I fooled around in school, which brought down my GPA to a 2.65. I have no volunteer/research experience and no letters of recommendation--just a degree in Biological Sciences.
I've made my mind about Nursing and did some research. I found that people like me with a non-nursing degree can get their BSN in about a year through an Accelerated BSN program.
With my GPA and low stats, it seems like a hard program for me to get into. I have a bad feeling that I might as well throw my degree down the toilet. AM I SOL (**** outta luck?) What are my options toward getting a BSN using the degree I have now?
thank you so much! this is very helpful and i will be looking forward to your update and i will also add to it when i discover more schools. i prefer 1yr programs, but anything under 16months is ok with me.
sorry this took so long, but here's a list of Accelerated BSN programs with gpa requirements below 3.0 cum. it's alphabetical by state, and only states a-m. i promise to follow up with n-z soon, but it takes awhile!
hope this helps!
alabama
auburn - 2.5
samford university - 2.7 for 2nd deg program, 3.0 for accel 2nd deg program
arizona
northern arizona university - 2.75
university of arizona - 3.0 in prereqs
arkansas
arkansas state university - 2.5
california
national university - 2.75 cum or 3.0 in last 60
samuel merritt college - 3.0 in last 60
colorado
denver school of nursing - 2.0 in prereqs
metropolitan state college of denver - 2.5
regis university - 2.5
university of colorado - colorado springs - 2.5
university of northern colorado - 3.0 in last 45 hrs
connecticut
fairfield university - 2.8
southern connecticut state university - 2.75 cum or 3.0 in last 60
district of columbia
howard university - 2.8
florida
barry university - 3.0 in last 60
jacksonville university - 2.5
university of florida - 3.0 in last 60
georgia
georgia southwestern state university - 3.0 recommended
kennesaw state university - 2.7
valdosta state university - 2.8 in 60 core credits only
hawaii
university of hawaii at manoa - 2.5
idaho
idaho state university - 3.0 from set a prereqs only
illinois
illinois state university - no minimum
lakeview college of nursing - 2.5
lewis university - 2.75
west suburban college of nursing - 2.75
indiana
indiana university - purdue university, indianapolis - 2.5 (changing to 2.7)
indiana wesleyan university - 2.75
marian college - 2.8
saint mary's college - 2.75 in science prereqs
kansas
midamerica nazarene university - 2.6 cum or 2.6 in prereqs
kentucky
bellarmine university - 2.75
eastern kentucky university - science prereq of 2.0
spalding university - 2.5
university of kentucky - 2.5 cum and 2.75 science
university of louisville - none?
maryland
salisbury university - 2.75 provisional (must get 2.75 in first 15)
massachusetts
curry college - 3.0 in science prereqs
mass college of pharmacy & allied health sciences - min c in prereqs
mgh institute of health professions - minimum c in prereqs
university of massachusetts - amherst 3.0 in prereqs
university of massachusetts - boston no minimum
michigan
eastern michigan university - doesn't consider gpa except 3.0 in prereqs
To make my story short...I started off college at home, I was miserable and had a lousy GPA (like a 2.16 or something). I transferred to an away school and graduated with a 3.11. I'm now looking to go back for my BSN into accelerated programs. I'm taking my pre-reqs now and my goal is at least a 3.5 in them.
I have flexibility to move around but ideally would like to stay in the North East, preferably New York/New Jersey/PA/CT. Any thoughts or advice on the schools would be great.
Hi Ruaalien2! I totally understand. I have a VERY poor GPA from my first college, but I got my act together when I transferred and did well at the school I graduated from. So here's a couple of thoughts for you...
I'm not sure about all the schools on your list, but I do know that Drexel looks only at the last 60 credit hours. That should definitely work in your favor.
