Recommendations for a (want to be) future nurse

[FutureRNNick]

With the excitement of college admissions coming as a high school junior, I am ready to start looking into nursing programs that create excellent members of the healthcare field. Then again, I still find myself worrying about my present high school transcript. My grades are nothing near deplorable, but they still are not amazing. After my freshman year experience, in which I received a C in algebra 1 due to my complete laziness and lack of wanting to take math first period, I quickly realized that I probably would jeopardize my future if I kept that up. Sophomore year took a better approach at grades and my math grade boosted to a B (geometry). Saying that, I must also point out that both science courses received B+. Still, my lower classman unweighted GPA sits at 3.1. This year (junior) my grades have been boosted to where I am (mostly) satisfied, with A's in Chemistry, Algebra 2 and Anatomy and Physiology, with a slew of A-'s and a B+ in a slew of other courses. It should also be noted that I have had a stable job since the start of Freshman year at a daycare center, along with plans to volunteer at a local hospital this coming summer, along with a member of the school's anatomy club.

Still, I have to wonder, what will nursing schools (BSN) think of that? If all goes as planned, I hope to end high school with a 3.5 GPA, with mostly Honors courses, and 2-3 AP's.

Also, do any of you have any recommendations in what I could do to strengthen my application.

And finally, by reading the end of this, you have survived my lengthy high school career, and for that, I must thank you!

[Nurse2BeCam, ADN]

If you can your senior year, take college courses. I took my comp 1 and government class my senior year which put me ahead a few courses. It sounds like you have a responsible head on your shoulders. That's great! Good luck with your future and keep up the momentum.

[FutureRNNick]

If you don't mind me asking, were they AP courses, or were they from an actual college in your area?

[Nurse2BeCam, ADN]

If you don't mind me asking, were they AP courses, or were they from an actual college in your area?

I was in AP classes, but we also had the opportunity to take college credits during our high school schedule which was very beneficial. My high school called them duel enrollment classes. I would suggest asking your high school counselor if they offer them at your high school. The classes themselves were provided at the local community college.

[FutureRNNick]

Thank you!

[MotoMonkey, BSN, RN]

The program you are looking into may be different, however, most nursing programs require you to take a year or more of prerequisite college coursework. This course work may consist of basic reading, writing, and math. But also anatomy and physiology, chemistry, micro biology, and nutrition to name a few. This means that when you are ready to apply to a nursing program you may already have 45 or more college credits under your belt. Nursing schools will use this prerequisite GPA to make their acceptance decision, not your high school GPA.

Again, a lot of what I have said is based off of how the colleges in my area do business. I know that there is NO way I would have gotten into any nursing program if the admissions team was looking at my high school GPA.

[ProperlySeasoned]

Exactly - Most state BSN nursing programs operate this way. You are admitted as "pre nursing" and then have a couple of years to prove yourself before you apply to the formal nursing program...which is competitive. Private, four year university programs tend to admit to the program from the beginning (based on high school grades), but will not let you actually start the program if your "science GPA" falls below a certain cutoff. Either way works in the end.