Need help looking for nursing schools!

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Hello, my name is Annie. I have been going to this website for quite a while & I read a lot of people experience about nursing schools & people asking for advice & helps.

Let me tell you my situation/background before asking for your help.

This Fall 2013, I will be Senior, technically bc it's my 4th years of college. I am currently enroll in Georgia Highlands College (GHC), but before that I used to go to University of West Georgia (UWG) from Fall 2010 - Fall 2012. I was not studious & pay attention to my classes & my GPA during my freshman year. And now I am regretting it and pretty much paying the price for it. My GPA from 3.95 to 2.49 in the end of Summer 2011 (took 2 classes in the summer: ENG 1102, Statistic that ended with Cs for both). So my Sophmore year at UWG and still until now at GHC, I am still trying to raise my GPA. Currently my GPA is 2.72.

I still have one more chance to raise it because I am taking Clinical Calculation, psychology Human & Development, & a Freshman Computer class that is require all GHC students in this FALL 2013. I took most of the courses at UWG, only took A&P I & II and Microbiology at GHC so far.

The deadline to apply into the GHC ASN program is September 15 for Spring admission. So I am filling out the application form.

My main question is: I want to apply to other schools just incase GHC might not accept me. Do you guys know any other school that will accept my current situation:

Cumulative GPA - 2.72

SAT - 1100 total *took once

ACT - 17 ( which is 860 if converted to SAT) *took once

A&P II & I, Microbiology - Bs

Nutrition - B

Precalculus - A

Sociology - B

English 1101 - B

intro to Psych - C

Public Speaking - Bs

Philosophy - B

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I also took other courses:

Principle of Biology I & II - B & C

Principle of Chemistry I & II - B & C

Survey Chemistry - B

Statistic - C

World History - A

U.S/American History - C

American Government - B

Note: I took TEASE V for the first time last month and I was not happy with the result, It was low (64%). I am re-taking it this Friday, August 23rd. Any advice on re-taking TEASE would be helpful too.

I know my grades & GPA are not that great at all, so please don't judge & make me feel worst than I already am. I am writing this post to seeking help. Please share your advice & comments. Thank you for your time & everything.

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The simple answer is to contact schools in your area and ask to speak to an advisor. I know here in Northern Mississippi, the classes have become so competitive that the college I attend only offers positions to residents of Mississippi. There are other options in Memphis, but some of those are very expensive. To get into our Nursing Program, you are required to have a minimum ACT score of 18, at least a 2.0 cumulative gpa, and must score a minimum of a "C" in all Nursing related classes, plus you have to score well on the Teas test. You have to have already taken A&P 1 & 2 and made at least a "C" in those classes. Everything I mentioned above are minimum requirements, minimums are not likely to get you in the program because of the competition.

I would say this, if your dream is to be a RN, don't give up! You may have to over come an obstacle or two along the way, but you can do it if your dedicated to reach your goal. Frustration seems to be a common element in many of the threads you read on these boards. Most everyone hits a snag, gets anxious, wonders if they have the right stuff, and some even quit. I think that's how the Nursing Programs weed out the folks who are not as dedicated which allows the cream to rise to the top :-)

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yeah. I am well aware that nursing programs are so competitive. Thank you for your encouragement & wise words. I did witness some of my classmates/friends bailed out because of the obstacles & hardships. I love helping people & I always donate my money to charity whenever I can. Though i know these might not sound like that much, but I lost my older sister at the age of 11 (she was 2 years older than me) & I have been taken care of my little brother by myself ever since he was born (he's 7 years old now) because my parents have to work constantly & their English are not that fluent. So becoming a nurse is something I really wanted to be - to be able to help others whenever they needed help, to be able to contribute to the society & the world, and to able to help out my family too. Like word of wisdom "Without obstacles in life, there will be no success." Thank you again for sharing your comment. I really appreciated it a lot.

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yeah. I am well aware that nursing programs are so competitive. Thank you for your encouragement & wise words. I did witness some of my classmates/friends bailed out because of the obstacles & hardships. I love helping people & I always donate my money to charity whenever I can. Though i know these might not sound like that much but I lost my older sister at the age of 11 (she was 2 years older than me) & I have been taken care of my little brother by myself ever since he was born (he's 7 years old now) because my parents have to work constantly & their English are not that fluent. So becoming a nurse is something I really wanted to be - to be able to help others whenever they needed help, to be able to contribute to the society & the world, and to able to help out my family too. Like word of wisdom "Without obstacles in life, there will be no success." Thank you again for sharing your comment. I really appreciated it a lot.[/quote']

Absolutely, that's why I like these boards, everyone is very supportive. From your post, It sounds like you have a very caring nature, that is a key element for a "care" giver. Good luck with school :-)

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Specializes in Med/surg.

