Scared about not getting into a nursing program in California

[Bulbasaurjuju]

Hi, I'm posting this to vent or look for advice I guess because I am stressing and worrying over this every single day. I have a BS in neuroscience with an overall gpa of 3.052. After graduating, I decided to pursue a career in nursing. I am in the process of applying to nursing programs (accelerated and regular BSN) and feel extremely stressed and anxious on whether I will get in or not. I feel terrible that I have such a low GPA, but I just didn't care about school as much as I do now. I'm not really sure what happened between the three months in which I graduated and decided I wanted to be a nurse, but I really love learning now; maybe it's because I have a goal now. My prerequisite grades are A's and a few B's and I got a 92% on my teas. However, I am scared I won't get in because I am worried about my previous GPA (for the ABSN programs) and lack of clinical experience. Whenever I look at the statistics of these programs it freaks me out because I feel super inadequate. I guess I was wondering if you think I have a good chance of getting in or maybe sharing your own personal experience of how to deal with the anxiety of the waiting game?

Some additional information about me that I was able to include on some applications

• I volunteered/worked in a neuroimmunology lab during my undergrad for two years, but dont feel like I learned too much and kinda regret my time there.
  
• I recently got my CNA certificate in December and just found out I will begin working in a mental hospital as a mental health technician in March
  
• I've been volunteering at a nearby children's hospital in a pediatric rehabilitation unit for the past 5 months
  
• I worked as a caregiver for children with autism for 9 months
  

I am going to be applying to CSULA, CSUN, CSULB, CSU Sac., CSUSM, SFSU, CSU Stan., Chabot College, Merrit College, and City College of S.F., if anyone has insight on any of those programs. Thank you so much for taking your time to read this, I really appreciate it!

[honeyforasalteyfish]

You should be fine, but I hear California is extremely competitive for nursing, are you willing to move?

Also a 92 is a ridiculously good score. That alone should make them stop, and take a look at you.

Also all of your volunteer work, and CNA certification should only help you. It does very much seem like this is a passion of yours.

I wish it wasn't so competitive, but your grades are not so bad. Its just nursing is extra ordinarily competitive.

I wish you the very best of luck.

[Bulbasaurjuju]

Thank you for your help and kindness. I have not looked at programs out of California, I would like to stay around here because this is where my family is, but maybe I will have to!

[Honey Clover]

Some programs only look at your prereqs GPA like CSU Sacramento. If you have their bonus points and you've obtained all A's in your science prereqs, I think you can get into that one. You can check out their stats and compare yourself to make sure. I don't know about the others though. You can also try for an even higher TEAs score and that'll add much more points to your total score for sac.

[Get2theChoppa]

You sound like a great candidate! Just make sure you write a stellar SOP--that's the most important part of the application.

[Bulbasaurjuju]

Okay, I will definitely look into that! I think they opened their applications today, so I will find out more. Thank you for your advice :)