Raising a 3.5 GPA to a 4.0 ???

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Hello everyone,

I've finished two semesters (1 year) of pre-reqs with a 3.5 GPA.

However, I had many, many unforseen obstacles and I could have gotten

a 4.0, but life just totally got in the way. (two kiddos diagnosed with chronic illnesses-crohns and PCOS, an alcoholic husband who relapsed after 4 years, a cancer scare with myself where I was very ill, unforseen financial troubles, ect...it was a heck of a year)

So anyhow, now I'm mad at myself because I probably can get a 4.0, or at least a bit higher than a 3.5 but how much could I realistically hope to raise my GPA now? I've got two more semsters to complete everything except for the clinicals if that matters.

Would like to hear stories of those who have successfully had their GPA increase, maybe even dramatically.

Thanks!

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Specializes in ICU.

Darn that GPA!!! I myself after 36 credits had one forsaken B ruin it all!!! 3.93 Thats what it says when I look up my records. I know its not BAD, but there is room for someone better. But returning into your question.... ofcourse you can make it higher!! How many semesters in the Nursing program you have to make it rise??

Hello everyone,

I've finished two semesters (1 year) of pre-reqs with a 3.5 GPA.

However, I had many, many unforseen obstacles and I could have gotten

a 4.0, but life just totally got in the way. (two kiddos diagnosed with chronic illnesses-crohns and PCOS, an alcoholic husband who relapsed after 4 years, a cancer scare with myself where I was very ill, unforseen financial troubles, ect...it was a heck of a year)

So anyhow, now I'm mad at myself because I probably can get a 4.0, or at least a bit higher than a 3.5 but how much could I realistically hope to raise my GPA now? I've got two more semsters to complete everything except for the clinicals if that matters.

Would like to hear stories of those who have successfully had their GPA increase, maybe even dramatically.

Thanks!

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Ummm....You are being way to hard on yourself. Maintaining a 3.5 GPA, despite all your circumstances, is a substantial achievement. GPA is not the only thing that counts in nursing school admission........

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Here is a site where you can plug in your current GPA and what you expect/need to get in your courses to end up with the GPA you want.

http://image-ination.com/test_maker/gpa.html

Good luck!

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.
Hello everyone,

I've finished two semesters (1 year) of pre-reqs with a 3.5 GPA.

However, I had many, many unforseen obstacles and I could have gotten

a 4.0, but life just totally got in the way. (two kiddos diagnosed with chronic illnesses-crohns and PCOS, an alcoholic husband who relapsed after 4 years, a cancer scare with myself where I was very ill, unforseen financial troubles, ect...it was a heck of a year)

So anyhow, now I'm mad at myself because I probably can get a 4.0, or at least a bit higher than a 3.5 but how much could I realistically hope to raise my GPA now? I've got two more semsters to complete everything except for the clinicals if that matters.

Would like to hear stories of those who have successfully had their GPA increase, maybe even dramatically.

Thanks!

I share your stress. :crying2: An A- and a B+ did to to me. I dropped to a 3.83 and there is no way I could raise it to a 4.0, even if I keep taking classes I do not need for nursing, it would bring it up to a 3.9 something but not to a 4.0 (would need over 75 credits). I know it is not a bad average but the only key is to try to maintain what you have, because believe me it is so hard to bring it up. Use a GPA calculator and you can see for yourself.

Hope this helps

Jessica

http://www.dce.ksu.edu/dce/division/calculator.html

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I'm sure you realize it's mathematically impossible to raise it to a 4.0. Plus the more courses you take, the harder it gets to raise them. I have a 3.8 (I have my ADN and am currently working on my BSN) and just 6 hours of 4.0 and it barely budged.

Are you trying to raise it to better your chance of getting into nursing school, or get some honors on your resume, a personal challenge? What's your goal?

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Tweety's right, it would be mathematically impossible to raise it to a 4.0 by taking more courses. However, are you able to repeat the courses? My college will let you repeat for a higher grade. But, I'm not sure what the sense is in doing that to raise a B to an A, seems like a lot of wasted time and money. A "B" isn't the end of the world. And a 3.5 is a great GPA, especially considering all you've been through. I would just keep plugging away if I were you. Good Luck!

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Taking classes over is the best way to raise your GPA, but I wouldn't do it just to raise a B to an A. I know people who got a few D's and C's and then took the classes over and got B's and A's...this raise their GPA dramatically.

There is nothing wrong with a 3.5 GPA. Actually, there's nothing wrong with a 3.0 I know an incredible nurse who amazes me with her skill and intelligence and she said that she barely got a 2.5 by the time she graduated. Don't be caught up in the numbers...your patients aren't gonna ask you what your GPA was in school (at least the shouldn't!).

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was @ a 3.98 prior nursing school

two semesters into nursing.......3.1

in nursing school, your GPA becomes a thing of the past, because your main focus is just to pass and move onto the next semester!!!

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My opinion may seem harsh, but get over it.

A 3.5 is very good. A 4.0 isn't really that much better.

Priorities of family are much more important than a few trivial points and I'm glad you chose your family. A 3.5 will still get you into most nursing programs if your other intangibles are also there.

Also, if you have a B in a class, so what, save your time and money and move on. Taking it over is a waste of time and money.

I have heard people in my classes talk about the same thing, it just irritates me that people get so hung up on things like this. What happens when actual stressful situations in your nursing career happen?

My advice, take it for what you want...Relax

Hopefully this post doesn't sound mean, but I have just had to deal with this to the extreme in some of my classes with other class mates. And see them stress out to the point that they actually end up quitting because they can't handle anything less than perfection.

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My opinion may seem harsh, but get over it.

A 3.5 is very good. A 4.0 isn't really that much better.

Priorities of family are much more important than a few trivial points and I'm glad you chose your family. A 3.5 will still get you into most nursing programs if your other intangibles are also there.

Also, if you have a B in a class, so what, save your time and money and move on. Taking it over is a waste of time and money.

I have heard people in my classes talk about the same thing, it just irritates me that people get so hung up on things like this. What happens when actual stressful situations in your nursing career happen?

My advice, take it for what you want...Relax

Hopefully this post doesn't sound mean, but I have just had to deal with this to the extreme in some of my classes with other class mates. And see them stress out to the point that they actually end up quitting because they can't handle anything less than perfection.

I agree. Also w/ the poster who asks to evaluate your motivation for wanting to achieve a 4.0. Honestly, it is not really necessary.

But only you can answer that.

Being an older, non-trad student, I can tell you that admission committees (at both nursing schools and grad schools) look at the big picture, not just the grades.

Feel free to PM me if you have questions.

SJ

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I might add, considering the major problems you described, a 3.5 is awesome. I hope it gets you where you want to go. Good luck.

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