Re-taking Pre-requisites and Private BSN programs

[TheSurfingNurse, BSN, CNA, RN]

I know that this is lengthy, but please hang in there. I could really use your help!

Hey all,

I have been talking to several guidance and career counselors about my options at this point, and I was really curious about what you all would suggest that I do, or what advice you all with more knowledge could give me. I am currently finishing up my pre-requisites at Santa Monica College in Los Angeles, CA. I received a "B" in anatomy, "A" in Physiology, and I am about to take Microbio. Overall, I generally have mostly A's and B's (3.1 GPA) in in all my classes, but I still have some more to go (spanish 1&2, arts, Statistics, Common GEs..etc). My issue is that during Spring of '12, I fell ill and was admitted to the hospital before being able to take the final for 3 of my classes, and received a "C" grade in Intro. Chemistry (Chem 10), Intro to Biology (BIO 3), and Public Speaking (COMM ST. 11). I am unable to take a retroactive Medical Withdrawal, or re-take any of these three classes. It is a long story, but I foolishly didn't take care of these grades in the period of time that I should have, and at the moment I have done everything I possibly can to change the situation, and can not do anything about it. I just have to accept these grades, and move on to a new method of approach to BSN programs.

I had originally planned to apply to a CSU BSN program, but these three C's are going to make it extremely difficult to get in to any CSU programs. I am thinking about applying to mostly private schools, which fortunately, I am able to afford. I have a lot of experience (over 350+ hrs of internship & department coordinating at UCLA Ronal Reagan Hospital), and started SMC's first Medical Mission Trip club for Pre-Health students (Global Medical Training). I also currently work at a camp on weekends for children with developmental disabilities.

My Questions are as follows:

* Should I re-take these C's at a different community college to bump up my GPA, and do schools (private or public) even care if I were to do so?

* Should I apply to just Private schools, or try CSU programs?

* Are there any private schools that have a generally good reputation, and have BSN programs that are easier to get in to that I should consider? (These do not have to be in CA)

Thank you for your time! :)

[caliotter3]

I don't understand how you were able to pull C's in those classes rather than F's (where I have attended, no final = F). I do not agree with the decision not to allow a retroactive medical drop. If you do not want to retake the classes, I would attempt to write a strong personal statement addressing this situation to go along with any application. Somebody somewhere should listen to reason. Did you attempt to speak to the individual instructors to see if they would do an administrative grade change? That is in their purview if they are the reasonable type.

[TheSurfingNurse, BSN, CNA, RN]

I know that it sounds ridiculous (and it is). I didn't petition for a grade-removal or anything of that sort until the period in which I could do that was over. After I got out of the hospital, I foolishly just wanted to focus on my classes at the moment that I was taking and was terrified to even deal with those grades. For some reason I assumed that it wouldn't be a problem to re-take them and I wasn't it the right frame of mind to deal with it. Now I am dealing with the consequences of being stupid and not dealing with it earlier than I did. At this point, I have tried every possible way numerous times to change the situation. I just have to accept and deal with it in a different way now. I even considered re-taking everything I had taken for the past two years at a different community college and not submitting my transcript from SMC, but soon found out that that would be an even worse outcome.

There is also no such thing as a "Medical Withdrawal" from SMC, which is strange, because most other colleges do have that. They have literally everything else but that.

[dorkypanda]

you have to look at the programs and what their policies are on retakes and how many prereqs you can retake and which courses they allow retakes for. After finding out the specifics on the program's policies on that it will guide you to whether or not to retake those courses.

private programs I'm not so sure it's any easier to get into. If they have and give preference to their own internal pre nursing students ,they will most likely try to get all their students admitted before admitting outside applicants.

[caliotter3]

Don't feel bad about your poor decision making regarding doing something about this problem while the fire was hot. Almost every single problem in my life, personal, professional, school-wise, has come about because I was out in left field when I should have been making good decisions. When my brain finally clears, the time frame for successfully dealing with a matter is always long gone. I'll bet there are others like this too.

Just curious. What have the guidance counselors told you? They should have told you whether or not you even have a fighting chance, whether or not you repeat, or write a letter, or whatever. I hope they have not been noncommittal, or worse yet, talking as if they are 'unaware'.

[TheSurfingNurse, BSN, CNA, RN]

The guidance counselors said that I should apply to private schools because I have a higher chance of getting into a program that is more expensive. They also are generally easier to communicate with regarding these specific situations. I was at first considering to do a ADN program, and then do an ADN-BSN program, but that would mean 4 years of nursing school to get a BSN instead of 2 or 3. My counselor said that it would be a waste of time and money.

[caliotter3]

Ehh, at least where I live, not many, if any, can complete a BSN in two or three years. Once you hit the actual nursing portion the curriculum is lock step. Also, the state schools are so impacted that many people take five or even six years to get everything all completed. I see nothing wrong with going the ADN, followed by the ADN-BSN route, if that is what it takes. My guess is that they are telling you that your chances are very poor if they are advising you to go to a private school instead of applying with everyone else.