Second career at 40

I guess it's time to make my first post. I've been lurking in these forums for years, literally. It has been my dream to return to college to earn a nursing degree and until recently it did not seem possible. You see I left undergrad during my junior year in 1990. I left with a 2.0 GPA. ( no excuses, just poor study habits and lack of focus.) Years later I managed to get enrolled in an accelerated bachelors program in Ohio that only required that I have at least 60 semester hours and several years of work experience. In 2000 I earned a degree in Organizational Management.

I graduated with a 2.8 GPA and managed to get accepted into a graduate program. I graduated with a Masters Degree in Human Development in 2005. My final GPA in that program was a 3.5. I work in the field of Child Welfare and while it is a rewarding career, it is just not for me and I am very unhappy. When I finished grad school I began looking at nursing programs and learned that although most credible BSN programs require an overall 3.0 GPA, most accepted applicants have a much higher GPA. Well this counts me out, because of my horrid performance in undergrad, so I thought! Today I learned that a school in my state offers an accelerated BSN that only requires that you have at least a 2.5 GPA in the last degree earned!!!

I emailed an academic advisor there today and confirmed that the GPA from my grad degree would be all that is considered, along with the GPA in the required pre-req classes.

I cannot tell you all how excited I am at this possiblity...Although I haven't been accepted yet I feel like there is some light at the end of the tunnel!!!

Congratulations! I am also switching careers (at 45) and am super excited about it!

I am right there with you!!! I had a horrendous beginning in my college career, over 22 years ago, and now at almost 41, I did it! I got in!!! I start Nursing school on Sept 8, have been 'considering Nursing' since '90 or so. Congrats! You will get there!!!!

[melmarie23, MSN, RN]

Good luck in the application process!

I'm happy for you!! I decided to return to school to become a nurse after 17 years as an elementary school teacher. I wasn't happy being in the field anymore. I just graduated in December, passed boards, and got hired at the local hospital. I plan on spending the rest of my days in the nursing field!!! btw, i'll be 44 this summer.

I'm so proud of all of us, 40 plus, and starting over...I love it!

[Music in My Heart]

I'm happy that you've found a way forward. Keep working hard and ace your prereqs. Most schools won't hold that early work against you since you've done so well through another degree program.

I'll be graduating next semester just before my 45th birthday.

[CrufflerJJ, RN]

While the University of Cincinnati's Accelerated Pathway program requires a 3.0 GPA for admission, I just barely eeeeeeked in above that number. My undergrad GPA was 2.59. Once I got more serious about life (~7-8 years after graduating), I started taking other courses, in which I always worked for a 4.0. With 23+ years of courses under my belt ("A" in all of them) after my undergrad degree, I had raised my GPA to ~3.1. It worked out for me. I was 45-46 y/o when I started the accel BSN program.

If you haven't considered UC's program, you might give them a try.

Good luck!