NC Programs

[tahillia]

Hi guys!

I am in a bit of a unique situation and I was hoping y'all could help me out. I am a 24 y/o student with lots of undergrad experience at NC State and, more recently, at UNCG. My grades at NCSU were mediocre but I have a 3.25 GPA in my coursework at UNCG. Unfortunately and despite my more recent good grades, my low GPA from NCSU (and my less responsible earlier years) is haunting me. I really want to get into a Nursing program and I know for a fact that I could handle academically, but I don't think anyone will accept me. I didn't figure out what I wanted to do with my life until about a year and a half ago, and since then I have worked hard to do well in hopes of getting into a nursing program (any program that will accept me, at this point). I am still working toward finishing my BA at UNCG because I have this terrible fear that no nursing program will ever accept me and I'll need a degree to fall back on, but my degree is completely useless when it comes to becoming a nurse.

To the point... I need some suggestions of places to apply in NC that have more lax admission requirements. I took the pre-admissions test at Watts (scored in the 95th percentile) and I was going to continue with the application process there until I was forced to move back to Greensboro. Watts is basically my ultimate school; not only do they not have a set GPA for admission, but they have an amazing hands-on program with a strong emphasis on clinical experience (and the tuition reimbursement program is amazing). Are there any programs similar to Watts in the Piedmont area? I wouldn't mind moving, but can't afford it right now. I ideally want my RN or BSN (could tack a BSN onto my BA if I found a school that would accept me!) but I am really open to any degree that I could eventually build upon by furthering my education after I have a few years of work experience.

I am basically looking for a school that can look past a couple of years of bad decisions and really focus on what I'm capable of. I know I could bring a lot to the table, but I just want someone to give me a chance. So... any suggestions? Do you think completing my BA will open up my options? Any tips? Contacts?

Thanks in advance for any help!

-Tracie

[MotivatedOne]

Hello Tacie...I don't think that a nursing program will factor in your GPA from NCSU since you didn't get a degree from there, you wouldn't be applying to an ABSN program if you were to apply to one once completing your BA from UNCG. Basically, when they evaluate your transcript from NCSU they'd only be looking at the classes with a C or better for transfer credits. I'm not sure when you'll finish school but something you may want to consider is the fact that once you get your Bachelor's degree you will no longer be eligible for grants, only loans. Me personally though, I'd finish getting the BA. Mercy School of Nursing may be similar to Watts as well as Carolinas College of Health Sciences and Cabarrus College of Health Sciences.

Now, I can only speak from my past experiences when trying to get into a nursing program.

I graduated from ECU back in Dec 2005 with a 2.88 (that I've rounded to 2.9) undergrad GPA. Applied to WSSU as a second degree seeking student to take the pre-reqs required for their Accelerated BSN program. My science GPA was either a 3.2 or 3.3, I can't remember which. Anyway, I wasn't accepted into their program and at that time did not have a back up plan. I later decided that I didn't have to have a BSN right away to practice nursing. So that's when I researched which community colleges were within communiting distance since I was somewhat new to the Triad area! I narrowed my list down to two schools...Guilford Tech and Forsyth Tech. I applied to both, took the TEAS test twice and had a cumulative score of I believe 76 at Guilford Tech (the miniumum requirement is a 75) and a cumulative score of 78 at Forsyth Tech, but they require you to have a minimum score of 40 for each section...had like a 29 in science therefore I was ineligible to move forward in the admission process. I ended up being wait listed at Guilford Tech and didn't think there was any way I'd be accepted. I got a call like in either late April or early May from the admissions dept saying that my alternate number had come up and they wanted to know if I still wanted a seat in this upcoming class. Of course I said yes!

I'm not sure how many people were alternate listed but I was number 10 and recently came in contact with a classmate who was #29 and was accepted. So there is definitely hope! You really shouldn't just try to get into "any" nursing program that will accept you! Espeically if they have a low pass rate!

BTW...on which test did you score in the 95th percentile...If it's the TEAS or NET, you should be able to transfer that score to any of the schools in the Triad that require one of those tests for admission.

Good luck!

[NCcardiacNurse]

try lenoir-rhyne university. located in hickory, NC. i was in the same boat as you. im just not an "A" student. i make mostly B's and a few C's now and then. which in return puts be below a 3.0 automatically. they are a private school which makes them pretty expensive but it is a BSN program. i got in with about a 2.7 or 2.8. but i also had graduated from my lpn program about one month prior to applying. i think you should look into it. its a tough program with a very good name for itself but is worht a shot. good luck.