So Frustrated with school and the admissions. Please help!!

WilburW · Aug 4, 2010

Hi everyone, I have to vent. I been studying my butt off for a couple of years now and I dropped chem twice, because I was going to get a C in it. Well come to find out at my school if you retake a course twice they take the highest grade, well since I dropped twice out of chem, no matter what the grade is the third time, they are not even going to count it, and it can be used against me while applying. I have a 3.87 gpa, and I only have 1 B. and the rest are A's. It is frustrating to me. I just do not know where to go anymore.
So now I am looking at my options. Originally I was going to go to the community college where I am attending at now and just get my adn/RN then go to UTA here in Arlington to get my BSN.
Well now I feel I might as well just take the prereqs for BSN and just wait another year. There are other colleges around here that offer nursing but they make the admissions process so complicated and do not accept half of the courses that the university will take from the cc that I am at now. Please I need some advice. Should I just take my prereqs towards BSN and give the ADN program a shot and if they reject me, just keep shooting for the BSN at the university?
I just feel everytime I make 2 steps forward its three steps back. Thanks a bunch.

Most schools have a policy that if you fail or make a "D", you can retake the class to get a higher grade, for a maximum of twice(taking the class a total of three times) and the original grade will be dropped from use in your GPA, but will still be on your transcript. If you drop or withdraw from a class, you didn't complete the class therefore have no grade.

Take your chem and study your rear end off, as you have not completed the class yet so you don't have a grade at all.

Good luck

JC_Smith2009 · Aug 4, 2010

Thank you. I appreciate the feedback. It just gets so frustrating dealing with the admissions process. I only have three classes to go before applying, Micro, Chem, AP II. So I am almost there. I will most likely take chem alone so I can focus on it and make an A. I think I will take it during a summer course so I can just focus on that course alone. This semester I am taking a math class, AP II and Developmental Psych......

I work full time so it gets so frustrating sometimes when I am trying to progress up the ladder of life, while being smacked down a few stairs. The good thing is, my school isnt the only nursing school around so I will keep trying. and I will not give up, I know someone out there wants a good nurse, and I believe I will be a really good and compassionate one at that. More feedback is welcome but here is what the school policy says verbatim.

"Only the highest grade from the first two attempts on any general education course will be considered for admission. The exception to this rule will be a science course that is required to be taken more than twice because it is older than five years. Any course withdrawals will be considered as one of the two attempts."

When I called them they said that since I withdrew twice there goes my points for that class.

Finally2003NP-C · Aug 4, 2010

I am constantly amazed at how many students get FRUSTRATED at admission requirements. The school you are trying to enter has explained to you what is required to gain admission. DO IT!! There is a reason schools want you to take courses like Chemistry and pass with an acceptable score. I personally do not want someone working on me that barely passes a Chemistry course with a "C". Go back and take the course, study and pass it with a "B" or better. That goes the same for your AP II and Micro. All these courses are fundamental science courses that indicate your capability to practice.

Also, your statement about working full time is an indicator as to why you are not completing the course, and why you are making "C's". Most professors will tell prospective students 40+ hours working equates to substandard scores of "C", or worse. Before you get upset and tell me you have to live and therefore work, realize there are many students who have to reduce their hours to get through. Many professors have quoted this statement " how much are you willing to sacrifice to obtain licensure".

Your question of going to the ADN school vs. BSN school is a slam dunk. Get the LICENSE. It makes no difference in Texas, ADN's and BSN's take the same NCLEX test. The only difference is the ADN gets out into practice two years earlier than the BSN. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that you can work as an RN (ADN) and go take BSN courses part-time to complete the higher degree. The point is you get the license and go on, or do you think getting the license ends your schooling?

Go back complete the basic courses(no matter how long it takes), score high, and apply. If you meet the schools entry requirements you will get in. If it takes a year more to complete all the requirements, so what?

:mad:

JC_Smith2009 · Aug 4, 2010

It is sad to see that people are so quick to place blame or cause for someones inability to do something without even knowing the original problem. Your an NP you should be more understanding.

I want to do Great in chem and not just pass it with a C. I had a heavy load but still I cant help what the rules in the school say when they keep changing them year after year. And literally they are changing them year after year at this school.

Suethestudent · Aug 4, 2010

That policy sounds ridiculous. People drop courses for many reasons, some personal and some academic but a dropped course should not be taken into consideration in the application process. What if you had health issues, financial problems or problems at home? These are all valid reasons to drop a course... because life happens. They need a policy change.

