My chances for nursing school?

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Hi there, I recently discovered that I would like to be a nurse, I've been in school for my undergrad for about 8 years, My GPA is a 2.1, and I have alot of W's... I havent done any volunteer work and I have no letters of recommendation either... But I really want to be a nurse! and I hear the pay is pretty good and feel I can have a good life with a career like this. Any advice? :nurse:

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Specializes in Hospice & Palliative Care, Oncology, M/S.

Hi!

Where are you in terms of classes? Have you already checked into what schools need for pre-requisites?

If you are new to this, I would suggest talking to a nursing advisor at the schools that you're interested in. They would be able to give you a plan to follow, and may have some great ideas for you.

Also, some universities/colleges allow you to retake courses if they apply to your major (or even if they don't). Would it be better for you to retake some classes to satisfy nursing requirements?

If you have a Bachelor's already, there are programs that are accelerated as well which don't require as much as someone going for their first degree.

I hope this helped. I wish you all the best in your journey!

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As an undergrad with a gpa of 2.1 and a lot of withdrawals you may have to look around closely for the program thats right for you. Nursing school is notoriously competitive, not only to get into, but also once you get in.

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I havent taken any of the pre reqs yet because I was a technology major, but I just started A&P I, and psych, I was gonna try to add Med Term and do 100 hours of volunteering in the nursing department. I hope I can bring my pre req GPA up considerably and have great letters of recommendations, Do you think I would have a shot if I went about it this way?

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If you haven't taken any of your pre-reqs yet then I think you still have a really good shot.

The first thing you HAVE to do is take your pe-reqs and get REALLY GREAT grades in those. I mean As and B+ the lowest.

Also, get in good with a couple of these professors. I'm not saying be a butt kisser (ok maybe just a little bit but don't be annoying about it). Just make them remember you by doing things like getting involved in class discussions and presentations, helping out in labs if you have the time(come in a couple minutes early to help set up, help clean up after lab), chatting it up with them on breaks instead of running out the door (I'm taking friendly conversation, not hounding them about the material...this is their break too. If you are leaving the room anf they can't ask if you can bring them something back...ok this is the kissing up part... but it will be appreciated and remembered if it is done in a genuine way). Attend study groups if they're available, even if you don't think you need the extra help...you will learn SOMETHING you didn't know and it will show your determination to do well. If you do all of this, when it comes time for letters of recommendation at least one of your professors will write you a fabulous letter.

Start getting some hospital/patient care experience. Volunteer or get a job in the medical field. Again, do everything you can to stand out without being annoying. If your job is greeting the patients...be the best greeter the hospital ever had. If you make the beds and empty the trash be the best, most efficient bed maker and trash emptier ever. Get friendly with the staff in the area you work in. Ask them to ket you see cool stuff when it happens. Again, this will count when you need letters to get into a program and maybe help you move up the ladder when your looking for another job.

If the program you apply to requires an essay, write a great essay. Get help with that if you can. Whatever school you're going to probablyhas some resource for help with writing. Even if you use them just for proofreading and editing it is helpful to have another set of eyes. Also if the topic of the essay allows for it, use this time to talk about your change of heart in you carreer path. Mention how much more serious you have become in your studies since you found a passion for something. Chances are, if you get great grades in your pre-reqs the admissions committe will weigh that heavier than the w you got in ceramics during you first year of school when you were 18 and had no clue what you wanted to do with your life.

On the same note, if you finish your pre-reqs and are still in the process of applying, or are waiting to hear, start taking co-reqs. Get as much done as you can and do really well. It shows you are really serious. Some programs also give prefference to students who have more courses completed.

And finally, if you get the chance to interview for a program, make sure you let them know how much you really want this. Take the opportunity to explain your old grades and whatever life circumstances led to them and how that has all changed. Your new grades and new attitude will outshine your old transcripts.

Wow...sorry this ended up sooo long but not long ago I was in EXACTLY the same position as you and now...I'm starting a nursing program. These are the steps I took. I had to figure out all that stuff for myself so hopefully I helped you get a jump on thinking about what you have to do if you're serious about getting in.

GOOD LUCK!! Let me know if I can help any more!

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Thanks for the info! It really helps me try to plan out what steps I need to take and how to go about doing it! I feel like im in a hole when I look at my transcripts and old grades, its discouraging to be honest. I hope it all works out in the end...

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You may have to take some class over again to raise your GPA.

