My GPA is trash. What to do now?

[wpm7231]

So, after many years of being in school, then dropping out due to personal reasons, I'm now back in school and taking it very serious. It's been a long hard road in my adult years and I just haven't been able to stick my a dream of being a nurse. Until now. The problem is my GPA at a previous school. I had to drop out 3 different times, and didn't do it the proper way. So now I have a bunch of Fs since I wasn't smart enough to withdraw.

My collective GPA is 2.5 but my GPA at my current school is 3.86. I need a minimum of 2.8 to even be considered for nursing school in my area. I'm lost at what I should do. I'm really working hard now, putting in 19 hour days with full-time work and school 5 days a week. Making As, on the Honor Council, but it looks like it won't be enough. Feels like I will always be punished for the transgression of my youth. I'm almost 43 now and I don't want to be going to school for nothing. There isn't ANYTHING I would rather do than be a nurse.

Please help with any advice. TIA.

[DrKim]

You might actually not be in bad shape. Your story is more common than you realize. If grades from your not so stellar years are older than 7 years old, some programs will not even factor them into your prerequisite gpa for your application. Most schools separate overall gpa from science or prereq gpa and weigh the science/prereq gpa higher than the overall gpa. For some students, overall gpa can be inflated from easy courses, so by separating the gpa's it keeps things fair. Worst case scenario, you write a letter to the Admission's Committee or Dean owning your mistakes, provide examples of how you've improved and your plan to stay focused/be successful in the nursing program. You have options :-)

[Nyani124, BSN, RN]

I was under the assumption that they would take my GPA from all 4 school, add them together then divide by 4, giving my overall GPA.

Not how GPA is calculated. So when you talk to these schools about your situation make sure you get someone to evaluate your transcripts as well, if possible.

[windsurfer8, BSN, RN]

Totally disagree. "heart" doesn't matter if you have straight Fs. You are saying schools should go with "intangibles"??? Should medical school also start this? Forget your grades and just accept a person into medical school because they "really want to be a doctor". Saying anyone who "wants to be a nurse" WILL be a nurse is ridiculus. "Wanting" is not going to get you to pass microbioolgy. DOING will.

[WookieeRN, BSN, MSN, RN]

You don't have to submit transcripts from your old school. You could retake any requirements and just submit your recent transcript.

The accelerated bsn programs I looked at accepted a gpa calculated on the last 60 credits.

Yes, you do. Omitting transcripts is considered academic fraud and schools have ways of finding a student's past institutions.

[BeachsideRN, ASN]

I was under the assumption that they would take my GPA from all 4 school, add them together then divide by 4, giving my overall GPA.

Not how GPA is calculated. So when you talk to these schools about your situation make sure you get someone to evaluate your transcripts as well, if possible.

I am always baffled by the number of people that have no clue how to calculate a gpa.

[MarquieshaH]

I know this is off topic, but can I pm you with a question?

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

Yes, you do. Omitting transcripts is considered academic fraud and schools have ways of finding a student's past institutions.

If you received any kind of financial aid, they generally will have access to all grades regardless of if receiving financial aid now. I know someone who got caught like that and lost their chance. Moved a few states away and didn't mention previous classes (paid for by Uncle Sam). Upon entering SSN, lo and behold, history caught up with her...