Nursing Programs: GPA, # of times you applied, area. :-)

us2uk4u · Jun 6, 2009

I already have a BS in finance and decided to apply to nursing school (in NY). I start clinicals in the fall of '09 but waited a year to get in (during which I took A&P I and II, Micro, Stats, Spanish, American Sign Language and Chemistry). I have a GPA of 3.9 but also perform community service. There were 86 spots for clinicals and over 900 applicants. The school I'm in looks for an all around student but it helps when you have a high GPA.

%63theend · Jun 6, 2009

This is a great thread! I can't wait to see more responses. I am not in anywhere yet- I just started applying. So far I have applied to 5 for next year. I don't want to take any chances. I applied to 2 for the Spring, 1 for Summer, 2 for Fall. I may even add some private schools to the list if I don't receive any acceptances before January.

ICU11 · Jun 7, 2009

I am applying to Duke and UNC ABSN for Jan. 2010 with a 3.82 from Baylor Univ. This is my first time applying. I really hope I get in!

LinzyRN · Jun 7, 2009

When I got into nursing school (I just finished in May) I had a 3.7 and only applied to one school. All the schools in my area had different pre req's so I just focused on the one closer to me. I almost didn't get in, I was an alternate because I didn't have a 4.0.

libbyjeanne · Jun 7, 2009

I applied to the College of Southern Nevada twice before getting in on the second try.

My GPA was a 3.7, and it took me 4 semesters (one semester I took 2 8 week classes in the summer) to get my prereqs done.

Once I was rejected the first time, I did my last two prereqs, which gave me two more points (sociology 101 and History 101...booooring ;P) and then I was accepted...

JenRN30, BSN · Jun 7, 2009

Applied to one nursing program, accepted on first try

Program GPA 3.95, Overall GPA 3.65

ABSN in the metro Atlanta area

Started my prereqs January of 2007, applied January 2008, finished prereqs May 2008. Began program August 2008. Will graduate December 2009 (6 months!!!)

I've heard it's really tough getting into programs in California. Seems to be much easier here in Atlanta. No waiting lists. Some of my friends have gotten accepted with GPA's as low as 3.1. They had really good NET scores, and lots of volunteer service though.

Good luck to you!

FutureCRNA11 · Jun 7, 2009

i applied at lonestar college-tomball mid january of this year (2009) and got my letter of acceptance in mid april. my gpa was a 3.76. this was my first time to apply to the rn program, and i got accepted to my first choice of school! since we are not a university, they only accept 50 applicants, and this application period had approximately 300 applicants! (eek!)

DelanaRN, MSN, APRN, NP · Jun 7, 2009

I went to an LPN Program first. I applied to one. The one I chose to apply at chose it's class by ranking the NET/TEAS scores from highest to lowest. The top 28 with the highest scores and 3 great references got in. I applied in the Spring for that program, and started in the summer with A&P and one other class, which I forget off the top of my head. Full time classes started at the end of that July. I graduated from that program with my LPN last June 2008. In the Spring of 2008 I applied to an ADN program that accepted students the same way. They only took LPNs as it was a bridge program, and they gave you LPN tests through ATI. The top 40 scorers with 3 great references and completed files got in. I graduated from there this past May with my ADN, RN.

I chose schools that selected students purely on a knowledge/IQ/testing and reference basis. That way I did not have to get on any waiting list. In less than 2 years I have obtained my RN ADN. Eventually I will go back for my BSN, but that will be a couple years I think. I have another Associates degree in Business, and with all the gen ed classes I had with that degree, the colleges I have talked with say I should be able to complete my ADN to BSN in one year give or take a couple months.

%63theend · Jun 7, 2009

Applied to one nursing program, accepted on first try
Program GPA 3.95, Overall GPA 3.65
ABSN in the metro Atlanta area
Started my prereqs January of 2007, applied January 2008, finished prereqs May 2008. Began program August 2008. Will graduate December 2009 (6 months!!!)
I've heard it's really tough getting into programs in California. Seems to be much easier here in Atlanta. No waiting lists. Some of my friends have gotten accepted with GPA's as low as 3.1. They had really good NET scores, and lots of volunteer service though.
Good luck to you!

That's weird. Are you in South Georgia? I don't know anyone to get in that's had less than a 3.4.

VICEDRN, BSN, RN · Jun 7, 2009

* Got in on my first try.

* Applied to two different programs in metro Atlanta. got into both.

* 3.79 in prereqs and 3.6 overall gpa.

* i finished prereqs and started the nursing program the next semester so no wait time there.

hope that helps.

Seyma · Jun 7, 2009

I'm from southern California. I applied to Cypress College (2 year - ADN) and Cal State Long Beach (3 year - BSN). I got accepted into both but my number one choice was CSULB. It was the first time I had applied and was lucky enough to get in. They accepted 90 students.

My Science GPA was 4.0. I made sure i worked my butt off in those classes cuz those are the ones that have the most weight. My overall GPA was a 3.7.

It took me 5 semesters to get my prereqs done as well as all my GEs and I had one semester of down time while waiting to see if I got accepted.

I find that strange that your friends could not get in with a 3.9 but every school has a different point system. For example:

Cypress College has a 25 point system. They look at your physiology, anatomy, and microbiology grades... an A=5 points, B=3 points, and a C=1 point. They also give you one point each for completing a selected 10 courses (Psychology, Sociology, Speech, Composition, Critical Thinking, an Art course, a Humanities course, Reading Proficiency, and a couple others). Regardless of your grade, you get 1 point just for completing the course so although they aren't requirements to get into the nursing program there, you do get points toward your application.

CSULB has a 10 point system. They look at your Science GPA, Core Class (composition, critical thinking, math, speech) GPA, your overall TEAS test score, and your math score on your TEAS test. Your science GPA is based on a 4 point scale. So if you had a 4.0 you'd get 4 points. If you had a 3.0 you'd get 3.0 points. Your Core Class GPA is based on a 2 point scale. So if you had a 4.0 you'd get 2 points. If you had a 3.0 you'd get 1.5 points. And then your overall teas and math teas are each assigned 2 points.

So you kinda need to look into each school's point system. You may have better standing in one than the other. Thats why I didn't apply to Cal State Fullerton. With their point system I didn't think I had a good chance of getting in.

Hope this helps