Should I be ashamed and give up?

[Nabeelaodu]

I'm going to be a college junior in the fall. I can say that I never really had problems with academics in high school and it barely worried me. When I first started college, I went to a university for a year and left with a 3.2. Then I transferred to another school and everything went down from there. Even though I gained friends, which I never really had in my other school and was really lonely, my gpa just went down every semester no matter how hard I tried. Sometimes I would beat myself up because I felt I didn't try enough. A lot of people believe that this school is more difficult compared to my former school and I know that now. I kind of regret transferring, but there is nothing I can do now. I just finished summer classes and microbiology, my last prenursing prereq. I thought this semester would go great until I got a C in Philosophy. Now my gpa is a 2.8 I'm really confused, mad, annoyed and feel really dumb right now. I don't know if this is a sign that I should give up and that I'm not meant for nursing or a reason to try harder. I was suppose to apply again for spring, but I don't know if I have any chance of getting in any school anymore. I really wanted to be a nurse though and still want to. My older sister, who is an RN told me she got into nursing school with a 2.9 and told me she'll help me get into her old school. But I really don't know. I'm getting tired of trying and trying but everything just gets worse than it already was. And then I see other people that used to be in my class getting into a nursing program with no problem. It makes me feel dumb. I know I'm complaining alot but I really don't know what to do. I'm thinking of trying for spring, and if it doesn't happen then, I should try next fall? Thanks

[PiperLambie, MSN, APRN]

If you want it, go after it! GPAs can always be brought up if that is the problem, but you lose nothing to put in your paperwork anyhow- at worst they tell you to bring up your GPA. It sounds like you have hit a rough patch but guess what- everyone does! It is what you do now that determines the continued path. It took me 10 years out of school establishing myself in a career that I ended up not liking to finally go back to school. I am doing it at 30 now, and there are plenty of people on here older than me that are going back. My point is that there is no lack of inspirational stories and solid real-world advice on this board, which is exactly why I signed up. Nobody can make you feel inferior without your permission, so if you allow yourself to feel "dumb" that's how it goes. One lesson that I have learned over and over again is this: when confronted with an obstacle you have two choices- you can get bogged down in the mud, where you wallow around feeling sorry for yourself and losing confidence, or you can use it as a springboard to jump above the mud and carry on, where you will look back grateful to not be stuck in all that muck- that choice is exclusively yours to make. There is plenty of time in life to be social and make friends, so pursue your educational/career goals and let the friends come along as time goes on. Good luck to you!

[PrayingToPass]

My auntie told me once, "In 4 years from now you will either have a degree, or you wont. The time will pass regardless." So I figured, I might as well go for it. You almost have a 3.0 and at my school, registering for "retaking" lowest grades, removes them from your application (temp) so your program GPA skyrockets on applications. Also get high TEAS scores. Have you talked to your academic advisors?

[SoldierNurse22, BSN, RN]

Talk to an advisor. I can only imagine you have bills to pay, and your academic rigors are not going to get any easier once you're in nursing school. Good luck.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Hmm - I noticed that there was a direct correlation between 'gaining friends' and receiving lower grades with my own kids. It's a common problem. I know your sister means well, but unless she is chair of the school's admission committee, she's not going to be able to 'get you into her old school'.

PPs have offered wonderful advice. Some have a "fresh start" program that essentially erases bad grades if you have re-taken the courses and received higher grades. However, they usually don't advertise this - so you will need to meet with an advisor and plead your case. First, you need to establish a better track record -- a semester or two of very high grades would do it.

Wishing you the best of luck. SoldierNurse22 is absolutely correct. Nursing school is going to be much harder than any courses you have ever taken.