NJCU essay HELP!

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Hey

So I'm looking to apply to the NJCU nursing progam, and the essay questions certainly has me stumped.

Essay Question for 2014: Describe an attribute or quality that distinguishes you from everyone else. How did you develop this quality and how would it benefit the nursing profession?

Basically, I have had a rocky journey. I initially was really into become a MD, but as I looked more into, and even applied, I couldnt shake the feeling it wasnt for me. But when I look at nursing, the patient care, one on one interaction, being an advocate, middleman, and even educator, it does speak to me. I finished college, in 2011, with a BA in Biology. While I was in college, I had to start supporting my family, when they lost their business. I was the only one working at that time, so obviously I failed a class, had to withdraw from one or two, because I could not manage the work load, and my grades did suffer. I was able to graduate with a 2.97 cum, and like 3.3 current, towards the end I managed to get my grades up and manage the whole situation better. I mean, I was 18/19 when the whole thing went down, and graduated surprisingly on time. I've been working the last 2 years still. But I definitely think I am in a better place now, and am taking some prerequisites even to fill in the gaps before applying.

But the problem is, im looking at these essay topics, and even sample essays. How do I make mine stand out? Obviously all nurses care, why would they go into this kind of profession if not. So thats my little story, and I really have confused on to proceed with these essays. How do i explain why my grades are low, and still be able to answer why I stand out, cause at this moment, I never had the chance to really go out of school and make those connections in volunteering, &(i did during HS), so i know im ranting by this point. im just entirely confused.

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I know my GPA is a problem, but hopefully with the prereqs it does go up, I've gotten nothing but A's and B's, mostly A's in them.

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Hi,

I am not sure if this helps at all but I don't think that NJCU is on the scale of Rutgers, as far as GPA and competitiveness is concerned. If you currently have a 3.3, I don't think you need to spend ample time explaining away your grades. If you write a compelling story about your history and maybe something that happened to you that is different than most (which is what they are looking for) such as having to support your family, you could tie that into why you could be an outstanding nurse. You could use that story to exemplify why you would be compassionate with patients, as you have endured psychosocial conflicts yourself, and you could also tie that into why you would be persistent and not allow issues to interfere with your studies and your eventual work. (ea: reliability in even the most duress)

Btw, I am transferring into JCU (barring any issues with grades) when I graduate with my RN in May. They have an automatic acceptance for Brookdale students who have their RN. Maybe you should look into that, as you do not need to write any essays to get into brookdale, there is however a waitlist. It's a very competitive associates degree in nursing.. I doubt that NJCU doesn't have a wait list as well.. If you are in Monmouth county, you also would be saving on tuition by taking some credits (the sciences and some psychs if you haven't taken all of them already) at BCC.

Hope this helps a little

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Hi,

If you currently have a 3.3, I don't think you need to spend ample time explaining away your grades.

Thank you, that does help. I guess I am just having a bit of a freak out.

And that 3.3 was my current GPA for the summer when I graduated. My overall was like 2.97. Because I failed two classes, orgo and a bio. I retook orgo, passed with a C. And got a B in that bio class. It wasn't that I wasn't able to comprehend the material as much as time management i think.

And their essay is very specific, i don't think they are looking for a life story, more of a individual attribute that benefits nursing, which is so specific and vague at the same time, and i just don't know how to include that all in, lol

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