Previous Bachelors Degree w/ low GPA 2.98, What to do! Help :(

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Hi everyone! So I am new to this site and I was wondering if anyone could share some input on my current situation. I already have my Bachelors degree in Hospitality from FIU but I graduated with a 2.98 gpa due to some personal problems and because I knew it was something I did not want to pursue towards the end of my last semester lol. My associates degree overall gpa was about 3.67. I will be going back to the community college that I got my associates in starting in January to begin my prerequisites which should take about 3 semesters to complete.

Anywho, I was wondering how do schools look at your gpa? Do they include your prereqs separately or with your undergraduate gpa? I'm so confused :( I don't think I have a chance at getting into a absn since my gpa is so low. Everything is a minimum of a 3.0 where I live and most places anyway. What do you guys think? Could I raise my gpa if I ace all of my prereqs? Also, how does the traditional BSN work with someone who already has a bachelors degree? I really don't want to go backwards and get my associates degree =/ I would really appreciate any advice that you guys can share! I feel so clueless right now and I just want to get started!

Specializes in PACU.

Honestly, even if a school has a lower GPA requirement as a minimum, you're still stacking up against those students who have a much higher GPA than a 2.9 (I.e if the minimum requirement is a 2.5). Minimum is the lowest they will take, but is never a guarantee that they will accept you if you meet the minimum GPA. My best suggestion would be to go the ADN route and do ADN->BSN afterwards.

Yeah ADN seems like my only option left. Ugh why did I have to slack off during my bachelors degree! LOL I guess i didn't think I would go back to school. Oh well.

Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

When I went back to school, they looked at whether I had a C or better in the transfer courses. they didn't care about anything else. In fact, one school just transferred X amount of credits and all I had to take was nursing credits. granted my first BS was in Biology.

Specializes in Emergency.

I was in almost the EXACT situation. I'm talking dead-on 2.98 in my Bachelor's and decided I didn't like what I chose a bit too late. I'll spare you my story but I have been trying to get into nursing for the past couple years here in Florida too. Most schools I've worked with take a cumulative approach. I think USF looks at last 60 credits so I ruled that out too, lol. Some will pick and choose from your A.A. and B.S./B.A. and take what classes pertain to their requirements cumulatively (for example, UNF took my stats course from one school and my chem I from another and made their own GPA). Your pre-reqs you plan to go back for will be factored into your cumulative GPA, I haven't seen any schools that say they won't accept post-bac pre-reqs but they won't change your GPA from your last 60 credits because they weren't part of the "degree-seeking" program. So between your two GPA's and depending how you do in your pre-reqs, you're not in horrible shape. UCF factors your cumulative GPA and then you get a separate science GPA so if you rocked one and not the other you may still get a look. With that being said, it's getting ridiculously competitive to get into a BSN or ABSN program around the whole state. I went through kicking myself for being an idiot in undergrad and not doing nursing first, not maintaining my GPA, etc.

I am in an ADN program now. I always say that to my friends: "I can't believe I'm going backwards for this" but you know what, it's not backwards if it's moving toward something you want. I know that's kind of cliché when you're just trying to get in and done in the least time possible when you've already put in so much but it's true. Some days I get annoyed that I will probably still have to go for a BSN. But you know what...I could have spent another year or two trying to get into ABSN and BSN programs and may or may not have but that time would have passed. The beautiful thing about RN-BSN once you complete the ADN is that it doesn't seem to be as competitive. There are TONS of online programs and some can be done in even a year. There are even RN-MSN programs that can use your previous Bachelor's and ADN toward an MSN without stopping for BSN. Those are usually in leadership/mgmt. or nurse education.

Obviously you know what is best for yourself and situation but I would say get your pre-reqs done and apply to ABSN, BSN, and ADN programs. If you don't get any of the BSN programs first time around but do get in ADN, take it!! Some people at UNF had to go through three cycles (meaning three years for the once-a-year ABSN!) of applying to be accepted, kind of silly. :/

Wow that's crazy how similar our situation was lol Its very frustrating! But I'll defiantly apply to all of the programs. If I get into an ADN I'll still be happy even If I'll feel as if I'm going backwards. I just really didn't want to go back to school again you know? Can I ask what school you're attending to get your ADN? I'm in South Florida so Miami Dade College is really the only option for an associates.

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