From what I have heard, most college application processes are torturous and sometimes seem designed to test you. Look on it like a challenge instead of an obstacle and keep your determination up. Most programs are so competitive that they can call the shots, and if you don't dance like a puppet then you will not get in. Your GPA is excellent so just focus on the last piece of the puzzle and I'm sure you will do great.

nlion87 · Aug 4, 2010

Sounds like you should have dropped class during the regular drop/add period where it would not have shown as a withdrawal on your transcript

JC_Smith2009 · Aug 4, 2010

Sounds like you should have dropped class during the regular drop/add period where it would not have shown as a withdrawal on your transcript

I was doing great in chem until the second half of the semester and I fell ill with strep, so I was down for a good two weeks, and had other issues going on, then things went down hill. I managed to save my AP 1 class and made an A in that. In my opinion, I would think AP would trump chem. Like mentioned above, you never know what might happen when it does happen, some things are just out of our control. I agree with what you say though.

Finally2003NP-C · Aug 4, 2010

Well, glad to hear you are ****** off. Turn that feeling into focused purpose and do what is required to get into school. As to my response as hateful, no more to the point it is factual. Everything is hard today, wait for tomorrow and see how much more difficult things get.

Oh, your comment about mommy and daddy got me to chuckling. My parents were both long dead before I entered into nursing. One from cancer the other from stroke. i left home at 17 and never looked back. My parents had no money. I have no sugardaddy (or mommy) and no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow(it would have been nice). I paid for school working part-time,selling blood, pell grants(never enough), and the GI bill. My other degrees were paid for by me, seems I always made one more dollar above the poverty level to qualify. So go ahead and throw some rocks at my glass house. I don't have any credit cards(can't afford them), I drive a 12 year old pickup(but it's paid for), and my malpractice insurance goes up every year( not because of lawsuits, look at the insurance companies). I keep one step ahead of Uncle Sam and pay through the nose to the IRS. My practice satisfies something known only to me and at the end of the day the majority of the bills get paid. The bills not paid for eventually get paid off. I could easily make more money, but at the expense of my sanity. So, I do work to live.

Hateful response, not really. However you can label me however or whatever you want. The response is the same, go back take the courses. Score whatever it takes to get in, retain all the information and get mastery of the subject to your satisfaction. Apply to as many schools as you can, when one accepts you stick with them and graduate.

Even though I doubt you will believe me I hope you are successful at whatever you apply yourself to do. :uhoh3:

JC_Smith2009 · Aug 4, 2010

Well, glad to hear you are ****** off. Turn that feeling into focused purpose and do what is required to get into school. As to my response as hateful, no more to the point it is factual. Everything is hard today, wait for tomorrow and see how much more difficult things get.
Oh, your comment about mommy and daddy got me to chuckling. My parents were both long dead before I entered into nursing. One from cancer the other from stroke. i left home at 17 and never looked back. My parents had no money. I have no sugardaddy (or mommy) and no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow(it would have been nice). I paid for school working part-time,selling blood, pell grants(never enough), and the GI bill. My other degrees were paid for by me, seems I always made one more dollar above the poverty level to qualify. So go ahead and throw some rocks at my glass house. I don't have any credit cards(can't afford them), I drive a 12 year old pickup(but it's paid for), and my malpractice insurance goes up every year( not because of lawsuits, look at the insurance companies). I keep one step ahead of Uncle Sam and pay through the nose to the IRS. My practice satisfies something known only to me and at the end of the day the majority of the bills get paid. The bills not paid for eventually get paid off. I could easily make more money, but at the expense of my sanity. So, I do work to live.
Hateful response, not really. However you can label me however or whatever you want. The response is the same, go back take the courses. Score whatever it takes to get in, retain all the information and get mastery of the subject to your satisfaction. Apply to as many schools as you can, when one accepts you stick with them and graduate.
Even though I doubt you will believe me I hope you are successful at whatever you apply yourself to do.

Oh Please, I am not mad. I was just frustrated this morning. I am over it. I appreciate your well wishes, and same to you. I was wrong for some of the things I mentioned to you, and I do see your point in some of the matters. Its just a rough time and I know I will make it. I wish you best in your practice. And by the way, I wasnt throwing rocks at your glass house, they were pebbles. JK. but seriously everyones response has made me feel better and if I cannot get into this program at this school, oh well.... I will go someplace else. and Stop rolling those eyes, thats so old. :cool:

Your right about one thing, turning the negative experience into a good one and using that energy for something better and thats what I plan on doing..... Seriously though. Thanks for the reply and best wishes to you as well. Smile :)

roser13, ASN, RN · Aug 4, 2010

:clown:never mind

esunada · Aug 4, 2010

Just shoot for the ADN and if you don't get in try again and / or shoot to get into the BSN. I'm not sure what your question is, it seems like you already answered it, I mean what other options are there for you. If you are going to go get a BSN anyways, might as well do the prereqs for that. You don't want to wager all your bets on the one ADN program if your grades aren't stellar.

I don't think there's reason to be frustrated with the school's rules. Two tries to get a good grade in the same class are more than plenty...they say you're supposed to learn your lesson the first time around. In most school syllabus's the only reason one can take an exam another day is for major health reasons or a death in the immediate family - not because they didn't study, didn't know how to study, had financial problems, etc. That stuff needs to be figured out early on. I think that rule should apply to classes as well so being able to try two times in a class is plenty reasonable.