Stonybrook

[Laurmclaugh]

Hello! My name is Lauryn! I am currently enrolled in SUNY Old Westbury. I am majoring in biological sciences. I should be graduating Fall 13'. I understand applications are due in the Fall, so I am figuring out if I am able to graduate earlier or I may just have to wait until the Fall of 2014. As of right now, my GPA is very poor, about a 2.3, or so. I plan on raising it since I am home now and have no distractions. I was curious who I should contact from Stonybrook about transferring credits, as I do not think they will accept the anatomy and physiology that my school offers. I was also curious how difficult the 12 month accelerated BSN program is. Roughly what is the ratio of applicants to accepted students? I was also curious how difficult the program is. I have all the motivation in the world right now and I want to make sure I do everything right. I plan on volunteering at my local hospital once school begins. Also, who do you recommend I get recommendations from? Professors? Bosses? I have an aunt who is a nurse and an uncle who is a cardiologist, so I think I may get a recommendation from one of them. Unless this is a bad idea, as they are family! Thanks so much. I know I didn't ask many questions, I just like to be reassured that I am going through this the right way. Thanks again!!

[Medic2RN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

Moved to NY nursing programs for more of a response.

[monsterRN]

I think the first step would be to contact someone from nursing admissions at Stonybrook to answer your questions about which classes would be accepted and what the minimum GPA requirement would be. Maybe try to set up a meeting with one of the staff to further discuss the requirements of what to do.

An accelerated BSN program, in my opinion, is not about how difficult the work is but rather how fast paced everything is and how you can handle to workload since it condenses everything into 12 months. You are motivated and dedicated and as long as you stay on top of your work, you should be able to succeed in everything you do.

As for recommendations, I suggest you get professional ones such as professors and previous employers who really know who you are and can attest to your skills and speak highly of you. Since you said you planned on volunteering at a hospital, depending on when you apply to school and how long you have been volunteering, maybe have the supervisor write you a recommendation (again, if they can attest to your skills and speak highly of you).

[kitkats4breakfs]

With a gpa of 2.3 your best bet is to get your LPN license (takes 1 year), then go to an LPN to RN bridge program (takes another year) and finally to get your BSN take an online RN to BSN bridge program (also takes one year). I believe you will find it extremely difficult getting into an accelerated program with a GPA that low. I know of one LPN program veeb (veeb.org). My community college recommends this program to students who were not accepted into their nursing program. Good luck and please develope better study habits, especially if you want to pass the first month of nursing school.

Btw had I known about the LPN/RN/BSN route 3 years ago, I would have been a nurse already.

[PacoUSA, BSN, RN]

The accelerated program requires a minimum of a 2.8 GPA to even apply. Fortunately, Stony Brook does not automatically take students with the highest GPAs. They look at the entire application. The accelerated program is very demanding on your time but quite do-able.

[Laurmclaugh]

Sorry, I am just now seeing these posts! Thank you all for answering me! I completed my first semester back home (majoring in biology) with a 3.4! Slowly moving my gpa up! I don't think I was very clear in my original post. I am still pursuing my bachelors degree and once I am done in a year I will be applying to the accelerated program. I am so happy that I am finally back on track and I know I can do this. Thank you for all of your answers, I greatly appreciate them :)