Getting into NYU ABSN with lower gpa than average accepted student

U.S.A. New York

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Hi guys,

I'm in a bit of a pickle. I have been applying to almost every ABSN program in the LI-NYC area, and I'm not having much luck. My cumm. GPA is only a 2.8. However, I am an EMT-B and I do have clinical experience. My degree is a BS in Biology, and I have been taking classes since I graduated to make my GPA better, and have gotten only As and Bs. There were a ton of things going on in my life while I was away, and I have just been able to do much better now that I'm home and the stress of being 7 hours away isn't hindering me as a student anymore.

I am still very nervous about getting in, as I have already gotten rejected from Molloy, Touro, and LIU. LIU is re-evaluating me right now. I only applied to NYU because they have no minimum GPA requirement, and have a history of accepting people with a lower GPA if they have other skills to offer.

Has anyone gotten into NYU with a lower GPA than a 3.0? I met someone who said they were admitted with a 2.3 but they weren't inclined to give me any other information, so I am not sure about that.

I'm really hoping that I get it. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. :(

Specializes in ICU.

I was accepted into NYU a few years ago with a 2.9 GPA and I attended one semester before quitting and applying elsewhere. I wouldn't recommend NYU to anyone unless you are prepared to pay $120k+ for a BSN and have the means to do so. But I guess to answer your specific question, yes, I also got in with a less than great GPA.

I got into Stony Brook with a 2.9 cumulative (2.49 in first bachelors). It was the only school I applied to. I did take over 30 credits since my first bachelors with a 4.0 GPA and 4.0 in prereqs

Am going to say this as delicately as possible....

Right now every nursing program in New York has vastly more applicants than space in particular everyone's moderate cost first choice; the CUNY schools. As such with > 300 applicants with 3/4's of them at or above 3.5 competing for only 100 seats, if you have ,3.0 it just isnt' going to happen.

NYU takes in one of if not the largest classes of nursing students in NYC. Around 395 to 433 graduated in recent past classes with NCLEX passing rates averaging about 82%. To put that in perspective Hunter-Bellevue graduates classes about one third the size and has basically the same passing rates give or take (around 83% on average the past two years).

Due to their much larger class space NYU's nursing programs have the luxury of looking not just at GPA but other factors as well. However we cannot ignore another fact; the place needs student butts in those seats.

The math for incoming nursing classes has not changed much over the years; number of slots available versus number of qualified applicants. If NYU has room for >440 nursing students (assuming a percentage of each class drops out, does not complete or otherwise graduates on time), that leave an awful lot of room. Especially when you consider many would rather go to Hunter or elsewhere that is cheaper.

Question for the OP is not so much being a 2.9 student, but is she or he one that can survive and thrive in NYU's nursing program? To accommodate such large classes this isn't the place for those that need hand holding and tons of individual attention. Lectures are good ole fashioned "hall" types last I heard. Just you and maybe fifty, sixty or one hundred fellow students

I graduated from NYU in December with 178 others NOT 400+. I would counter that, while NYU is inordinately expensive, you get what you pay for. By that I mean I can't imagine any other program to be more hand holdy than NYU. Counselors and professors are constantly checking in to make sure you are keeping up and I received loads of individual attention. While lectures are on the larger side (100ish) clinical groups are small (5-7 per group). Because NYU accepts more applicants than other schools they do have the luxury of viewing each applicant more holistically so it is totally possible to be accepted with a lower GPA. I am really satisfied with my education from NYU. I quickly passed the NCLEX and am already at work. I made some great connections at clinical sites and felt prepared for my first job. Good luck to the OP wherever you may end up!

I graduated from NYU in December with 178 others NOT 400+. I would counter that, while NYU is inordinately expensive, you get what you pay for. By that I mean I can't imagine any other program to be more hand holdy than NYU. Counselors and professors are constantly checking in to make sure you are keeping up and I received loads of individual attention. While lectures are on the larger side (100ish) clinical groups are small (5-7 per group). Because NYU accepts more applicants than other schools they do have the luxury of viewing each applicant more holistically so it is totally possible to be accepted with a lower GPA. I am really satisfied with my education from NYU. I quickly passed the NCLEX and am already at work. I made some great connections at clinical sites and felt prepared for my first job. Good luck to the OP wherever you may end up!

Quoted numbers came from NYS website listing NCLEX results: http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/nurse/nurseprogs-nclexrn2013-17.htm

For the last two years (2014 and 2013 respectively) the following are entered:

[TABLE=class: reg]

[TR]

[TD]New York University[/TD]

[TD=align: center] [/TD]

[TD=align: center] [/TD]

[TD=align: center] [/TD]

[TD=align: center]82.5%

326/395[/TD]

[TD=align: center]83.1%

360/433[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

Do not know how many times per year NYU accepts incoming nursing classes (once or twice per), but for the entire year in question those are numbers reported of NYU graduates who sat for the board exam.

NYU does have a monstrous class size compared to other schools but it's not fair to assume the OP needs hand holding just based on prior GPA. There may be other factors that contributed to the low GPA. As I said, I had a very low GPA but did very well in a tough nursing program (3.91 GPA from stony brook where class sizes were 100 students in lecture and we did 69 credits in 11 months). Just a thought.

I graduated from an ABSN program from Dominican College in Rockland. My undergrad GPA was 2.8. They have a great program at more than half the cost of NYU. I don't know what the requirements are now because that was 6 years ago but it's worth a try. Much luck to you!

Quoted numbers came from NYS website listing NCLEX results: http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/nurse/nurseprogs-nclexrn2013-17.htm

For the last two years (2014 and 2013 respectively) the following are entered:

[TABLE=class: reg]

[TR]

[TD]New York University[/TD]

[TD=align: center][/TD]

[TD=align: center][/TD]

[TD=align: center][/TD]

[TD=align: center]82.5%

326/395[/TD]

[TD=align: center]83.1%

360/433[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

Do not know how many times per year NYU accepts incoming nursing classes (once or twice per), but for the entire year in question those are numbers reported of NYU graduates who sat for the board exam.

Yeah, they take a new class in spring and fall so halve those numbers and you've got a more accurate picture as to true class size.

Yeah, they take a new class in spring and fall so halve those numbers and you've got a more accurate picture as to true class size.

Even at half of 433 (216) that is one big class! *LOL* Assuming a small percentage didn't complete we're talking about 220 students give or take. How does NYU manage such huge classes and still give the individual attention you and your fellow graduates praise?

Even at half of 433 (216) that is one big class! *LOL* Assuming a small percentage didn't complete we're talking about 220 students give or take. How does NYU manage such huge classes and still give the individual attention you and your fellow graduates praise?

I mean tuition is like 80 grand. That's how.

I mean tuition is like 80 grand. That's how.

Point taken...

For that kind of money someone better pick up the phone/answer my emails and or otherwise be there when I need them.... *LOL*

That tuition still boggles my mind. It about or even more than some new grads make in their first year....

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