Science GPA and retaking classes versus Grad level courses

[PediatricCTICURN, BSN, RN]

Hey Guys,

As I am getting all my documents together for application season for CRNA school I looking back onto my undergrad classes and the time just out of high school where I was taking classes as biology major and not doing so well before I decided to pursue nursing. Depending on how you look at my science GPA its not very high (with all those lower level biology & chem classes that I just messed around talking) and by some schools standards not acceptable. If you take out the bio classes (I am not sure if most schools count this - but I don't think based on my research they do) I am around a 3.1 with chem and then the other required science classes (micro, biostats, physics, A&P).

On the other spectrum I know some schools look at more recent grade which I at around a 3.8 with a cumulative of 3.24 (those beginning classes weigh a lot on my GPA). No excuses and I own the grades that I have, but I am wondering if it would be worthwhile to retake classes (I am already 3 years post nursing school) or if it would be more worthwhile to try and enroll in some graduate level courses and prove myself that way?

Any thoughts would help!

[ptier_MNMurse, BSN, RN]

I would read up on the requirements and prerequisites the schools you are looking at have for admission. Often times schools state a minimum cumulative GPA, but due anesthesia's math and science heavy component, they also take into account your math/science GPA. This generally includes the hard sciences along with your math courses. So biology WOULD be included.

Check with the school if retaking a class at a different institution will replace the grade or just add to your gpa. The school I am applying to requires that in order to replace the grade, you need to retake the same class at the same institution.

Your math/science GPA could use some work. The minimum math/science GPA for the school I am currently applying to is a 3.1-3.3, however many admitted students have higher GPA's than that. I would suggest taking some graduate level coursework (patho, pharm, stats, etc.). This can boost your math/science GPA and prove you can succeed at the graduate level.

I had a similar story with studying engineering before I got into nursing, and had to retake a bunch of classes. So, I know where you are coming from. It is a lot of extra work but it is worth it! I would apply either way though! You never know what the applicant pool is going to look like any given time.

Good luck!

[yournurse]

Some schools only look at last 60 credits....

[Asherah, BSN, RN]

Best to talk to the specific program director and find out what they value. I have applied to three programs and all of them emphasize different things, some even require or highly encourage you to have taken some specific chemistry within the past five years of entry into the program. I took graduate courses at one of the SONs as a non-matriculated student because I know they look upon this as being very proactive and also goes to my ability to succeed in graduate coursework.

[loveanesthesia]

Talk to the programs you’re interested in. Some grad courses are not very rigorous. I’d rather see someone take a rigorous undergraduate chem or physiology than a cake graduate pathophys or pharm.