Hi Annie How are things going for you? I hope you are doing well in your venture in getting into nursing school.

I kind of know how you feel. I graduated with my bachelors degree and my GPA wasn't where I needed it to be to get into nursing school. After graduating, I attended a community college in my area and retook A&PI and II & Microbiology. I did a lot better in these courses probably because I took it at a community college and they have smaller classrooms and I can learn better. Anyway, if Nursing is what you really want to do, then don't give up..PLEASE!! Try checking out other programs in your area. Have you considered becoming a CNA? Some schools require that you have a CNA certificate before you apply to the program. If it's not required, it may look better when you apply..?!? It wouldn't hurt, i guess. Plus, it's a good learning experience.

Also, Like another post mentioned, contact the schools in your area. Since you have taken A&P a couple of times, ask them if they calculate all the grades that you received or just the highest grade achieved from the courses. It wouldn't hurt to ask.

Apply to more than 1 nursing school to increase your chances! You can do this!

educationstartsnow.blogspot.com has a list of schools in the United States and it has other helpful information. I wish you the best, Annie!

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Hi Annie How are things going for you? I hope you are doing well in your venture in getting into nursing school.

I kind of know how you feel. I graduated with my bachelors degree and my GPA wasn't where I needed it to be to get into nursing school. After graduating, I attended a community college in my area and retook A&PI and II & Microbiology. I did a lot better in these courses probably because I took it at a community college and they have smaller classrooms and I can learn better. Anyway, if Nursing is what you really want to do, then don't give up..PLEASE!! Try checking out other programs in your area. Have you considered becoming a CNA? Some schools require that you have a CNA certificate before you apply to the program. If it's not required, it may look better when you apply..?!? It wouldn't hurt, i guess. Plus, it's a good learning experience.

Also, Like another post mentioned, contact the schools in your area. Since you have taken A&P a couple of times, ask them if they calculate all the grades that you received or just the highest grade achieved from the courses. It wouldn't hurt to ask.

Apply to more than 1 nursing school to increase your chances! You can do this!

educationstartsnow.blogspot.com has a list of schools in the United States and it has other helpful information. I wish you the best, Annie!

Hey! thank you so much for your comment & your time to give your advice!!! I am about to take the CNA exam in March, so I will have my CNA license in the end of March. My previous university that I was at does require to have CNA as one of the admission requirement, so at least that i am getting it. And yes, Nursing is something i really want to become...I am even more committed to it after I did my clinical at a nursing home for my CNA class. So I am trying to be more positive and patient and try to find more routes as much as possible to get where I want to be (i.e asn to bsn).

Also, thank you so much for the website, I will check it out! And yes I agreed with you that taking core classes at community college actually is a better option as for money wise and better learning! I wish somebody should have tell me that before i go to college, but oh well, there's not turning back. Are you trying to get into the nursing program now too? Good luck to you too! thank you!

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Specializes in Med/surg.

You're welcome! That's awesome that you are almost done with your CNA! Congrats! I graduated nursing school already, a couple of years ago and am working as a RN in a hospital. Good luck! I truly wish you the best! :smug:

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@XcLy Hey! How are you? I came back to let you know that I got accepted into a nursing college (asn/adn) so my plan now is to complete my associate in this coming fall2014 and then bridge into bsn. Even though I won't get out of school earlier than others but at least I know in the end, I'm still going to be a nurse! And I passed my CNA exam so I got the license that permits me to work at a hospital or nursing homes, which is great! And also I retook my psychology class to boost up my gpa. And thank you for your wishes! I can't wait to become a great RN like you!

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Absolutely, that's why I like these boards, everyone is very supportive. From your post, It sounds like you have a very caring nature, that is a key element for a "care" giver. Good luck with school :-)

Thank you! and I did got into a nursing school as an associate degree, which I am happy and thankful for because that means I will become a nurse in the end! And after completed my associate degree, I will bridge in to bsn...and maybe I will do my master degree too! So I am so excited & can't wait to dig in nursing books!

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