Poor GPA :( any RN programs?!

OKNurse2be · May 23, 2012

I would recommend talking to an advisor at your local college or university. You could potentially repeat classes for academic forgiveness and such, but the only way to really know what you can do is to speak to an advisor. You also might need to look into a private option, such as University of Phoenix (although I am not a 100% proponent of the private option). A lot of RN programs require pre-requisites and you can use them to raise your GPA to an acceptable level, which usually is 2.5 for all the schools I have seen in my community. I have a friend who is also going for nursing and he is working on raising his GPA, and he is doing well, and getting A's in all his classes, which is pretty much what you have to do to raise your GPA. Like I said, the best advice I have is just to go talk to an academic advisor and see what they say.

BrittRN2B14 · May 23, 2012

I know a lot of schools use a point system and while GPA is a big part of it. You can still get in if you do really well in the other sections like scoring high on the NLN or getting high grades in sciene courses & having experience in heath care. I think it would be a good idea start looking up colleges and their admissions requirements.

virgolove34 · May 23, 2012

Maybe try MCI, Everest College or Bryan & Stratton

coco.nut · May 23, 2012

My school only looks at GPA from the required pre-req classes and assigns points ( A=4, B=3, etc). Applicants are then sorted according to GPA, then according too the number of points. While a 2.5 GPA might be the lowest standard admission, in actuality it is set by the students applying. My class cut off GPA was 3.6 and rises every year they say due to the increasing number of applicants with high GPA scores.

Schools have various methods of selection though. My suggestion would be to research and find out if you can retake classes and then do so. Look for high standards of admission, high retention rates and high NCLEX pass rates. A school can have a high pass rate, but have a low retention rate b/c of low admission standards.

I know it stinks to have to raise your GPA, but its to your best advantage to get into a good program even if it means waiting a while longer.

Stephalump · May 23, 2012

Congrats on your new commitment. It's never too late to better yourself :)

However, you're going to have to work hard to prove yourself to any nursing school. You're going to have to practice putting your newfound motivation into study skills, time management, and overall academic success. You're not going to NS any time soon, but that's ok. Practice on the easier stuff.

Work your booty off retaking prereqs and taking whatever you have left to take.

It's east to promise you're going to be a good student. Schools are interested in proof. If you're a great test taker and all that, I'm going to assume a B and a C last semester isn't even the best you can do.

I suggest you start focusing on the task at hand, keep your eye on the prize, and check in with an adviser regularly to keep an eye on your progress.

obladi · May 23, 2012

I just wanted to say - there is hope! My undergrad GPA hovered around 2.8-3.0 depending on if you were looking at overall or core science classes. Like you, I had a good resume and recs. I had some classes that I failed and got C's in, so I took them again and received A's. I was very nervous about getting into any BSN program. I applied two 3 different schools and got into 1! I'm just about to graduate from my accelerated program and I'm at the top percent of my class with a 3.75 GPA. You can do it! Your 1.77 is low. I would retake your core science classes and ace them. I don't know if you will get in with such a low GPA.

PixiB · May 23, 2012

Thanks for the advice, but now my next question is will any nursing school look at me if I have previous F's or withdraws? Even if I retake the classes and get A's the D's or F's will still show

FitMommyRN · May 23, 2012

It also depends on if programs accept the higher grade in a repeated course. Some programs average the two together (if you got an F and then an A, they'd average them). At some programs it counts against you if you retake a course. They don't want to look past the people who took it and got an A on their first try, ya know?

Maybe check around to see how programs look at repeated courses. Choose one that takes the higher grade with no regard for a previous F in the same course. My program, I believe, does look at previous Fs in non pre-reqs. Some probably don't. Also, more competitive programs may not just look at whether it was an A but an A-, A or A+ and give points accordingly. Some may just look at the GPA of nursing pre-reqs and take the highest grade of multiple attempts. That may be your best bet.

There's also the entrance exam. Maybe if you find a program that only looks at the highest received grades of repeated pre-reqs, and you really nail your entrance exam, you'll get accepted. Unfortunately, sometimes the more expensive programs may be easier to get into. Sure, you got in, but you'll be throwing down some serious cash. The private (often more expensive) programs also often put a lot of weight in letters of recommendation, entrance essays and resumes when it comes to acceptance.

Somebody already said it, but I'd suggest making appointments with an advisor at every program you're considering. Take your transcripts. Sit down with them and figure out if it's even worth your time to apply there.

It's doable.

coco.nut · May 23, 2012

It all depends on the school. At mine you can retake them and the lower grade does not count against you when calculating the NS admission GPA. But again this varies from school to school, so you will have to inquire at each school you are looking at.

Stephalump · May 23, 2012

Regardless of how programs calculate, they USUALLY have a minimum overall GPA to apply, even if they don't use it to calculate acceptance...and I've never seen one lower than a 2.5, although I can imagine some might be a 2.0

Pneumothorax, BSN, RN · May 23, 2012

It all depends on the school. At mine you can retake them and the lower grade does not count against you when calculating the NS admission GPA. But again this varies from school to school, so you will have to inquire at each school you are looking at.

this.

in some places they have a forgiveness policy that will erase the bad grade and replace with your new A or B in the class :). See what you can do, that will be the best way to increase your chances of admission, remain competative and kick some ***.

remember, the school want to keep their NCLEX pass rates high , so they want to admit ppl who have the greatest chance of success.

good luck to you