Odd circumstances, need some advice!

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Jul 15, 2009

I think you should have no problem. Clearly some of us drank away the first years in college, and then grew up. I don't think anyone will count that against you if you are able to acknowledge you had a difficult time, and that part of your life is over/you've matured. You've certainly proven yourself in the last few years, and that speaks for itself.

sh1901 · Jul 15, 2009

I agree with canoehead...I think that there are many of us out there that have less than spotless records from our youth. I would think that the schools take your current (or most recent) academic performance as an example of your dedication - not something you did between the ages of 18-22. :up:

iaca · Jul 15, 2009

That makes me feel a bit better. I have been reading about nursing programs for weeks now, and have been amazed by the quality of applicants being turned down. I'm just terrified that this garbage from my youth will keep me from realizing my goals! I'm trying to plan my return back to California!! (Doing something I enjoy this time!)

Oh, and to clarify, I mean that my gpa since returning to college is 3.86, NOT my cumulative gpa. If that was counted id be surprised if it was even 2.0. (Yes, I screwed up that bad). Do admissions departments like sob stories ? lol! If so maybe I can spin it somehow in my favor.

sh1901 · Jul 15, 2009

I took some pre-reqs at my nursing school and then applied to start the program. They looked at my previous record, but concentrated on the work I had done most recently. I had to write an essay and I wrote it about how I had floundered in my youth, unsure of what I wanted to do and that with time and age I became focused on my goals and have achieved academic success from that point. So, yeah, hit 'em with a sob story.

Chapis · Jul 15, 2009

i don't think it will affect you, since when applying for the nursing program you'll already have a ba, in my cc they only look at the nursing classes to see the gpa, so not counting the past, theyonly look in to what is going to help me in nursing school.

good luck

RNShenanigator · Jul 15, 2009

I was basically in the same position you are now. Failed out twice (got married to young, had kids, ex-husband made sure no matter what I was unable to stay in school, etc) then decided I would wait until the kids got older and I was more mature and able to handle the stress of school. I think if you are able to explain your situation then as opposed to now you will be alright. I will be graduating next June and I was able to bring my GPA up to a 3.9 so I would not worry too much.

MammaNurse2Be · Jul 15, 2009

Yep, this is my story too. I did pretty badly my first go round out of high school. This has affected what school I will go to now. For example, Sonoma State looks at your FIRST 60 hours worth of work in determining your GPA. I have had stellar grades for the past 10-15 years ( I have been growing a family and going slow at first). However, even after going in and talking with the head of the dept they basically told me that I have no chance at a competitive application. But, she said I could bridge there to get my BSN with no problem.

So, back to applying to SRJC, they only look at last five years worth of work so to them I am a stellar student. But, they have a lottery whereas the other was a competitive admission.

Because you will already have a degree, this might give you a leg up over someone like me who only has about 200 college credits!

Good luck!

Nepenthe Sea · Jul 15, 2009

I go to a community college for my ADN, but I went to a university when I first graduated from high school. I didn't take it too seriously, and ended up with everything from A's to F's. Only 9 hrs. from that time transferred to my new school, and I know I had at least one B in there, but they have my cumulative GPA at 4.0. I've had all A's since I went back, so I don't know if they are not counting my transferred hours or what.

I can tell you, also, that not all schools are that picky about grades. My program is supposed to be one of the best in the country, and way better than the university program here, and you didn't have to have a very high GPA to get in. You basically have to have a C or better in all your pre-reqs, and make at least a 75 overall on the HESI. It went by points, so you got more points if you were from this area, had more pre-reqs finished, and if you made a higher grade on the HESI. So, you might try to find a less-competitive program.

I thought my program wasa very competitive until I started reading some of the posts on this forum, and I can't BELIEVE the stuff some people have to go through to get into nursing school!! Of course, I have heard that my school has had to lower their admissions standards to get in enough qualified applicants :icon_roll.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Jul 15, 2009

You need to be talking to individual college counselors these questions and asking them how you should be presenting your application and transcipts to colleges for admission. They will tell you. I would exclude a school and classes to make my profile look better.

MammaNurse2Be · Jul 16, 2009

Datonite, just wanting to clarify...did you mean to say to not submit transcripts from a college with bad grades to present a better profile? On all of my transcripts, it lists at the top others that I have attended. If I were to not submit a transcript, this would be grounds to say I have an incomplete application. You may not have meant the post to sound that way which is why I wanted to clarify. Honesty is always the best policy.

Resolute00 · Jul 17, 2009

I too fail my first yr in college. But now I'm about to start NS in the fall. The only diff is I wan't able to apply for a BSN program due to my overall GPA. So, I ended up applying to my CC and they only looked at the classes needed for the pre-req to nursing. So good luck and if we all did it, so can you. :yeah:Oh, you have to turn in all your undergrad transcripts since ADN and BSN are undergrad programs.