I have been in between a rock and a hard place in regards to getting my BSRN and pretty much EVERYTHING that could POSSIBLY go wrong has. My GPA is not high enough to get me into a University's nursing school program via the traditional application process HOWEVER I had a little thought light go off in my head recently and wanted to hear everyone's feedback on if they think my idea would work...
Now stick with me because as I said my situation is VERY complex...
I am currently 24 years old and have been working at this since HIGH SCHOOL. At the age of 18 I moved to California and graduated with honors from an extremely difficult EMT program with the intent of attending Loma Linda Medical School to get on a road to become a pre-med student. I worked as an EMT in Compton CA as I worked on my basic college classes however I had to abandon my plans suddenly because my sister killed herself when I was 19 and I had to move back to Arizona for my family.
Soon after my move back to AZ I began planning to start working as an EMT and to continue my path to a career as an MD, it was then a new law passed which prevented those under the age of 23 to operate an ambulance or handle any narcotics thus I lost my license. At this time that I was about 20 and was REALLY antsy to get going on my education...Medical school seemed too far from reach thus nursing seemed to be the next best choice. I found a private college called Grand Canyon University and enrolled in their "fast track BSRN" program. I excelled with an above average GPA, worked as a laboratory assistant, and was zooming quickly through my nursing pre-reqs. Everything was fine UNTIL Grand Canyon sold out to Phoenix College, became money hungry, and screwed over the nursing students.
GCU flat out failed me for 2 semesters of classes with 20 credits worth of classes EACH even though I had attempted to withdraw due to a medical reason. These Fs dragged down my overall GPA to a disgustingly low average...to add insult to injury...when I RETOOK the classes they failed me in they ROUNDED the F's with my A's making the grade a C...Basically it didn't help. On top of the whole issue with GCU screwing with my GPA it became apparent that the board of education was getting a little iffy about the Phoenix College/GCU merger and put the school's nursing school accredidation on hold. Basically it came to the choice of sitting in the school and risking loosing ALL my education or taking my credits and running before the school lost it's accredidation. So I picked up my credits, withdrew from the school and am now stuck in limbo. In the mean time I was able to regain my EMT cert as well as gain an CNA...
THIS is my question...
I CAN'T get the F grades taken off of my records to repair my GPA and THAT is what is screwing me...I have a CNA and EMT license as well as AMAZING recommendation letters from ALL of my professors attesting to my academic accomplishments and skills. Do you think that if I write some of the nursing schools that I WANT to get into and EXPLAIN the specifics of my situation I could have a SHOT at being heard??? I KNOW that I am smarter and can do BETTER than half of the kids that are applying to nursing school and it's BS that underlying misfortunes have effed me...I just don't know...What do you think? Do I have a snowball's chance in hell???
Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.
Often when a student transfers from one school to another, the course he or she took at the first school are recorded at the new school as credits without grades, if the courses were passed. I wonder if you could apply to a new school and just get your credits transferred. It wouldn't hurt to talk to someone in the registrar's office of a new school that interests you.
If that won't work, then you need to know that the story behind grades doesn't matter much to those that admit you. They want grades, entrance test scores, and maybe an interview. Maybe a new school would let you re-take the classes you failed. But you're wanting to avoid that, aren't you?
...and, Tyvin, you said you thought the OP would be bored in nursing...wow, that's an unusual thing to say! tired: yes! bored: no!
I don't have the answers you are looking for unfortunately. I am applying to nursing schools right now and GPA is very important. I would say you are going to have to bite the bullet and get some more classes under your belt at a new school so you can show an improved GPA.
But I would like to say that I am so sorry about your sister. My brother killed himself in 2006 and no one has been the same since. It can seriously mess with you and maybe that's why you had a lot of 'direction' problems in the years after her death. I'm actually giving a lot of thought to psych nursing in the future because of what I've experienced. Not sure I will be able to handle it, but I'd love it if something good came out of this horrific experience. Anyway, I wish I had more answers for you.
1) It WASN'T one of those seedy private schools until the merger with the Phoenix College/Apollo Group. The program was extremely competitive, you needed an exceptionally high GPA before and during the program and the only reason I found it particularly appealing was because it cut the nursing school time in HALF. I was cool with paying extra to be in an advanced class like that and in all honesty I actually got an EXTREMELY good academic experience BEFORE the stupid sell out! This is one of the MAJOR reasons why I immediately withdrew my classes and transferred them to the local community college once I caught wind of trouble...I didn't want the schools NEW problems to damage the education I got BEFORE the problems began.
