My grades /:

baja_blast1 · Dec 25, 2012

nursing school is very competitive so you should try to get the best grades possible. Try to get A's next semester. For A&P1 I recommend repeatably studying everything. Try to get your GPA up to a 3.2 at least.

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Dec 25, 2012

Wanted some advice on my 1st semester grades. I took 4 classes.
College Algebra - C+
English 101- B+
Communication- B-
College Reading Skills(CRS)- C
My GPA is a 2.6. So far students older than me said since its my first semester of college, its expected. But others say its really BAD especially if I want to get into Nursing. Next semester ill be taking A&P1, SOCY, Psych, Stats, and English Comp.
What's your opinion on my grades? /:

That's probably fairly normal considering it is your 1st semester of school. Take a look at the entrance requirements for the nursing programs in your area and see what they require as far as prerequisite grades/GPA. I think you should concentrate on trying to figure out how you study best. You may also want to take an assessment of some sort to determine what your strengths are academically. This will also tell you what your weaknesses are. Then you can work on what is weak and improve that. I would expect that nursing programs look heavily at your prerequisites that they require, not so much the general Ed, but rather the science-based coursework that you need, like anatomy and physiology, chemistry, microbiology, and the like... They will then next look at your overall coursework to see how you did overall. With your current grades, I really truly do not see any major glaring issues yet. From here on out, however, you're going to have to look at having generally good grades to bring your GPA up above 3.0. You certainly want your GPA for your core prerequisites can be as high as possible.

I know this sounds like a lot, work on it the best you can, a lot of people have not so good grades in their academic history, myself included. I made it into nursing school, and I am doing fairly well.

I think the main thing for you to concern yourself with is making sure that you know how you study in a manner that is efficient for you. I am not going to tell you how that is: what is best for me is not necessarily best for you. This is because I am coming from a completely different place. I came from a very strong background in anatomy and physiology, emphasizing biomechanics of injury physiology and the like, so I actually understand pathophysiology a bit better than some other students in my class. Specifically, I have a Bachelors degree in Sports Medicine. I have long since learned how I study best, and I can honestly tell you that incorporating new material into existing knowledge base is far easier than building a new knowledge base.

The unfortunate and difficult part about having such a wide body of knowledge already is that I have to change my way of thinking from what is essentially medical model to the nursing model. The good thing about starting nursing school from scratch, without much of a background in anything, is that you will learn the nursing model from the beginning and you'll have a better grasp of it than I likely ever will. Please do not misunderstand me in thinking that I don't know how to think about how to support the body's systems and help the repair itself, I most certainly do. It's just a different way for me to think about the body vs. how I'm used to thinking about it. So it's an extra step for me to do: think about what broke and then how the body will react to it in order to repair the damage.

I wish you all the luck in the world and I hope you are able to realize your dream of becoming a nurse. You should also realize that if you do not immediately reach that goal, it is not the end of the world rather it is the beginning of a new adventure which can lead you back to nursing school with a whole bucket load of life experience which can also help you with being a good nurse.

x_factor · Dec 25, 2012

Wanted some advice on my 1st semester grades. I took 4 classes.
College Algebra - C+
English 101- B+
Communication- B-
College Reading Skills(CRS)- C
My GPA is a 2.6. So far students older than me said since its my first semester of college, its expected. But others say its really BAD especially if I want to get into Nursing. Next semester ill be taking A&P1, SOCY, Psych, Stats, and English Comp.
What's your opinion on my grades? /:

Honestly, you had what seems like a very light schedule, as far as the difficulty of the classes, with the exception of college algebra. If you struggled in those classes, you really need to take a step back and analyze why you did so poorly in those classes, before you begin the harder classes (especially A&P 1 and Statistics) next semester. Was it your study habits, lack of studying, trouble understanding the material, or something else? Did you get assistance from a tutor for any classes you were having trouble with? Did you visit your professors during office hours to discuss any sections you were having problems with?

I would look into repeating College Algebra and the College Reading Skills, if they are both pre-reqs into the nursing program you are applying to. A 2.6 GPA is very low, and not competitive for most programs. In fact, most programs require a minimum of a 2.8 or higher to even apply, and the cut-off for many programs is around anywhere from a 3.5 to a 3.8.

You still have time to pull your grade up, I would aim for all A's in as many of your remaining classes as possible, especially your sciences. Psychology, Sociology and freshman English are generally fairly easy classes, in comparison to A&P and Statistics. So my advice is to stay on top of your studying, do not get behind, and use any and all resources available to you. This includes using any tutoring resources at your school, and checking in with your professors during office hours to discuss anything you are having trouble understanding.

Nursing programs require fairly great grades given the high GPA requirements. In order to obtain those grades, it takes a vast amount of hard work, determination, and a whole lot of studying. Before you begin to move foward in your classes, my biggest piece of advice is to reflect on why you struggled in the classes you took, and how you can achieve better grades with your upcoming semester, either by changing your study habits or increasing the amount of time studying you devote to each class.

Compassion_x · Dec 25, 2012

Like someone else has said, nursing school is competitive. The nursing schools in my area require at least a 2.7 gpa, but students with just a 2.7 rarely get accepted. I'd revise your study habits and try to get A's next semester, especially in A&P.

Trenbolone Acetate · Dec 25, 2012

Your grades are awful. Those are all pretty basic classes relative to simplicity. If you cant ace those, you are likely to fail your next semester, which are much more demanding and critical. The problem with students is that they are to damn eager to get their degree as soon as possible and therefore limit themselves intellectually as as you are less likely to retain such knowledge. You need to reevaluate if this is realy what you want, because when you truly want something bad enough, you will do whatever it takes to achieve it, even if that means giving up any sort of personal/social life, especially with the knowledge that nursing school is very competitive. Take 2 classes at a time, NO MORE.