And all schools are different. The nursing program I am applying to this winter requires you to have an overall 2.5 GPA, a 2.0 GPA in pre-reqs, pass the NET with a certain score, and that's it. You are added to a waiting list in order of acceptance, someone with a higher GPA doesn't get moved up based on that. It's usually one to two semester wait.

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You may have to take some class over again to raise your GPA.

And all schools are different. The nursing program I am applying to this winter requires you to have an overall 2.5 GPA, a 2.0 GPA in pre-reqs, pass the NET with a certain score, and that's it. You are added to a waiting list in order of acceptance, someone with a higher GPA doesn't get moved up based on that. It's usually one to two semester wait.

Which school is this?

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It's in Ohio.

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This is a joke thread right? 8 years of undergrad and you still don't have a degree? I know not everyone knows what they want to do with their lives, but seriously what have you been doing all this time? You could've gotten two whole degrees by now.

I feel like a complete troll right now, but everyone who has posted before acts like your chances of getting into a nursing school are good, which I don't feel is the reality. You're taking 2 classes right now that actually apply to nursing, which means that at your current rate it'll take you till your mid 30s before you even finish your pre-reqs, never mind even beginning nursing school.

I feel that it would be in your best interest to either finish up your technology major (I have no idea what that even is) and move on with your life, or give up on college and move on with your life.

I'm not trying to be mean. I'm trying to be serious. You need to get your act together and take care of whatever personal affairs you have that have kept you in school so long if you really want to become a nurse or you will fail before you even get to have a chance. And if you're unwilling to do so, then you should take my advice and pursue a non-academic avenue and do something else with your life before you waste more time and money only to find out no school will take you.

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This is a joke thread right? 8 years of undergrad and you still don't have a degree? I know not everyone knows what they want to do with their lives, but seriously what have you been doing all this time? You could've gotten two whole degrees by now.

I feel like a complete troll right now, but everyone who has posted before acts like your chances of getting into a nursing school are good, which I don't feel is the reality. You're taking 2 classes right now that actually apply to nursing, which means that at your current rate it'll take you till your mid 30s before you even finish your pre-reqs, never mind even beginning nursing school.

I feel that it would be in your best interest to either finish up your technology major (I have no idea what that even is) and move on with your life, or give up on college and move on with your life.

I'm not trying to be mean. I'm trying to be serious. You need to get your act together and take care of whatever personal affairs you have that have kept you in school so long if you really want to become a nurse or you will fail before you even get to have a chance. And if you're unwilling to do so, then you should take my advice and pursue a non-academic avenue and do something else with your life before you waste more time and money only to find out no school will take you.

Wow....this person has acknowledged that they are just figuring out what they really want to do and they have acknowledged that they have screwed up until this point. I think your post was rather harsh considering you have no idea what circumstances lead this person to be in school so long or make a change in career. So what if this person doesn't get in to nursing school until their mid 30s, so what if they don't get in until they're 40. Your advice to finish a degree that obviously hasn't sparked any passion in this person is silly. Chances are, if one has worked on something for 8 years without success or drive for success there isn't much hope. I applaud this person for wanting a fresh start and taking the steps to begin again and go after what they want. I'm not saying anyone is going to hand them the chance....I gave step by step instructions about what worked for me and it was hard work.

I would agree with you if this person said they knew what they wanted all along and it took them 8 years to work toward their pre-reqs and they kept failing or withdrawing from the classes. Those posts come around all the time and people do give a false sense of hope. Telling people "just keep trying you'll get there" is foolish when they obviously don't have what it takes for a particular career. And I feel like thats what you're doing...telling this person to continue toward a career (technology) that they obviously aren't cut out for. Its time to try something new...nursing just might be the thing!

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Specializes in Utilization Management.

"This is a joke thread right? 8 years of undergrad and you still don't have a degree? I know not everyone knows what they want to do with their lives, but seriously what have you been doing all this time? You could've gotten two whole degrees by now."

I've had 9 years of undergrad and won't have my degree until next year. I'm not a troll. I was in a situation similar to the OP. Didn't know what I wanted right out of high school so I messed around and ended up with a not so great GPA. I finally decided on nursing when I was 24. I'm 27 now. It doesn't matter what age you are when you start or finish nursing school. It's admirable to even have the drive for it. I started my pre-reqs, got frustrated at the time it was taking, went to LPN school (while finishing my pre-reqs), and I just started a bridge program this month. I'll graduate next August at the elderly age of 28.

My advice to the OP is to look into LPN school. Bridge programs aren't nearly as competitive GPA wise and admission isn't based soley on one's GPA. Experience in healthcare, amoutn of pre-reqs completed, and GPA are all factors. Good luck.

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