2) Both my parents are lawyers and I have been to EVERYONE under the sun and there is NOTHING that I can do to legally challenge the school and/or force them to raise my GPA. They rounded the failed classes with the classes I re-took BEFORE I withdrew thus it does not SHOW that I took the class twice it only shows C's.
3) I don't have debt I had enough savings to pay for my schooling.
4) Wouldn't you think that all of my certifications and massive stack of professor recommendations would help?? I mean...I THOUGHT if I got enough extra certifications that it would in a way PROVE somehow that I know what I'm doing and that it's really stupid for me not to just be allowed to finish school! I mean I'm finished with EVERYTHING BUT THE ACTUAL CORE NURSING SCHOOL!!! Everything BUT that I'm done with!! The anatomy, chems, pharmacology, EVERYTHING!! DONE DONE DONE!! I'm just SITTING HERE!!
*wine
First of all- I'm sorry you had these unusual circumstances happen. Don't worry - God will get you through it!
Second- what is your GPA now, and why do you think "they" failed you ? You said you were passing all your classes, so I find it very hard to believe that they would just fail you for no reason. Did you stop doing the work, going to class...what?
Some colleges have a fresh start policy where they wipe out your old grades. You just have to re-take all those classes again.
Hate to say it, but I'm going to add to the general concensus. If a nursing school has 10 or 20 or 100 apps for every spot, are they going to go for the spotless 4.0 GPA or are they going to take a conference with you and listen to the involved story of how you got where you are?
They'll take the spotless GPA because they don't have to deal with any messiness with that application.
I'm wondering what a "very difficult" EMT program means? They are all pretty standard! Also, for them to yank your hard-earned lisence just because you weren't 23 smells a little fishy to me....
I wish you the best of luck in pursuing your dream (whatever they are---I got a little lost there, LOL!) and I hope you can land an interview with nursing school and set everything straight!
4) Wouldn't you think that all of my certifications and massive stack of professor recommendations would help?? I mean...I THOUGHT if I got enough extra certifications that it would in a way PROVE somehow that I know what I'm doing and that it's really stupid for me not to just be allowed to finish school! I mean I'm finished with EVERYTHING BUT THE ACTUAL CORE NURSING SCHOOL!!! Everything BUT that I'm done with!! The anatomy, chems, pharmacology, EVERYTHING!! DONE DONE DONE!! I'm just SITTING HERE!!
With or without recommendations, you're a name on a list- nothing more. The recommendations won't hurt- but they won't necessarily help. The GPA speaks to overall performance- not someone buying out the school (and most nursing students fail people below 80%- in that neighborhood--- so the percentage score in the classes is still subpar for nursing school). Nobody in admissions knows if those are your real professors, the chick who does your mani-pedis, or something you printed up yourself (NOT saying that's the case- just that recommendations aren't going to override a GPA).
Med school requires a Bachelors in something- you can have a BS in botany and get into med school.... Maybe a trip to the career counseling office of a local school might help you out. :two cents:
Wow...way for everyone to jump down my throat. I didn't want to divulge every detail via public form....Basically I possess/have possessed several certifications, finished all of my pre-nursing courses, and have the intelligence level to be in medical school. I think that it's REALLY EFFING DUMB that JUST BECAUSE my old school screwed me I should bear a black X on my head and be barred from not only attending school in a reasonable amount but the schools I'd really like to go to. My question is that if I wrote in an explanation with my application would it help with getting me accepted, however if this is going to be the attitude of all the people reading my application I might as well say screw being a nurse and become a Lab Tech or something. I've been in school TOO LONG and NEED to finish this crap so I can start my life as a working adult...parental aid ends at 26.
I was hoping someone could look PAST my GPA ONLY BECAUSE I was failed due to the BS caused at that **** school I was in which failed me. I can prove that without those stupid F's averaged into my grades how much my grades improve....You ALSO would think that being able to carry all those certifications would indicate that I'm pretty smart and aware of what I am doing. What student would you bet your money on passing through a nursing schools program? The student who has a high GPA but never done anything healthcare related or the student with a slightly lower one who has LOADS of experience under their belt, passed through other programs, and is missing out because of a fluke!
So ... you're not listening (surprise) .... no one is going to care about your story. Now you go and sulk in the corner for 14 minutes and come back and be nice. OMG you mean at 26 you might have to take responsibility! Stop the planet; how are you going to be able to survive, how will you go on, how will you be able to stand in societies embrace with the shame of it all. I mean I think you might be the only one of this earth that has had unfairness in life.
I know you don't want to hear it but life's tough ... therefore you must deal.
