Question regarding Admission into Nursing Program

Dreamer74 · Aug 29, 2007

Hi LK503

I am in the same boat, although I have not even started my prereq. yet. I am 33 with 2 kids. I have always wanted to get into nursing but I finally decided now is the time. Now I have the same fear will I be accepted because of the slacker I was when I was 18. I will be watching for advice, Just to remember to never give up, Stay determined and do not let the advisors affect your confidence.

TiffaniRN · Sep 2, 2007

Hi everyone!! I am new here and found this site is filled with so much valuable information and advice!!! It also seems very supportive and encouraging.
I am 36 yrs. old and going back to school for nursing as a second career. I was a legal secretary for almost 10 years and never felt like it was the right fit for me.
I have been going to a local community college for the past two years part time and have taken all prerequisite classes. Now, I attended the same community college about 15 or 16 years ago when I was right out of High School - back then school was a joke, I was immature and because of this my gpa isn't very good. I brought it up enough to be able to get into the nursing program but was told it could be used against me. It is extremely competitive to get accepted and I am feeling pessimistic about the whole thing. I have no other classes to take (just one more year's worth) and I apply this fall for next fall. If I do not get accepted I don't know what I will do!! I am 36 and can't stay on a waiting list for two years. I am a single mom and need to get out there working!
My question is - should I go to another school? Will my old GPA still haunt me? Can I get denied year after year for acceptance into the program? Can I just be on a waiting list forever? I'm so confused!!! My school advisors are TERRIBLE! One had me signed up for classes I did not even have to take!
I really, really want this but I just do not know what to expect. If my old GPA is going to bring me down then is it worth it or should I give up on this dream and maybe get into something else. I need honesty. Has anyone gone thru something similar? I am thinking another school but not sure if it makes a difference.
Any advice would be so appreciated! I am not the person I was 16 yrs. ago - I am a mother, mature, held a full-time job - I don't know what to do! BTW all my grades since going back have been A's, B's and only one C in algebra because I had never even had pre-algebra!

DON'T GIVE UP!!! I was involved in a similar situation. I went to college right out of high school, talked to an advisor, two years later went to apply for the nursing program and found out I had ALL of the wrong pre-req's (Cell Bio vs Micro Bio etc). I was SICK. Two years WASTED!!! I wanted to give up, but I didn't. The drama doesn't end there. The next University I went to had a waiting list for nursing school. I got on the waiting list for another year and I was to enter in the Fall. June comes around and they are changing their program. Everyone who was to start in Fall from the waiting list (me) will now have to apply and compete with everyone else. They were doing away with the waiting list. ANGRY AGAIN...Eventually, three school later I finally found one that did not have a waiting list and got right in. So DON'T GIVE UP!

Now for the GPA issue. I think most people screw around their first year(s) of college so a lot of people have that issue too when it comes to applying. Since you have good grades now, it will only help bring your GPA up. If you don't get in with this GPA, then in the meantime, re-take a class or two that you received poor grades in. This way the nursing school will see that you have re-taken the class and have improved, thus improving your chances. I had a lower GPA my first year of college and I graduated top of my class in my ADN and RN-BSN program. A beginning college GPA doesn't predict how you will do in the future.

I wasn't clear if your school has a waiting list, but if you don't want to go to school with a waiting list, then find a University or Community College that does not have one. Just know that this can be a time consuming pain because you have to transfer all your transcripts from every college, apply to the school and the college of nursing. Just make sure you leave yourself enough time to apply to the program. Don't wait until the last minute. Its at least worth a try. I did it.

Yes, you can get denied and denied year after year, but most times that is not the case. If you don't get accepted the first time you should meet with a nursing advisor in the program to discuss what you can improve on (grades, essay, volunteer work etc.). Try to improve on it and re-apply next year. Most school do acknowledge that you have previously applied. I realize that you do not want to wait another year to apply, but don't throw away all of the classes and money you have put into this. Keep trying until you reach your goal. DON'T GIVE UP!!!

justme1972 · Sep 2, 2007

Your CC evidently doesn't have an academic forgiveness program, and even if they did, it only applies to that school and stays on your overall transcript and a low GPA can prevent you from getting into graduate school.

I would recommend going ahead and applying for the program as your GPA is, and then RETAKE the courses that you received a low grade in. Most colleges will only let you retake courses of a C or lower. Withdrawals don't affect your grade, so you don't have to worry about those.

Unfortunately, there is no way around it.