Wanted some advice on my 1st semester grades. I took 4 classes.
College Algebra - C+
English 101- B+
Communication- B-
College Reading Skills(CRS)- C
My GPA is a 2.6. So far students older than me said since its my first semester of college, its expected. But others say its really BAD especially if I want to get into Nursing. Next semester ill be taking A&P1, SOCY, Psych, Stats, and English Comp.
What's your opinion on my grades? /:

TrishaJefferson · Dec 25, 2012

My first semester (Summer term, 2012) I made the same grades you did two B's and two C's. I knew my problem was the fact that it was my first time being a college student so I didn't know what to expect, I didn't know how should I study, it was a summer term so it was fast-paced, and I was nervous on top of that. But I didn't let my GPA (2.4) bring me down in the fall semester. In my second semester I did much better had four A's and one B because I knew how to study and I management my time way better. Also, I got more organize, I seen a tutor for math (Pre-Calculus Algebra), and just study a lot. Like I didn't worry about the GPA I got in the Summer, I just worried about the GPA I'll receive in the Fall, and I will do the same don't worry about my Fall GPA just the Spring.

The fact that you didn't do so well in your first semester you shouldn't let that bring you down you just have to stay focus. Don't worry about your GPA that you got now just worry about the GPA you will get next semester. Since you got your first semester out the way I'm pretty sure you know how to study now and manage your time better, but you're taking some classes you MIGHT have trouble with especially A&P 1 and Stats. I say maybe you should take an Art class instead Stats right now, but if you feel you ready take it just stay on top of your game.

Good Luck:)

cocoabean · Dec 25, 2012

Merry Christmas!

I'm still pretty naive, but one thing I learned from last semester is how important it is to be able to know what kind of study skills you have, and how to use them. Enjoy your holiday break, and use your gpa as motivation to be amazing next semester. If you can remember the weeks before your worst tests of the semester, what were you doing? Were you more stressed than usual, or did you study in a place that made focusing more taxing? It may sound dumb, but keeping a journal of these kinds of things is starting to help me. Hopefully some of this may work for you!

Kandy83 · Dec 25, 2012

Your grades are awful. Those are all pretty basic classes relative to simplicity. If you cant ace those, you are likely to fail your next semester, which are much more demanding and critical. The problem with students is that they are to damn eager to get their degree as soon as possible and therefore limit themselves intellectually as as you are less likely to retain such knowledge. You need to reevaluate if this is realy what you want, because when you truly want something bad enough, you will do whatever it takes to achieve it, even if that means giving up any sort of personal/social life, especially with the knowledge that nursing school is very competitive. Take 2 classes at a time, NO MORE.

Your grades are not awful, please don't listen to this poster:no:. Just make sure you do better next semester, go online to rate my professor. com, and check to see if you can find a class that you want to take. Once you do that, check which professors are teaching that subject next semester, and see if they have a great/bad rating, and from there choose wisely. I think you can do great next semester and the following ones, the higher the grades the better. Good luck:up:

i♥words · Dec 25, 2012

So you're looking at two Bs and two Cs. Ignorant question, but do minuses and pluses affect GPA? Where I attend we don't do B+ or B-...it's just a B. Those aren't terrible, but they aren't As.

I think you'll be okay, if you do better from here on out, but I am not sure that you should take 5 classes (plus a lab) next semester. That's sixteen hours, and that is going to make you cry. (Been there twice, and it did make me cry, but I got almost all As...one B.)

Besides evaluating how much time you actually spent studying and your level of interest in each class (did you actually care?), I would think about how often you checked your averages in your classes and how often you talked to your professors about those averages. If you're getting your grades back after each assignment, you can calculate your average (plenty of places online to help with that) and know where you stand. If you then see that you aren't doing as well as you would like, do something about it. Ask for help, find a tutor, go to the math lab, go to the writing lab, stalk students in the library (don't do that).

You can do better, you just have to push yourself harder and get help when you need it.

Your grades are awful. Those are all pretty basic classes relative to simplicity. If you cant ace those, you are likely to fail your next semester, which are much more demanding and critical. The problem with students is that they are to damn eager to get their degree as soon as possible and therefore limit themselves intellectually as as you are less likely to retain such knowledge. You need to reevaluate if this is realy what you want, because when you truly want something bad enough, you will do whatever it takes to achieve it, even if that means giving up any sort of personal/social life, especially with the knowledge that nursing school is very competitive. Take 2 classes at a time, NO MORE.

Wow. Just wow.

brenay · Dec 25, 2012

Please do not be discouraged. Your grades are not awful at all. Please do not listen to that obnoxious, rude, and clearly unhappy individual. You can do anything you set your mind to. The good thing about your grades is that you received C's in classes that are not so important. Well I wouldn't say they're not important but nursing schools probably won't stress about you having a C in Communication or College Skills or whatever. Just do better next semester. When you begin A&P and Stats, aim for A's!!!! All your sciences, social sciences, humanities, and math classes need to given serious study time and dedication. You can do this!!! It's not too late at all!!!!

Graduation2016 · Dec 25, 2012

Some people clearly come here to bring everyone down not to offer any words of wisdom or support or anything positive. That specific poster only has mean things to say (check past posts). I learned long time ago that if I didn't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all. Concentrate in making a study routine for next semester and don't dwell on what could've been. Maybe later you can re-take those classes in which you got C's. Look forward, and change the future results. Best of luck!