Well, then you've got nothing to lose by trying to get into a nursing program with your prof recommendations and a letter explaining the buyout of your last program!
It's not a matter of are you smart enough to get in its a matter of how they choose their nursing students when they have an overwhelming supply of applicants. You've got nothing to lose to try! Also I hear now a days some schools are requiring a pre nursing exam like med school as the MECAT ? and law has the LSAT.
But are you really going to be happy with nursing. It is a hard, stressful job and nurses do not have any real control over their work environment. The pay is less than other professional jobs.
Maybe you should consider trying for med school. Most people have a bachelors degree, plus they take a routine set of classes such as calculus, physics, biology, biochem, chemistry and of course the Mecat.
If you have the brains for med school you may find yourself frustrated as a nurse over the poor pay and lack of control over your work environment. I don't consider nursing truly "professional" because we are so jerked around, punch a time clock, are scripted, "Do you need anything, I have the time" when you don't. Unless you are fortunate enough to work in a good hospital where nurses are treated well with good ratios and all that can change on a dime if your not unionized or if your not in a hospital with good state mandates (ie California).
Your young enough to still go to med school and your fortunate that you don't have any student loan debt so I would consider that as well. By taking more classes you can get your GPA up and you can likewise use a letter and prof recommendations and the Mecat to improve your chances.
I would counsel anyone if they are smart enough and can afford to go to med school and have the time to pay off any med student loans to go that route. Yes it is longer, but the payoff is sweet and I'm not just talking money. I'm talking autonomy, prestige, ability to specialize.
Nursing is more like sweat shop labor while medicine is a true profession!
If you are REALLY wanting to go to nursing school, and the schools you are applying to take GPA to be their highest determining criteria, then yes...it will hurt you to try to explain away your issues. As unique as your issues might seem to you - and as valid as the complaint may be - the nursing schools get hundreds of applications a year and have certainly heard it "all" before. Whether or not that "all" is accurate or not doesn't matter. They have no way of telling if you've told the truth.
Your question was 'will a letter make a difference?' and I think you are getting your answer here in that most of us don't think it will. No one is trying to be mean - everyone is trying to get you to think realistically. These will be the opinions out there.
I am having to re-take several classes because I took them too long ago for them to count. Does that irritate me? Absolutely. Did it stop me...no way.
Parental support ends at 26? I was married with kids by 26 - so you aren't going to get a lot of sympathy from anyone here that at 26 you need to be on your own. That's as it should be.
As for the rest of it...
Explaining TWO semesters worth of "F"'s would be much harder than explaining one F. I think you will be facing an uphill battle of believability. So now get it together, and decide what further sacrifices, if any, you are willing to make to become a nurse. If you would be just as happy as a lab tech, then fine, go for that. If you really want to be a doctor, then go for that. But whatever you do, don't blame anyone else for anything and just put the past behind you and go from NOW.
I was hoping someone could look PAST my GPA ONLY BECAUSE I was failed due to the BS caused at that **** school I was in which failed me. I can prove that without those stupid F's averaged into my grades how much my grades improve....You ALSO would think that being able to carry all those certifications would indicate that I'm pretty smart and aware of what I am doing. What student would you bet your money on passing through a nursing schools program? The student who has a high GPA but never done anything healthcare related or the student with a slightly lower one who has LOADS of experience under their belt, passed through other programs, and is missing out because of a fluke!
Berry, I apologize for my peers and their arrogant attitude towards you and your question. After re-reading your posts, I think it's safe to say that you have a GREAT chance of getting into ANY nursing school you so desire. As a matter of fact, I'm willing to bet my last dollar that you could probably get into any medical school you wanted, with all the credentials you posses. All you have to do is tell them(the board) you have several certificates and your old school was bought out by the University of Phoenix. They will understand- I'm positive about that.
PS. If I were you, I'd send each and every school an 8x10 signed portrait:) of yourself, with a bouquet of lilies. That will let the school know that you aint playin' around no more, and that you really mean business.
Whispera, MSN, RN
3,458 Posts
Often when a student transfers from one school to another, the course he or she took at the first school are recorded at the new school as credits without grades, if the courses were passed. I wonder if you could apply to a new school and just get your credits transferred. It wouldn't hurt to talk to someone in the registrar's office of a new school that interests you.
If that won't work, then you need to know that the story behind grades doesn't matter much to those that admit you. They want grades, entrance test scores, and maybe an interview. Maybe a new school would let you re-take the classes you failed. But you're wanting to avoid that, aren't you?
...and, Tyvin, you said you thought the OP would be bored in nursing...wow, that's an unusual thing to say! tired: yes! bored: no!