, Forensic Nursing.

I had a 3.0 in my previous bachelors but worse that that my first time at college and I got nursing school in NYC (Beth Israel). I did have really good NLN scores. You haven't said where you are so that may not help you. It is very competitive here, but schools will look at other things as well like test scores and such. Many also claim that they put weight on your personal statement or the fact the you have really good grades in recent pre-requisite classes etc.

Don't give up, 3.2 is not bad you just may need to up the ante with the other parts of your application. I have many friends now who have been accepted to various nursing schools here and do not have 4.0. Also you may need to look at private schools. Yes it is more expensive, but if the difference between you achieving your dream and you not being satisfied with your job the rest of your life are student loans, then that is a small price to pay I think.

good luck

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
thank you. i appreciate you understanding and not being judgemental like some. i have definitely done my research over and over again. i was just hoping that there was something that i was missing, so that i could get it and get into a program. oh well, i will survive reguardless of what happens because i have the lord.

i wish you the best of luck. maybe some of the private schools can help with financial aid or a loan. i know how it is...the search is horrible. how it happened for me was that my job offered a program that gave us a full time leave of absence with pay for school, and they worked out a deal with a community college where we only needed a c average (this was a brand new lpn program). basically, i struck while the iron was hot. because i wasn't working, i did, in fact, obtain a 3.6 gpa but, it was because i had the time off and stayed in school all day. otherwise, it would not have happened for me, either.

others have opted for bsn programs, because (as i was told), the competition was not as stiff, and your gpa may go further there. keep us posted, and don't give up, okay? a miracle happened for me, and i became an lpn...the same can happen for you.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
I had a 3.0 in my previous bachelors but worse that that my first time at college and I got nursing school in NYC (Beth Israel). I did have really good NLN scores. You haven't said where you are so that may not help you. It is very competitive here, but schools will look at other things as well like test scores and such. Many also claim that they put weight on your personal statement or the fact the you have really good grades in recent pre-requisite classes etc.

Don't give up, 3.2 is not bad you just may need to up the ante with the other parts of your application. I have many friends now who have been accepted to various nursing schools here and do not have 4.0. Also you may need to look at private schools. Yes it is more expensive, but if the difference between you achieving your dream and you not being satisfied with your job the rest of your life are student loans, then that is a small price to pay I think.

good luck

What a coincidence! I take some of Beth Israel's continuing ed courses! I took the EKG interpetation and 12 lead EKG course, and I will be taking their wound care class on June 22; then, Diabetes on September 12th. Seems like a nice school, and their professors are top notch.

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What state are you in???

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what state are you in???

georgia

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georgia

did you go to the vocational board of nursing website? they list many colleges, most of which are technical schools. i would call each and every school and talk to the person in charge of placing students in the program. tell them your dilema. is it possible to move to another town so you cna attend school? where i live, the tech schools get you in on a first come first serve basis/ they do not even look at a gpa. i have only heard of the community college doing that. i'm not sure why itis so difficult for you to get into a program. but, don't lose hope!

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

I don't know about other areas, but around here, you only need a 4.0 (or close to it) to be competitive for the RN programs. That's why I'm getting my LPN first, so I can get experience before I work on all the science pre-reqs. Most LPN schools here only require highschool diploma, basic reading/math skills, and an interview. Private schools are easier to get into around here than community colleges, but they're definitely more expensive.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
I don't know about other areas, but around here, you only need a 4.0 (or close to it) to be competitive for the RN programs. That's why I'm getting my LPN first, so I can get experience before I work on all the science pre-reqs. Most LPN schools here only require highschool diploma, basic reading/math skills, and an interview. Private schools are easier to get into around here than community colleges, but they're definitely more expensive.

"only 4.0"??? Are you sure that you didn't mean another number (not trying to sound challenging)? It is quite difficult to maintain a 4.0, or to even obtain it, for that matter. It is even getting that way for the LPN to RN bridge program in my area, because they have to take the college pre-requisites to get into the LPN program, and they only have 20 seats. I am hearing that the 'going' GPA these days is 3.7 for practical nursing in the community colleges.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.
"only 4.0"??? Are you sure that you didn't mean another number (not trying to sound challenging)? It is quite difficult to maintain a 4.0, or to even obtain it, for that matter. It is even getting that way for the LPN to RN bridge program in my area, because they have to take the college pre-requisites to get into the LPN program, and they only have 20 seats. I am hearing that the 'going' GPA these days is 3.7 for practical nursing in the community colleges.

I guess I shouldn't have said a 4.0, lol....I really meant the 3.5-4.0 range is competitive around here for RN programs (unless you have awesome NLN scores or previous work experience, etc.), and it's also a lot harder to get into an RN program around here compared to LPN schools. I'm not sure about the community colleges, but the private LPN schools that I've looked into don't even really look at your GPA, just that you have a highschool diploma and have basic math/reading skills. But they also are very expensive, which is a big downfall.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
I guess I shouldn't have said a 4.0, lol....I really meant the 3.5-4.0 range is competitive around here for RN programs (unless you have awesome NLN scores or previous work experience, etc.), and it's also a lot harder to get into an RN program around here compared to LPN schools. I'm not sure about the community colleges, but the private LPN schools that I've looked into don't even really look at your GPA, just that you have a highschool diploma and have basic math/reading skills. But they also are very expensive, which is a big downfall.

They have severly reduced the number of LPN schools in my area, making people have to travel really far in most cases. My community college is competitive for both, because it is a bridge program. The private vocational school may be the best bet for some, if they wish to pay close to $9000 (which is better than most). Before I really pursued being an LPN, they had plenty around...I was really an idiot not to take advantage of it back then...they were about $3000.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.
They have severly reduced the number of LPN schools in my area, making people have to travel really far in most cases. My community college is competitive for both, because it is a bridge program. The private vocational school may be the best bet for some, if they wish to pay close to $9000 (which is better than most). Before I really pursued being an LPN, they had plenty around...I was really an idiot not to take advantage of it back then...they were about $3000.

Ouch, that really sucks. Where do you live if you don't mind me asking? I live in Mass/New Hampshire and thankfully there are a few LPN schools around my area so I don't have to drive that far. I'm not even sure if I want to go on for my RN once (or if) I get accepted into LPN school....it's getting harder and harder even just to get a spot on the waiting list for the RN schools here. :uhoh3:

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