Routes for Applying to Nursing School with a low GPA (2.3)

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I graduated with my B.A in Psychology with a GPA of 2.3. I received A's in all of my pre-req classes at my local community college, finishing with a 4.0. Currently, I work in the mental health field working with people who have developmental disabilities.

What are the best options for me? Apply as a transfer, accelerated BSN? My ultimate goal is to receive a BSN.

I live in New York, but I wouldn't mind applying out of state ( I would like to stay in the northeast region).

Any tips, adivce, or schools I should consider would be great!

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Specializes in NICU.

Most ABSN programs require a first degree GPA of 3.0

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Right, like the pp said most ABSN programs admit based on your bachelor's GPA without regard to your more recent community college GPA. You could try going the ADN route and then going on to an RN-BSN bridge program but you'll have to check each school's admissions criteria carefully as most programs I've seen (I'm in CA) require at least a 2.5-3.0 cumulative GPA to apply.

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Specializes in ICU.

You will have to check with the school. I'm doing an ADN program at my community college and they go off of a point system. They give you points for A&P I and II, English 111, and Psych 101 with the A&P carrying more weight. Then they take the TEAS test and weigh that. All programs have different requirements.

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I would call around to various schools that you would be interested in and find out what their criteria is and what they'd recommend. It would really bite to not be able to use your BA degree as a stepping stone, but my college would have denied you straight away because we need a minimim of 2.75 to even apply

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Specializes in Oncology/hematology.

A lot of schools don't take people that get much higher GPAs than their minimum requirement. Your saving grace will be if you can find a school that only looks at pre req GPAs. You will need to do your research because all schools are different.

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My local CC only weighs your pre-req grades and entrance exam scores, I believe.

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Specializes in Prior military RN/current ICU RN..

I did an ABSN in 2005. From what I remember the absolute lowest GPA I saw accepted at any school was 2.8. I would say try to jut apply for "regular" nursing school and transfer what credits they will accept. Might take you a couple years longer than ABSN.

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