....as i'm new here. I thought about posting this in the pre-nursing student forum but I wanted anwsers and maybe some advice from pretty much everyone.
I am so discouraged. I've wanted to become a nurse ever since I was small. I would go into more details but i'm trying to keep it to a minimum.... My first 2 years at EKU I was a single mom, working full time, going to school full time and trying to take care of my daughter who was a year old at the time. Needless to say I didn't do too well..I am not saying it is my daughter's fault or my work..but it's my fault for never asking for help when I really needed it. I wanted to take care of everything myself. (Not to mention I only had 1 family member who lived near me) So now that's out of the way....
I screwed up. I got D's in classes I shouldn't have because I wanted to be the perfect mom and spend all my free time with her. So I have all this on my transcript and i'm working on bettering my GPA as it obviously suffered. It is now a 2.67 I just know that isn't enough for me to get accepted into our program here. Not to mention admission into the program is VERY competetive. I am so screwed.
My advisor says I should just write a letter explaining my mishaps. Have any of you done this? I'm just so scared and thinking maybe I should just give it up. I have ALL my gen ed's for a BSN. All i'm needing is the 40 some credits left of complete nursing classes...
Does anyone have any advice? I have thought about just getting an associates in medical assisting...but my heart is in nursing.
I would retake a few classes, or take a night class that would benifit you down the road. I think putting it all in writing is a good idea, but It would look better to have some solid grades to prove that your situation has changed, and you are capable of getting better grades now.
I know the classes are competative. When I applied for nursing, I was put on a waiting list. Classes started without me. I didn't give up. I showed up first day, and asked if I could observe the class to see if it was something I would be interested in. ;-) never told the instructor I was on a waiting list. She let me sit in and watch from the back of the class. It only took 2 days for people to start dropping out, and I got my letter saying I was in.
Most universities have clemency up to 16 credits. Look up your school's policy. The courses and grades will always show on the transcripts but will not be calculated into your GPA. This requires a personal letter and interview between you and the dean.
I would most certainly write a letter explaining your hardships, and point out that already you've begun to improve you GPA. It can't hurt. They sometimes take these things into consideration.
I was in a similar situation. I started to college right after high school, on a full scholarship, and got pregnant in the end of my first semester. My grades were awful, although i had been salutatorian in high school. I chose this as a way to get out of going to school and continue to act out. I enrolled second semester, but decided to quit..i didnt officially drop my classes and ended up failing them all. I went from a 3.9 to a 1.3 with my GPA. I tried to get into nursing years later, with three kids, and it was only then did i even know what had happened. So, i started in prereqs, made deans list three semesters straight, and applied with a 2.57 GPA. I got in (although i was last on the wait list, and notified of the open spot the first day of class). I have maintained since then, and graduated a week ago with a 3.5.
Everyone is correct...it can be done. At 38 I decided that I was going to do whatever it took to get into nursing school. That meant re-taking MANY classes in order for my GPA to improve. I also sat beside my 17 year old child and re-took the ACT (the nursing program I was trying to get into considered ACT scores as well as GPA). I spent months studying for that sucker...and got a higher score than my straight A son. My husband constantly told me to "stack the deck baby"...and stack it I did. I called the school I wanted to attend and asked for an appointment with the dean of nursing; I expressed my interest in the program and asked a lot of questions~ she later told me that it impressed her a great deal. I was willing to do whatever it took to improve my chances for acceptance. If this is something that you want badly you will do what needs to be done. Oh....and I did it with 3 kids at home, working part-time (even when we REALLY needed for me to be working full-time), etc. A positive, "can do" attitude goes a long way too! My thoughts and prayers to you....imagine only the best for yourself and it can happen!
You might be able to take some of the science classes and make better grades. Also, yes, apply and explain the grades. Maybe be the time you get to interview for admissions, they will see your new good grades. I made it into nursing school with less than a 3.0 . Don't ever give up.
CathyLew
463 Posts
I would retake a few classes, or take a night class that would benifit you down the road. I think putting it all in writing is a good idea, but It would look better to have some solid grades to prove that your situation has changed, and you are capable of getting better grades now.
I know the classes are competative. When I applied for nursing, I was put on a waiting list. Classes started without me. I didn't give up. I showed up first day, and asked if I could observe the class to see if it was something I would be interested in. ;-) never told the instructor I was on a waiting list. She let me sit in and watch from the back of the class. It only took 2 days for people to start dropping out, and I got my letter saying I was in.
don't give up.