nursing admission troubles (low overall GPA, high prereq GPA)

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Alright here's the story about the hole I've dug myself into and how I'm trying to get out. I got my BA from the University of California Santa Barbara about 5 years ago and let the college life get the better of me. (It's so hard to go to class or do your work when you're 20 yards from the beach.) I ended up graduating with a GPA of 2.51. I have since gotten my head on straight and I take school very seriously. I have completed all my nursing prerequisites and have a prereq GPA of 3.6 (now overall 2.6 GPA). I have also completed an EMT course and passed the national EMT certification testing, but I'm still finishing up a couple more state and local requirements. My objective is to obtain my BSN and I am willing to move anywhere to get that done. However, because of my, let's say "less than stellar" cumulative GPA, I'm not necessarily a great candidate for many of the programs out there. Most of the schools I have looked into require you to be a student of the school before you can even apply to the nursing program. If I'm going to move across the country to get into a nursing program I need it to be almost a sure thing.

So faithful reader I ask you for you're sage advice. What would you recommend for me to do? Anyone know of any schools that are good to apply to if you're in a situation like mine? Schools with nursing programs with high acceptance rates? Colleges that you can apply directly to the program without having to be a student of it beforehand?

Whatever anybody can help me with would be greatly appreciated. THANKS!

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You could look to applying to adn programs if they are less competitive compared to bsn programs in your particular area.

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Specializes in Neuro, Telemetry.

I live in AZ. One option is to apply to the MCCCD ADN program. It is a wait list program that only requires passing the English and math portions of the HESI with an 85% and completing the pre Reqs with either a 2.0 or 2.5 GPA, can't remember which. Then once accepted to the wait list you can apply for CEP which is a concurrent enrollment program that allows you to complete your BSN alongside your ADN through one of like 5 universities. Each has it's own pre req and GPA requirement, but there's a good chance that you meet the requirements for at least one of them. It takes a semester it 2 longer than the traditional BSN route, but with your stats, it will be slim pickings as it is. If nursing is what you want, the go for. And it sounds like you are prepared for it to not be as easy as you hope. GL

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I see you graduated from ucsb have you looked at sbcc and vc?? I'm currently attending VC and here are the pre requesite to apply to their nursing program

Math - Intermediate Algebra

Chemistry for Health Sciences

Anatomy

Physiology

Microbiology

CNA certification

The required gpa is 2.5 overall and 2.5 in all Sciences the TEAS score is 62% or higher .. this is to get the ADN and maybe you can bridge from VC to CSUCI .. and since you've taken some science classes they probably can transfer them ... or you can re take the classes you want to improve for a better grade???

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Is there any way that you can retake some of the classes and increase your GPA? Or are you close to another degree and only need a few credits that could raise your GPA for a different bachelor's degree? I know here in michigan there is a program at Lansing Community College that only takes your prereq in consideration but also expierance is a big thing too!

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I was in a similar situation. My cumulative from my first bachelors was like 2.3. It's still only up to 2.7 (because it's hard to budge a GPA based on 150 credits) but my GPA for the school I attend and did all my nursing school pre-reqs at is 3.7.

I did retake many courses from my first degree like English 102 and Sociology 101 (which was funny cause my bachelors is in Sociology) but none of those really bad decisions, like the classes I just stopped going to, counted against me cause they weren't nursing school pre-reqs.

I start nursing school next week. This is a really competitive program too.

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I would strongly suggest you look into Oakland university in Michigan.You do need to apply to the university first but it is free. It gives you all the instruction on the website and you can always call them. They only look at a few classes: Anatomy, Physiology, Basic Biology, Intro Chemistry, Intro to organic and/or biochemistry and intro psych. You need at least a 2.8 in each of these courses and a cumulative pre-req of those classes listed above of a 3.2 to apply. You are allowed 3 attempts in each course. In addition to these courses, you also need a philosophy class and with at least a 2.8 and a math course with a 3.2. The philosophy and math are NOT calculated into the pre-req gpa though.

They only look at the pre-req gpa to admit into the nursing school. They take the top 60 students and admit 3 times a year. This is an accelerated bsn program that is 12 months. From the info meeting they said you need at least a 3.5 to be competitive but a 3.7 pre-req should secure a spot...although I went to the meeting 4-5 months ago.

With the 3 attempts in each course and it not counting against you, you have a pretty fair shot of getting in! I applied in December.

Here is the link if you're interested!

Accelerated Second-Degree BSN - School of Nursing - Oakland University

Best of Luck to you!

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Specializes in Prior military RN/current ICU RN..

Contact the schools you want to apply to...explain your situation...and see if they will accept your application for review.

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i live in California, my previous degree GPA was lower than yours, my prerequisite GPA was higher than yours. long story short, you're going to have to relocate. i know people who are still waiting to enroll. 2+ year wait time, if your GPA isn't competitive. i graduated in May 2014. recently passed my NCLEX-RN, also.

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Yea are you willing to relocate ? I've read on a few posts about ppl with lower GPAs applying to those accelerated/Second degree nursing programs in PR (the have about 2-3 programs that offer The program in English) Some only require a 2.5 & they are significantly cheaper . Good luck & don't give up !

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