Discouraged over the "last 60/90 degree units" policies

JALEXSHOE · Jul 28, 2007

Life is known to throw us curve balls. It is very hard to see the positive when one is feeling so beat up. It sometimes help me, to think of old fashioned sayings to get my dander up and make things rationale in a not so rationale world...

In the words of some country song, "some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers." and in the same fashion, "a door is never closed, unless a window is opened elsewhere." To state this is to state, if this is your purpose then you will find a way. Don't let it get you down. Know you just haven't found the window yet.

I empathize, truly. Try a proactive approach. A lot of schools will let you explain your dismal GPA. It is all up to you in your admission statement. It is recommended in such cases as this, to make sure you stress an uphill trend, call attention to your most recent accomplishments, and explain why the lower grades occurred, and how you learned by them.

Another way to address this, is to actually make appointments with guidance counselors at the schools of your choice and take your transcripts and ask them their advice. They sometimes have a wealth of advice and often know exactly what kind of candidates they are looking for. This also gives you a chance to look around. You may find that the schools you find so appealing now, may not have the same shine once you are in the environment. A lot of schools schedule routine tours, especially in masters and grad school programs.

Finally, ancient philosophy says that, "what is worth having, is worth fighting for." If it was easy dearest, everyone would be doing it, and no one would appreciate it. Advanced practice nursing is not something everyone can do, and is definitely something that should be appreciated. I think you can do it. We are often tested by how we overcome hurdles. Some person, whom I am sure was committed, called it character.

Good luck! Sometimes, people just need to vent. Don't give up, apply. One never knows...

Selke · Jul 28, 2007

Just glanced at your post and I had a thought. Have you considered applying for and getting an MPH (master's in public health)? You're in California? Univ of Berkeley has one of the top MPH programs in the country. I'm sure Univ of Cali or other schools have good ones, too. Having an MPH is a very, very hot feather to have in your cap when applying for any APRN/CNM program. It's well worth your time to get this. More than a few DE students either already have an MPH or plan on getting one (once you're a licensed health care provider you can do UCB's program in one year, at least in maternal-child health). Primary health care (which is what most NPs/CNMs do) has a political and social dimension and in fact these APRN roles arose out of the public health movement here in the U.S. Just a thought. Good luck, and don't give up!

Beggar♂ · Jul 28, 2007

The MPH suggestion seems like a good one.

Depending on how bad your grades are, consider going as a full-time student for 3 semesters. In one year you could upwards of 36 semester units. Even if the 30 units preceding that were 2.0 (which they're not since you've aced your prerequisites), you could still hit the magic cut-off.

To me, this policy is not ridiculous. Quite the opposite, in fact. Lots of people (me included) made academic missteps. The question on the minds of many is whether they are indicative of one's future performance. If the missteps were in the first year or two but then straightened out, it suggests that a good student ran into some trouble acclimating to college or something like that.

Poor grades later in one's program are more serious because the admissions officer must now decide how likely those difficulties are to carry over into the nursing program.

Given the high drop-out/delay rates, they're being as selective as possible in order to maximize the graduation rate each term.

In my DEMSN program, their were several questions on the application and in the interview which specifically addressed likelihood of completion. That seemed to be one of their major selection criteria.

The competition is stiff and grades are a major factor. Recognize also that just because you could apply to Hopkins or Columbia doesn't mean that you'd have any real chance at getting in.

Your best bet is to take more classes and do very well to make up for your missteps. Sure, it costs time and money, but such are the penalties for academic indiscretions. Trust me, I speak from experience. I graduated with a sub-3.0 GPA but have since earned a 4.0 in over 90 semester units and earned one of those coveted DEMSN spots.

If you want it badly enough, you can do it. Don't give up. Focus on the upside of the additional schooling before your RN program. In the long run, you'll be ahead of the game by having the additional education.

Asherah, BSN, RN · Jul 28, 2007

To me, this policy is not ridiculous. Quite the opposite, in fact. Lots of people (me included) made academic missteps. The question on the minds of many is whether they are indicative of one's future performance. If the missteps were in the first year or two but then straightened out, it suggests that a good student ran into some trouble acclimating to college or something like that.
Poor grades later in one's program are more serious because the admissions officer must now decide how likely those difficulties are to carry over into the nursing program.

My comment about the policy being ridiculous pertains to the fact that they won't even allow you apply if you don't meet the 3.0 cutoff in the last 60/90 units of your degree. I completed my degree in 2004 and went back to school two years later, in Spring 2006. I've completed 50 semester units since my degree with a 4.0, with all of my sciences completed in the past two years. I've completed six terms successfully (including two summer sessions, which were accelerated). My frustration stems from the fact that they do not even look at this academic redemption because they were not degree units.

As far as difficulty goes, as a Psych major, the science classes I've taken recently as well as Pharm and Epi have been much more difficult than my upper division Psych, the problem was I didn't have the drive to do well then, because I wasn't interested in what I was learning.

I understand that I may not gain admission to JHU or Columbia, but at least they will allow me to apply and consider my application because they do not place a cutoff on your GPA, they look at all of your undergrad work, which would put me at a competitive level (I've had open discussions with their admissions officers regarding my ability to be a competitive applicant.) This is the point I've been addressing.

Thank you for your input.

morte, LPN, LVN · Jul 28, 2007

if the most recent courses are at the same college as your degree, I would sit down and see if i would qualify for anothe bachelors with the additional courses.....if not, how close....if you can do this, then they would qualify immediately bringing up you gpa...good lluck

chachingdy · Aug 1, 2007

Hi Asherah,

I completely understand where you are coming from. I graduated from UCLA with a microbiology and molecular genetics degree. This particular major has an average cumulative GPA of 2.6. It is a really hard major. During my application process, I was really upset that I had to compete with people who had stellar GPAs from easier majors and schools. But I have to make lemonade out of my lemon (my low GPA). I also got a 4.0 on all my prerequisites which is equivalent to about a year of course work.

So what I did was really look for programs that valued life experience rather than an applicant's numbers. Obviously, I could never win in a numbers game. However, CSUDH has such a program and they actually ask each applicant to turn in a portfolio of their cumulative life experiences. I am happy to say that I will be starting their program in the fall.

So it really depends on what a school is looking for. So don't give up!!!!!

Chachingdy;)

czyja, MSN, RN · Aug 7, 2007

Hey all,
Why can't every school apply this practice? /quote]
'Cause the dont want too. Sorry for your misery. Apply to the ones that wont disqualify you for your GPA. Sound like you have some pretty decent choices.