Master's in nursing with low GPA of 2.4

Nurses General Nursing

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I have a question, if there any one who had a GPA of 2.4 or less and actually got excepted into the Canadian Graduate school or USA. I have graduated from school last year, since then still can not find a full time job. I am thinking now if it is at all possible to return to school and to finish Master's program. Is it possible at all? I do understand that i will need to take some courses and i am open to take them but the question is will they let me and how long it iwll take to boost up the GPA to 3.0? What is the best Master's program that will be easy to find a job and is interesting as well as will be always in need even 15 years from now? Thanks a lot!!!.

Specializes in Emergency.
I take a look at YOU as a person. If you could only manage a 2.4 gpa in undergrad, what makes you think you are ready to undertake a higher level and more rigorous level of nursing curriculum that leads the the ability to eventually practice independently and potentially be in control of people's lives?

Wow, people like YOU never cease to amaze me. There are people who get into nursing school who don't even have a C average. There is more to life than a GPA. People have families, jobs, extra curricular activies, etc. Why would you try and even attempt to tell someone they are not ready for a Master program because they have a 2.4 GPA? Which is in no way shape or form failing. Maybe you should re evaluate yourself and look back on your nursing career and see if you have made any mistakes with any patient care at all, and if you have, maybe take a reflection back at your "high" GPA and just think about how such a thing could happen when you were the one with the good GPA. Ugh!

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Wow, people like YOU never cease to amaze me. There are people who get into nursing school who don't even have a C average. There is more to life than a GPA. People have families, jobs, extra curricular activies, etc. Why would you try and even attempt to tell someone they are not ready for a Master program because they have a 2.4 GPA? Which is in no way shape or form failing. Maybe you should re evaluate yourself and look back on your nursing career and see if you have made any mistakes with any patient care at all, and if you have, maybe take a reflection back at your "high" GPA and just think about how such a thing could happen when you were the one with the good GPA. Ugh!

Geez this is the problem with forums. I was just simply suggesting the OP take some time for personal reflection to see if he/she is ready to pursue graduate level coursework. The answer may be YES and the OP may do wonderfully at it. I haven't a clue. I was just simply suggesting he/she take time for personal reflection and not rely entirely on an online forum. If the OP feels ready to pursue the graduate level coursework, there will be a way to do so and I'm sure the end result will be wonderful. If the OP is not ready, it won't. No one here, myself included, can make that determination. I never said the OP was NOT ready... just simply suggested taking some time for personal reflection to determine for himself/herself that topic.

And for the record, I'm starting nursing school in March. My first two years of college I had a horrible GPA because I had no idea what I wanted to do and no passion. Luckily I figured it out and brought my grades way up. I'm a huge advocate of grades not equaling talent or potential.

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Specializes in Emergency.
Geez this is the problem with forums. I was just simply suggesting the OP take some time for personal reflection to see if he/she is ready to pursue graduate level coursework. The answer may be YES and the OP may do wonderfully at it. I haven't a clue. I was just simply suggesting he/she take time for personal reflection and not rely entirely on an online forum. If the OP feels ready to pursue the graduate level coursework, there will be a way to do so and I'm sure the end result will be wonderful. If the OP is not ready, it won't. No one here, myself included, can make that determination. I never said the OP was NOT ready... just simply suggested taking some time for personal reflection to determine for himself/herself that topic.

And for the record, I'm starting nursing school in March. My first two years of college I had a horrible GPA because I had no idea what I wanted to do and no passion. Luckily I figured it out and brought my grades way up. I'm a huge advocate of grades not equaling talent or potential.

I think it's the way your answer came out. "If you could only manage a 2.4 GPA, what makes you think you can undertake grad school." Maybe a better choice of words next time. You never know what is going on in someone elses life. Good Luck in school!

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Is a 2.4 below a C? I thought it was like a C+. Isn't an A a 4.0, a B a 3.0 and a C a 2.0? Or am I wrong?

Yep, you're right. But, at my nursing school, you would be out if your GPA fell to a 2.4. In mine, you MUST have a 2.5 or higher all the time. Master's programs usually want much higher GPA's than 2.4, and I'm guessing that is why the OP is asking about it.

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Specializes in Med Surg.

I was kicked out of school after my first two years because of a low GPA. I couldn't get interested in anything that school offered so I majored in "campusology." I was totally unmotivated to study and couldn't have cared less about school or furthuring my education so I went to work in a large manufacturing plant owned by a global corporation.