The other thing that I have found out is that some schools that require a 3.0 cum don't calculate overall GPA, they just use the GPA from your degree granting institution. So if you applied to one of those schools, those initial bad grades wouldn't count against you at all. Again, I'm not sure about the schools on your list, but I do know of several. It's rarely listed that way on their websites. I just called around to the schools I was interested in and asked them how they calculate GPA... I usually tell them about my GPA situation, because they advise and give suggestions, like writing an addendum, or even a petition to have certain grades or transcripts disregarded altogether.
It was definitely good news for me, so I hope it helps you too! Good luck!
Thanks for that advice. I'm planning on going down to visit both Thomas Jeff and Drexel, and before I do when I call I'm going to ask about that. Drexel's program worries me because it requires an ethics class and I don't think where I'm taking my pre-reqs I can take one without being in their RN program so I might not be able to apply there at all.
I'm looking forward to you posting your list of schools in states N-Z. I looked at the U of FL program that you mentioned in a few posts, I might consider applying there but I'm not sure. It would be nice to get out of the Northeast a bit and I do have family down there (kinda, my Grandmother is a snowbird).
Hi I'm applying for an Accelerated BSN program for Fall 2010. Many of the ABSN programs I looked at requirement GPA with at least a 3.0. I luckily tighten up during my final years of college, so I graduated with an overall GPA of 3.2. I was told by one recruiter that people still apply knowing they have less than a 3.0. She said those applicants receive an automatic decline with that GPA. If I were you, I would look at different programs to see what is their GPA minimum requirement to see if you'll qualify.
Hi Ruaalien2! I totally understand. I have a VERY poor GPA from my first college, but I got my act together when I transferred and did well at the school I graduated from. So here's a couple of thoughts for you...
I'm not sure about all the schools on your list, but I do know that Drexel looks only at the last 60 credit hours. That should definitely work in your favor.
The other thing that I have found out is that some schools that require a 3.0 cum don't calculate overall GPA, they just use the GPA from your degree granting institution. So if you applied to one of those schools, those initial bad grades wouldn't count against you at all. Again, I'm not sure about the schools on your list, but I do know of several. It's rarely listed that way on their websites. I just called around to the schools I was interested in and asked them how they calculate GPA... I usually tell them about my GPA situation, because they advise and give suggestions, like writing an addendum, or even a petition to have certain grades or transcripts disregarded altogether.
It was definitely good news for me, so I hope it helps you too! Good luck!
I agree with you. I went to an ABSN Information Session from one of the schools I want to apply to for Fall 2010. The Nursing Recruiter said the overall GPA is solely based on the GPA you received when you graduated with your undergraduate degree. So if you went to a community college and finished your A.A. or A.S. with a 2.5, but transferred those credits to a 4 year college (where you received your B.A. or B.S.), and graduated with a 3.0, then you are in good standing. All the best.
Sorry this took so long, but here's a list of Accelerated BSN programs with GPA requirements below 3.0 cum. It's alphabetical by state, and only states A-M. I promise to follow up with N-Z soon, but it takes awhile!
I'm so glad it's helpful! And yes, I'll get the second half of the list posted soon. I'm actually using the complete list of accelerated programs and double-checking the requirements to be sure I'm posting the most current and accurate info Normally that would take a little time, but it's taking longer because I'm cramming for the GRE's! Sorry for the delay, but I promise I'll get it together!
finally, here it is! sorry for such a delay, but here's the second half of the list of Accelerated BSN programs that require less than a 3.0 cumulative gpa for admissions. similar to the first half of the list i posted earlier in the thread, it is organized alphabetically by states n-z. i would like to point out that while i was able to get info for almost all programs, there are a few out there that i haven't heard back from after not finding the info on their websites. so, if you are interested in a program that is not on this list, please please do contact them directly. i intended this list to be a helpful guide, and the information on it is accurate as of today, but things do change:) i used the comprehensive list of accelerated programs from the aacn and i was as thorough as possible, but i'd just hate for someone to give up on a program because it didn't make this list...
good luck everybody! hope it helps!
