Need entry RN advice for school please.

[Pinoy2.0]

If you don't mind, I'd like some mucho advice here.

Two tiers of questions:

I started college with a poor gpa, but finished strong with a B.S. in Psychology. My overall gpa is a 2.81 with a 2.83 in sciences (including behavioral sciences like Pysch, Soc., ) and roughly a 3.06 in sciences excluding behavioral sciences. However I turned my last two years in college around to a 3.43 my last two years (60 credits) with my last year (post degree, mainly to make me look better - roughly 20 credits) was a 3.95. On most pre-req sheets, when I can pick and choose what electives I want and whatnot, my g.p.a. for that comes in around a 3.25. I'd say I'm a 3.4ish student from here on out, not the 2.0 or whatever I was early on. My problem is, even if I document that in my narrative or in some manner in the application, I'm afraid that some schools, especially the ones I may be applying for, won't look past the 2.81 cumlative or the C I got in Chem I and Medical Microbiology, which were taken during my 'turnaround phase'. All my other typical pre-nursing classes I have an A or B in.

I goofed off my first couple years in college, so my options I believe are limited in some ways. I want to eventually (98% sure) become an NP, that is my eventual goal...but want to become an RN first. I don't mind the intensity of the program (accelerated vs traditional), cost, or length of time it takes - I just want to start a nursing program.

Tier 1:

Out of the three, which program would you say is harder to get into?

1.) An accelerated (~13 month) RN program.

2.) A traditional (2 year) BSN program

3.) Accelerated BSN-MSN

4.) Traditional BSN-MSN (~2 years + ~2 years)

Tier 2:

Is it even worth applying to these schools?

Johns Hopkins

- Traditional - RN

- Accelerated - RN

( I just read on the MD board that they have about 1000 applicants for 100 seats...so I guess I would be out of the running for both of those programs?)

Thomas Jefferson

- F.A.C.T. (Accelerated - RN)

- BSN-MSN for 2nd degree non-nurse students

Drexel

- A.C.E. program (Accelerated - RN)

University of Maryland at Baltimore (UMB)

- Accelerated MS

- Traditional BSN - RN

I know there are other programs out there, but right now I have very limited money (for application fee's and some exams certain schools want me to take) and would highly highly prefer to go to school in an urban environment. I believe that is also part of my problem...ubran schools tend to be near cities or in cities, which makes it more competitive and thus, hurts my chances. I also know there are other schools out there that fit my criteria, but those would be my top 4 schools...but I'm wondering if I have the application to even bother with filling out their application.

FWIW I don't have any community service hours (most of my time goes spending it with my sick mom and researching all this stuff) and I did inquire about voluntering at the local hospital, but don't have enough money to go there (my car is about to die so don't want to put too many miles on it..plus the cost of gas to get there - it would be about a 40 mile trip each time if I did decide to do it).

Please be honest, I got thick skin. :) It would help me money wise too, to not even apply for a school I have no chance of getting in (maybe like Hopkins).

[llg, PhD, RN]

I think you need to talk with people at those schools and find out where you stand. People here on an internet bulletin board can only speculate based on partial information. You should not be making any decisions based on such "guess-work." Take a deep breath and actually talk with faculty/staff members at those schools who can give solid answers to your questions.

If you really want to be a nurse, you can do that. Apply to some of your top choices, but also apply to 1 or 2 "back-up" choices where you feel you would have a good chance to get in. It might take some compromise on your part (such as geographic location), but if you really want it, you will be willing to do that.

Good luck,

llg

[Pinoy2.0]

I did talk to those schools and ask if I would be 'competitive' with my situation and all of them said they couldn't say. Which makes me wonder if they really can't say or they just want my money from the application.

[Kim O'Therapy, BSN, RN]

One thing that many schools will do - at least the ones I applied to - is an informal transcript review (no charge). Like you, I did not want to waste my time and $30-$50 to get an instant reject letter. If you mail/fax your transcripts over, an admission advisor can tell you what credits will transfer over and a good ballpark guess as to your chances. The schools in my area tend to look VERY strongly at (in rank of importance): Science GPA, Nursing Prerequisite GPA, Overall GPA, Previous Experience/Volunteer Work, Letters of Recommendation, then interviews, application letters, etc. Sometimes, I think I spent more time researching the application/acceptance process more than study time, but its all part of it....good luck to you!

[RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN]

I did talk to those schools and ask if I would be 'competitive' with my situation and all of them said they couldn't say. Which makes me wonder if they really can't say or they just want my money from the application.

It all depends on who else is applying with you. If they have better scores, grades, and supporting requirements then they more than likely will get in before you. On the other hand, if they have less you increase your chances of getting in.

It also depends on each and every school's requirements. I have seen people with 4.0 GPA not get in because it was that competitive.

So, give it your best shot and apply to as many programs as you can.

Best wishes to you.