After a few years, I was encouraged by my boss at the time to take advantage of the company's education program where they would pay 100% of my tuition and fees. I thought, fine, I'll give it a try. The school had added some new programs so I though I'd give engineering a try. When I applied for readmission, I was told I should retake all the courses I had flunked before to bring my GPA up. I pointed out that the majority of those courses had nothing to do with my new major and it would be a waste of time. All I had to do was make A's and the GPA would come up on it's own. They informed me that they didn't feel I was capable of doing that kind of work. I told them to just watch me.

I graduated with a 2.7 GPA but my GPA after my readmission was 3.95. That was the only reason I was allowed to graduate as the program usually required a 3.0 unless an exception was granted by the program head. When I applied to grad school a few years later I was able to convince that school to just look at my second time around and not judge me by what happened when I was straight out of high school. That and scoring in the top 1% in the country on the GMAT got me in and I finished a MS in management with a GPA of 3.8 in a 54 hour program.

Point is, if I had been judged strictly by my 2.7 GPA I would never have received my BS nor would I have been allowed near a graduate program. Sometimes that GPA is just a number and in no way speaks about the ability, apptitude, determination, or character of the person who it applies to.

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Specializes in Med Surg.
Geez this is the problem with forums. I was just simply suggesting the OP take some time for personal reflection to see if he/she is ready to pursue graduate level coursework. The answer may be YES and the OP may do wonderfully at it. I haven't a clue. I was just simply suggesting he/she take time for personal reflection and not rely entirely on an online forum. If the OP feels ready to pursue the graduate level coursework, there will be a way to do so and I'm sure the end result will be wonderful. If the OP is not ready, it won't. No one here, myself included, can make that determination. I never said the OP was NOT ready... just simply suggested taking some time for personal reflection to determine for himself/herself that topic.

Maybe if that was what you had actually said in the first place people wouldn't be jumping all over you.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.

duplicate and extended below, sorry

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Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.
Actually, a 2.4 is above a C average. Below a C would be below a 2.0. Also, you said people would have "tremendous challenges" in an ACLS course without ICU experience? Well I will be graduating nursing school next month and I was just hired in the ER this week and will be taking an ACLS course right after boards, so it can be done but the new grad has to be willing to stay on top of things. Going through nursing school should have taught us all how to do that so YOU CAN DO IT!!!! :)

When you pass your boards, pass ACLS and have actually done it, only then do I think it would be best to advise others. When you start, you'll see that ER and ICU folks are equal in the ACLS world, that's why I didn't feel the need to spell it out.

A 2.4 is academic probation when I was in nursing school, a C- (two semesters of this equals expulsion from the program, each program is different, not trying to argue but please don't suggest my information is incorrect when it is indeed true).

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Specializes in home health & nonprofit management.

There are schools that consider more than youre gpa. I can think of Frontier and Vanderbilt off the top of my head. ACLS is not easy but a lot of new grads are being encouraged to get it. It can be done and looks great on resume..The last 60 units are what a lot of schools look at and if yours aren't good, consider doing some general ed courses on ITV or the junior college. A 2.0 is a C on the 4.0 scale...Don't let anyone discourage you, there are places that will let you in. Just add extra like volunteering at free clinics and getting a mentor in the healthcare field who can write an awesome recommendation. If youre a re-entry adult, esp. older, you can chalk it up to youth and just show a better track record. Best of luck to you!

Jen

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Specializes in Emergency.
When you pass your boards, pass ACLS and have actually done it, only then do I think it would be best to advise others. When you start, you'll see that ER and ICU folks are equal in the ACLS world, that's why I didn't feel the need to spell it out.

A 2.4 is academic probation when I was in nursing school, a C- (two semesters of this equals expulsion from the program, each program is different, not trying to argue but please don't suggest my information is incorrect when it is indeed true).

I didn't say what you said was "untrue". I said the person would have to be willing to stay on top of things. If you are going to slack off and think it's a breeze then you probably won't make it, especially as a new grad with no experience. But if you stay determined, focus, and get help/ask questions when needed, then surely the OP, and myself included would do fine.

As far as the GPA goes, that may be your program but in my program, someone can get straight C's if they wanted, which is a 2.0 and still be in nursing school. It's considered passing. Now our C's are not like normal 70-79%. To make a C you have to make a 76%. 75.9=failing, there is no D. Below a 2.0 would be academic probabtion and at my school, you can still get into nurssing school if you write a petition and prove you can do well. That is if the classes don't get filled by others with higher GPA's first.

Was not trying to argue nor did I think I was arguing. Was simply stating my opinion just like you were, and I think I have the right to do that.

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Is that a good or bad thing! lol

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Specializes in geriatrics.

Most schools I have looked at (at least 8) require a GPA well above a 3.0 for Masters. Keep in mind that all graduate schools are extremely competitive. If you are applying with others who have references, work experience, and high GPA's (I'm thinking 3.4 and above), a 3.0 wouldn't cut ir.

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