nebraska
nebraska methodist college - 2.75
university of nebraska medical center - 2.5
nevada
nevada state college - 2.5
touro university - 2.5 last 60 hours
new jersey
university of medicine & dentistry - degree granting institution
new york
hartwick college - 2.7
new york university - no minimum
stony brook university - 2.8
university of rochester - recommend 3.0 from degree granting institution
north carolina
winston-salem state university - 2.6
north dakota
university of north dakota - 2.5
ohio
capital university - weighted?
cleveland state university - 2.5
kent state university - 2.5 from most recent degree
medcentral college of nursing - recommended 3.0 in degree
Sadly it seems that only two programs that I'm looking at are on this list (and one I can't apply till Fall 2011 and that's to late for me)...I have a 3.11 and I'm going to have higher then that with my pre-reqs but still it makes me nervous!
Ruaalien2 - You know how I said there were a few programs where I couldn't find the info? Well, Pace is one of them and I know they're on your list. Actually, as far as Pace goes, it's not that I couldn't find GPA requirements, I coudn't even find mention of an accelerated program. Weird. I know I looked at it awhile back, so I don't know what the deal is or why I can't find it now, but hopefully they're still an option for you.
kebunt
150 Posts
sorry this took so long, but here's a list of Accelerated BSN programs with gpa requirements below 3.0 cum. it's alphabetical by state, and only states a-m. i promise to follow up with n-z soon, but it takes awhile!
hope this helps!
alabama
auburn - 2.5
samford university - 2.7 for 2nd deg program, 3.0 for accel 2nd deg program
arizona
northern arizona university - 2.75
university of arizona - 3.0 in prereqs
arkansas
arkansas state university - 2.5
california
national university - 2.75 cum or 3.0 in last 60
samuel merritt college - 3.0 in last 60
colorado
denver school of nursing - 2.0 in prereqs
metropolitan state college of denver - 2.5
regis university - 2.5
university of colorado - colorado springs - 2.5
university of northern colorado - 3.0 in last 45 hrs
connecticut
fairfield university - 2.8
southern connecticut state university - 2.75 cum or 3.0 in last 60
district of columbia
howard university - 2.8
florida
barry university - 3.0 in last 60
jacksonville university - 2.5
university of florida - 3.0 in last 60
georgia
georgia southwestern state university - 3.0 recommended
kennesaw state university - 2.7
valdosta state university - 2.8 in 60 core credits only
hawaii
university of hawaii at manoa - 2.5
idaho
idaho state university - 3.0 from set a prereqs only
illinois
illinois state university - no minimum
lakeview college of nursing - 2.5
lewis university - 2.75
west suburban college of nursing - 2.75
indiana
indiana university - purdue university, indianapolis - 2.5 (changing to 2.7)
indiana wesleyan university - 2.75
marian college - 2.8
saint mary's college - 2.75 in science prereqs
kansas
midamerica nazarene university - 2.6 cum or 2.6 in prereqs
kentucky
bellarmine university - 2.75
eastern kentucky university - science prereq of 2.0
spalding university - 2.5
university of kentucky - 2.5 cum and 2.75 science
university of louisville - none?
maryland
salisbury university - 2.75 provisional (must get 2.75 in first 15)
massachusetts
curry college - 3.0 in science prereqs
mass college of pharmacy & allied health sciences - min c in prereqs
mgh institute of health professions - minimum c in prereqs
university of massachusetts - amherst 3.0 in prereqs
university of massachusetts - boston no minimum
michigan
eastern michigan university - doesn't consider gpa except 3.0 in prereqs
grand valley state university - 2.8
michigan state university - 2.5
university of michigan flint - 2.75 preferred
wayne state university no minimum
minnesota
college of saint catherine - 2.75
minnesota state university mankato - 2.5
missouri
research college of nursing - 2.8
university of missouri columbia - 2.5
william jewell college - 2.5