I am looking to receive serious advice from you guys, and yes this is nursing related!. As noted in my subject, I am a recent college grad from the Univ. of Ill. Urbana-Champaign with a B.S. in Psychology. To make a long story short, I want to become an anesthesiologist. Being that I majored in Psychology, I was not required to take any hard sciences, which I know I will have to take to become an Anesthesiologist. I have applied to Post-Bacc programs in order to start taking those classes.
Here's my worries: My GPA as an undergrad is...not so great at 2.4. Yes I know, not spectacular at all which I am ashamed of. I am tremendously worried that I do not have the grades to even get accepted into a Post-Bacc program. I really do not think I have what they want, being that getting into medical school is highly competitive. I have not taken a biology/chemistry course since high school. I DO know that there is a field for nurse anesthetists, which I feel may be a better choice for me. Not to say it's easier, but I think I may have a better chance at being a nurse anesthetist. Any opinions, etc concerning what I have stated?
I really feel as though my 4 years of college was wasted as I am doing NOTHING at the moment. I truly need advice, I would like to get this started asap. In addition, what types of jobs are available for someone w/my background that will atleast help me get started with working towards that type of career. Feel free to email me directly if needed, I would love a mentor :)
Anything is possible if you are motivated and willing to sacrafice. Who knows why you got a 2.4 in your undergrad, and who cares? There are pleanty of people who do not put forth their best effort in their undergraduate studies, go back, patch up the holes and do fine. Bottom line, you have to really want it to go the distance. CRNA school is with out question the most difficult thing I have ever attempted. The stress of clinicals alone is enough to send anyone with less than iron resolve packing.
Only you can know if you want it bad enough. If you do, start by taking your pre-reqs. for nursing school and OWN them. That should give you a slight taste of what is to come. If you take enough science/bio corses and nail them you will get in. Trauma Tom, Hartsbur and Mister Arnold have given some valuble advise. Good Luck figuring out what is the right fit for you.
i just wanted to give you an "it's okay". i'm young too and only graduated a few years ago from undergrad. i'll difficult, knowing what you want. seeing the connection between what i want and how damn hard i'm going to have to work to get it is a WHOLE challenge in and of itself. as you learn what the reality of different career paths are, you'll find your way!
Hey, B.S. Psych, my first go around in school was nothing to brag about. I changed my major 3 times and finally obtained a BS in Psychology just to hurry up and get the he** out of school. I spent a total of 5 years in the Navy and decided to pursue what really interested me and it was nursing.
I attended an Accelerated BSN program and graduated with honors. It wasn't easy but worth the sacrifices I made to achieve my goal of becoming a registered nurse. If it's something you really want, it can be done. Good luck to ya! There's good advice here. You can do it.
My GPA in college was pretty bad too for the first few years, I figured out what I was going to do with my life and did well in my nursing Diploma program. When I went back for my BSN I was more mature, experienced and I did very well. The CRNA schools I was accepted to did not care that my GPA was in the toilet for the first few years, what they saw was someone who turned himself around and proved that he could do it!
The way I see it, you first have to decide whether you want to be a nurse or a doctor. Go back to school and either take the prereqs for nursing or do premed. Kick butt in those classes and you might just get into school. Once you do, work your butt off and prove you can keep a 3.5 or better average. If you can, you will be able to reach your goals....but like I said, you have to know what you want before you can figure out how to get there! Good luck.
My advice is do neither! Move out of your parents house, go get a real job in the real world, and after a couple of years you'll have a better idea of what you what to do. You obviously never took your classes seriously, there is a lot more to this world then just textbooks.
My advice is do neither! Move out of your parents house, go get a real job in the real world, and after a couple of years you'll have a better idea of what you what to do. You obviously never took your seriously, there is a lot more to this world then just textbooks.
After reading all those posts I felt I HAD to reply.
I graduated more than 20 years ago with a BA in Psych and a GPA
In the 90's I went back to school and hauled ass to do extremely well in my science prereqs. Then I applied, was accepted and completed, the Physician Assistant program at Duke. I am now returning to school again, to get a BSN/MSN (Midwifery). Before going to PA school I spent years in health care, experience helps!
Bottom line, what was is unchangeable. Move forward with NOW. We cannot change the past (boy did I ever wish I could retake Biology!!!), but we can learn from it and go forward. And don't spend a lot of time apologizing for your past grades- acknowledge them and, matter of factly, move on. Do you need to prove yourself? we all do!! Then... you will either succeed at your presnet dream or perhaps something else will appear.
We are in similar situation. I have a bachelors degree in Anthropology and I work in the insurance industry. My GPA from undergrad was around a 2.8 or 2.9. I was originally a pre-med major in college, but realized that I couldn't cut the science classes. (It took me 3 years and several repeated science classes to figure that out.) I switched to Anthro because I enjoyed it, did well in it, and could complete it in a year. Now, 5 1/2 years, a husband, daughter, and son on the way later, I've gotten the medical school itch again. However, I'm no where near being qualified to even apply. I've applied for my local CC's nursing program and am pretty confident I'll get in. (They don't consider cumulative GPA, but rather individual grades in specific courses.) I plan to finish at least the LPN program (maybe RN), and then I'll work on retaking my science classes so I can apply to med school. (Unless, of course, I find that nursing is something that I truly love and wish to stay there.) It's not the shortest way to get there, but with poor undergrad grades, no medical experience, and a family, it's the best way to go for me.
My point is, you can do whatever you desire, but it will take some work and patience on your part. I've been in insurance for about 4 years now, and I HATE it. I can't wait to get out, but I need to work full-time while I pursue my goals.
There are lots of us who went to college with every intention of leaving with a degree and a dream job. Unfortunately, some of us are meant to follow a different path.
