Nursing as a second career...am I doomed

[TryingToFindAWay]

Hi I am a 24 year old male college grad living in westchester, ny, in need of advice and perspective. I graduated 3 years ago from Boston College with a business management degree. I have been working for the past 3 years in the operations department of a large finance firm in New York and am looking to make a career switch to nursing but I am face several significant hurdles that I cant seem to find a way around.

By far the biggest obstacle is my college transcript. I am a person who went through a really bad adjustment to college. After going through high school with an average of 97 on a scale of 100 and was in the 90th percentile on my SATs I went away to college and really screwed up. I wont get into all the detail or try to make excuses for my performance, but I ended up graduating with a 2.1 GPA and alot of Cs in math and science courses.

Now as I seek a career transition to nursing I feel that that I will never be able to overcome my poor college transcript. Everywhere I look I see GPA minimums of 3.0 or at minimum 2.5. I know that inside I am the person who spent the first 18 years of my life excelling in school not the person who lost his way in college.

After spending a few years working for a large finance corporation, despite the pay, I do not find it rewarding and want to spend my life helping people (I currently volunteer 1-2 weekends a month to charity). I want to work in the heathcare industry but specifically I want to work with and help people and feel that nursing would be a good fit.

If anyone please help provide some perspective on how I can overcome my poor college performance I would be greatly indebted to you. What schools/programs should I inquire about in the NYC/westchester. Can exceptional grades in pre-req's and entrance exams overcome my college shortcomings. Any other advice is greatly appreciated.

Lately I have been feeling like my college transcript is an albatross hanging around my neck that I dont know how to overcome. I could really use some advice, perspective, and frankly a little hope.

[curiosity123]

Tryingtofindaway,

Some of the accelerated BSN programs are less competitive then others. I would suggest that you check out the accelerated BSN program at Drexel in Philadelphia ( the program is called ACE) . Drexel states that students with a 3.0 average on their last 60 credits will be accepted. If you can pull A's on the prerequisite courses, you can pull up your GPA to the 3.0 range.

Another option is to look for schools that accept just based upon grades in the prerequisite courses. You can demonstrate your motivation through excellent grades.

http://www.drexel.edu/cnhp/nursing/undergrad_bsn_ace_essentials.asp

On these threads, I have gotten the sense that private programs are less competitive because they are more expensive. So- you may want to focus on the privates.

Make your application stronger by volunteering at a hospital, or in health care settings.

Don't give up!!!

Good Luck

[kdrose01]

I can't think of which specific programs state that if you have a lower gpa than they require, you can apply and explain why your gpa from college was so low. As someone else who had a very difficult time adjusting to college as well as many family problems, my freshman year grades held my gpa down. I wound up with a 3.4, since I forced myself to adjust and focus, but I know it's low compared to some of my competitors.

Anyway, all schools have different criteria on which they base their admissions decisions. NYU strongly emphasizes one's ability to write, so they place a great deal of weight on their essays. You write well, so why not consider NYU? I think you should start your pre-reqs and look into various programs. Talk with admissions counselors at the schools you're interested in and explain what happened in college. You may even consider taking the GREs to show your aptitude for future success.

Lastly, continue doing the community service - that's great!! - and consider the SUNY schools, since they look beyond grades and strongly consider commitment to service, though they prefer clinical volunteer work.

Good luck to you! Hope is not lost, so don't let it get you down. These threads are a wonderful resource, especially when you feel the most down, so refer to them. :-) Best wishes!

[TryingNot2BeScared]

Hey!! I am in the same boat as you I graduated with a 2.1 GPA as well from my local CC. You can apply to Westchester Community College in Valhalla!! It is a GREAT school for nursing...clinicals are in really good hospitals. Although I have 2 schools closer to me, they look at your previous GPA where WCC does NOT. All they look at is the score you receive on the TEAS test. This is what they go by. They have a certain amount of spots, and the people with the top scores are in every Fall, plain and simple as that. They have a full time days, or part time night/weekends program.

I am currently getting pre-req's done now. I am still deciding between nursing or respiratory therapy, so I haven't taken the TEAS yet, but I will soon.

Good Luck!!