Should I forget about nursing?

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Specializes in None ! :[.

Hullo all! I'm sorry I didn't go introduce myself first in the forum, but I've been thinking about my dilemma for quite a bit, & I'd really like input.

I'm a 2nd year Biology major with a horrible GPA. I was placed on academic probation last semester (1.96), but given a chance to up my GPA during the summer. Which I did. It's a little over a 2.0 now.

The thing is, I'm doing a BSN transfer to MCG. :| Which is...bad news for me. I guess.

I'd have to basically make straight A's from here on out to even be considered. I did the math, & I'd end up with a 3.3;

however--if I only achieved B's, I'd end up with something around a 2.6, a few points below the required 2.8.

It's not that I don't have confidence in myself, but a few courses, I'd seriously doubt I could make an A in. I'd really have to bust my butt, which is fair...

Anyway. I'm not ready to give up on Nursing, because it is something I want to do.

However, the BSN transfer program is looking a little dismal.

I really don't know whether I should just...major in Biology & do an accelerated BSN program,

or...try to raise my GPA to the point where I can transfer to a nursing school...or what.

Again, I'm a sophomore, so I feel like I'm too late or something.

I had no sort of guidance involving college since I'm the first of my family, but now I feel like I didn't take it as seriously as I should have & really screwed up.

I know I was wrong in neglecting my studies (versus working); I just need to have some kind of advice to work with.

I tried meeting with my adviser, but the best advice she gave me involved transferring to a tech school & doing nursing there. :/ Which I don't want to do.

Not to mention she talked a mile a minute & I hardly got anything in.

I'd rather have a BSN, in a proper time frame, if that makes sense.

So my biggest question is--if I happen not to have a decent GPA in time to attempt to get into MCG,

should I finish out my major in Biology & just do that,

or maybe try for a nursing school?

Ohhh confusion. Sorry so long.

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Well if you have not taken any nursing pre-reqs then you don't have a dilemma. You would have to transfer before you do nursing pre-reqs. Your GPA doesn't follow you, do your nursing pre-reqs at the school you want to go to if you get accepted and then apply to nursing that is what I did. My GPA was 2.1 and I didn't have any nursing pre-reqs, I got into the school I wanted as an undecided major, I got credit for the classes I took but my gpa disappeared and I did all of my nursing pre-reqs for their program. I got accepted because I have a 3.6 gpa in my nursing pre-reqs and the rest of my core classes. They don't care about my 2.1 because it was general ed classes (history, english lit, anthropology) ect.

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I ran into a similar issue. It depends on how much you want this. You can retake the courses and improve your GPA by raising those low grades that are holding you down. However, you will lengthen the time you are in school with no guarantee of acceptance.

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Specializes in LVN student.

I am also a first generation college student who botched up by GPA. Don't worry, you have options.

1. Talk to a school counselor and find out which courses are transferable credit to your school/program of choice; these are the ones you really need to worry about.

2. Also talk to the counselor about academic renewal. Most schools recognize that students have a bad semester (or two) and will, under certain conditions, "forgive" those credits, i.e. nix them from your GPA. One of my schools had a rule that you could erase up to 24 units via academic renewal so long as 2 years and 24 credits with a 3.0 or better had passed. Check with the counselor for your school's rules.

3. Re-take failed, transferrable classes. Yes, this is not ideal, but if it is transferrable and is killing your GPA, re-take the class, study hard, and do better this time.

4. Unless you have your heart set on one program, shop around. Different programs have different requirements. I decided that scrubbing my GPA would take too long, so I started an LVN program that had no pre-reqs.

5. Don't give up on this if it is what you truly want.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

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Specializes in None ! :[.

:) Thanks for the advice everyone. I'm going to try my hardest for this !

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So, you say you're a second year bio major.....have you started your pre-reqs for nursing school?

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Specializes in None ! :[.

Well, not exactly.

But I have taken courses that are directly involved in nursing.

Right now, I'm a Biology major--with a concentration of nursing. So on my current track, I'd be finishing this second year, & then transferring to MCG (pending acceptance & such).

I haven't taken all the nursing pre-reqs of the nursing program of my particular university (what I'd rather go through at this point)--meaning that if I change my major to "Nursing" I'll still have quite a few courses to complete, even though I completed some.

So...to make that dribble-drabble shorter, I've taken maybe 5 of the total amount needed. All of those are passing, by the way. It's just a few of the core courses that kind of made me screw up my GPA.

:]

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Well, not exactly.

But I have taken courses that are directly involved in nursing.

Right now, I'm a Biology major--with a concentration of nursing. So on my current track, I'd be finishing this second year, & then transferring to MCG (pending acceptance & such).

I haven't taken all the nursing pre-reqs of the nursing program of my particular university (what I'd rather go through at this point)--meaning that if I change my major to "Nursing" I'll still have quite a few courses to complete, even though I completed some.

So...to make that dribble-drabble shorter, I've taken maybe 5 of the total amount needed. All of those are passing, by the way. It's just a few of the core courses that kind of made me screw up my GPA.

:]

Many nursing schools only look at the GPA of your pre-req classes. The most important ones to get an A in are your A&P series.

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My freshman year of college my GPA was a 2.3. I switched to Nursing, and luckily for me my program's nursing program looks ONLY at your nursing pre-reqs and I hadn't taken any nursing pre-reqs yet, and my Nursing pre-req GPA is a 3.9 as of right now. Try to find a BSN program that looks only at nursing pre-reqs and you'd probably be fine.

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I'm a current MCG student in their MSN-CNL program. All nursing schools (regardless of BSN or ADN) are extremely competitive and although they give a stated minimum GPA, most of the time students accepted (at least in GA BSN programs) have GPAs well above this minumum. How were your ACT/SAT scores? For MCG they look at these scores in addition to any community service, leadership and health care related experience. MCG looks at cumulative GPA, not just pre-req. If you're near the Atlanta area, Georgia State only looks at pre-req GPA.

If MCG (or any BSN program, really) is your ultimate goal, work your tail off to earn those A's in the pre-reqs and be prepared to retake some classes to bring up your GPA and show them you're serious, get involved in community service (especially health care related!), and develop good relationships with your professors especially those from your science classes, you'll need letters of recommendation.

Nursing is a great profession, the hard work getting into and through nursing school will be well worth it.

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Specializes in None ! :[.

@CuriousMe; I'm actually taking A&P now--& I love the subject & its challenge. I plan on doing nothing but great in it. :D

@SoxGirl2008; That's encouraging to hear! I'm really buckling down, trying to keep my grades & my focus up. :) I think there's still a chance for me, after all.

@bdanders; Thanks so much for the information ! I was actually thinking about my community service & volunteer experience in University Hospital in addition to my GPA. I know I can't use -just- that information to help me, but I thought it'd be a boost. I have been considering Georgia State, along with some other schools like U of South Carolina & such. MCG might not be my biggest goal at this point, strictly because my cumulative won't be up to par in the amount of time/credits I have left to finish up that specific program at my school. I think at best I'll end up with a 2.8/2.9, which is mediocre compared to most accepted into that program. But that was all super helpful--thanks again. :]

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That's great to hear you're already on top of the volunteer experiences and considering lots of schools. Most people apply to several (I know I did!). You'll find something that's a great fit for you. Best of luck!

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