Don't give up on your dream! I haven't and I'm looking at being around 35 when I apply to med school.
- First, read the FAQ section on the CRNA discussion board -- it's at the very top of the list. Might want to make a print out - as you will be referring to it many many times.
- Next, as far as the CRNA thing goes - your BS-Psych degree means absolutely nothing. Sorry, that's reality - even if you had a 4.00 QPA - it means nothing. I have BS-Applied Math, BS-Comp Sci, and MS-Comp Sci --- guess what, I still have to start at the bottom and work my way up. I've accepted that, and so should you.
- The plus side, you can look at your nursing school endeavor as a new beginning. As others have mentioned, you may need to do some soul searching. Sure, it's ok to look around and ask questions (which you are obviously doing).
- So suppose you still want to do the nursing/crna thing....
- Next. Start talking to nursing schools. Get as much info as you possibly can. Look at grabbing your pre-reqs (A&P 101, A&P102, Microbiology, Chemistry) at a community college. For nursing school -- you will want to kick some serious butt in these classes.
- I am told that crna schools will look at the grades in the above pre-req courses as well. So you need to really be committed to this effort.
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- In the meantime. Do some self-analysis. Why did you do bad in school? Don't need to answer that on this board - but you do need to answer yourself.
- Nursing classes are pretty rough compared to psych. We don't party on the weekends. In fact, last July 4th our A&P study group debated whether to watch fireworks or hit the books. We did both!!!
- I am currently taking Microbiology at the Univ of Southern Indiana. To give you an example of the study time required ... I put in about 3 hrs/day memorization for this class . This is in addition to going to class, doing writeups, or making notecards. And, this is just for one class. For me, and yeah I'll admit I am a quite anal when it comes to grades/studying, passing is not good enough. I want to grab an "A". Am actually hoping to slam the first midterm and first lab exam with 100% on each - so I can ease up on studying for rest of semester.
- BTW/ We covered cell metabolism (in detail) last week -- krebs cycle, electron transport chain, glycolysis, and enzymes. I spent 5 hours Sunday morning in a conference room at work --- just doing the writeups for my notes. I still had to come in at 8PM last night and hit the books for 3 hrs memorization. I also came into work at 6AM today and hit the books for another 1.5 hours memorization. Will go to class today and hit books another 2.0 hours at
- Doing well in these classes will completely erase any negative effects the psych degree has on you getting into nursing school.
- I assume you did well in psych 101/102 and took sociology. These too are pre-requisites for nursing school.
- Once in nursing school. you will have a lighter load, since you took the pre-reqs alerady. Now you have time to get better grades.
- You will need BSN to get into CRNA school. Ok to do ASN then do BSN. This is what I am doing.
- You will need 1+ years of ICU experience - after becomming RN. Again, read the FAQ's in the CRNA board.
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- Your big problem, as I see it. What do you do with a BS-Psych degree? Also, how do you support yourself financially while going to RN school?
- You'll need to work those problems out.
- I suggest getting ASN - then work to pay off loans/etc. Then go for BSN, then CRNA.
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- Do not think you are the only one having to start over.
- I am doing the same thing. But for me, nursing is something that I WANT to do. Makes going to school a whole lot easier. Actually, I am thoroughly enjoying school this time around. Actually like going to the Microbiology class I am taking now.
- I applied to RN school back in Mar 2003. I will start (been accepted) in June 2004 (only 4 or 5 months to go). Can't wait.
- Yes, it's a seriouos time committment. But, if you REALLY, REALLY want to do this, then go for it.
I graduated in 94 with a BA in psych & my gpa was under 3.0 too (I forget what it was exactly, but I think somewhere around 2.4-2.6...I can't remember). I ended up working clerical jobs for years & just last year went back to pursue my ADN. Basically, I look at it as I am starting over from scratch. Only thing different is that a few of my pre-req's were transferred from my first degree, so I didn't have to take sociology, general psych, humanities or english comp. (thank goodness)
Motivation made a world of difference. I've got a 3.98 gpa at the moment, after 3 terms...A's & one B. If you want it bad enough, you can do it and get the grades that will allow you to go further with nursing after you graduate.
I'm going the ADN route & then proceeding to the BSN route, even though I could essentially skip that step since I already have a bachelor degree and go straight to an MSN program. I figure the more education the better...and the more classes that I do well in, the better it will look on any application to an advanced practice degree program.
just curious - how do you get a bachelor of science without having to take any science classes?
I have a BA in psych, but my undergrad school offered two options - BA for those like me who didn't want a more technical psych background, and BS for those who did (and had to take additional science/biology courses).
anyway - there's no way getting around the fact that to get into any nursing school, you will need to get some pre-req's out of the way - anatomy, micro, chem, statistics.. start taking those classes at a community college, kick ass in them, and hopefully schools will see that you've matured and have changed your study habits and now can do well if you apply yourself. just take things one step at a time.
Then... you will either succeed at your presnet dream or perhaps something else will appear.
K38s
20 Posts
BS Psych
Anything is possible if you are motivated and willing to sacrafice. Who knows why you got a 2.4 in your undergrad, and who cares? There are pleanty of people who do not put forth their best effort in their undergraduate studies, go back, patch up the holes and do fine. Bottom line, you have to really want it to go the distance. CRNA school is with out question the most difficult thing I have ever attempted. The stress of clinicals alone is enough to send anyone with less than iron resolve packing.
Only you can know if you want it bad enough. If you do, start by taking your pre-reqs. for nursing school and OWN them. That should give you a slight taste of what is to come. If you take enough science/bio corses and nail them you will get in. Trauma Tom, Hartsbur and Mister Arnold have given some valuble advise. Good Luck figuring out what is the right fit for you.
K38s