Suggestions? Im somewhat lost.....

[NIBIE]

I am applying to a few schools with a nursing program (LSU, University of Kentucky, SFSU) to FIRST complete my prerequisites. I really didnt apply myself when i fist went to school in 2004 at all I went to Humboldt State University, and got a 2.76 GPA For 26 units, then didnt apply myself again at a local community college, took 10 units and got a GPA of 2.3. I spent 5 years working as an EMT/ Nursing assistant in SICU/ figuring out that I was meant to be a nurse, and with more motivation obtained a 3.81 GPA at the University of Montana for 20 units. I have 3 classes to complete (A&P I/II, biochem) to be eligible for admission to a BSN program in the California State University system. The problem is my GPA....... to be blunt, it sucks. Id hate to think that my previous academic BS'ing as a Freshman at HSU will kill my chances of getting into Nursing School to get my BSN...... Ive looked at at the ASN programs around me and most of them have a massive waiting list... not looking to wait any longer. at this point id rather take on massive student debt if it means that id be able to go to a nursing program in the fall of 2012. if anyone has any suggestions, i would greatly appreciate them. thank you for your time.

~nibie

[sugarmagnoliaRN]

My suggestion is to get those prereqs you have left done at a community college. Especially if you think getting your BSN is going to get you in a ton of debt... get yourself organized and do your prereqs as cheaply as possible!

[jmelyn2]

I was in a similar situation - not the best grades from my first attempt at college many years ago - with a low cumulative GPA. I've been taking pre-reqs for a BSN program at a community college and have awesome grades now; however, the BSN programs look at your cumulative GPA and I thought I was totally out of luck even with straight A's for the past 3 semesters in my pre-reqs.

GOOD NEWS! Many programs have a GPA forgiveness policy for situations like these. I've just been accepted to a BSN program for Summer 2012 and was able to transfer in credits from the first school I attended but disregard the GPA from there for my application. In my case, the grades needed to be 10+ years in the past and my more recent GPA had to be 3.0 or higher. I also spoke to a counselor with another BSN program and they have a 5+ years forgiveness policy. And to think - I almost didn't apply because I thought I was doomed...now I'm on track to have my BSN in December 2013!

So, don't give up! Sometimes it takes some of us a little longer to figure things out and get it right - that doesn't mean we are bad students who wouldn't be great nurses! :redpinkhe

[NIBIE]

Thank you for your replies, it puts things in perspective rather well. Jmelyn2- what programs have that GPA forgiveness policy, ive never heard about that before. VERY interested!!!

[jmelyn2]

I will be attending the Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes in St. Louis (they have the 10 yr policy). I also spoke to someone at Chamberlain College of Nursing at the St. Louis campus and they told me they forgive after 5 yrs. FYI, Chamberlain has a few other locations in other states. At both there were some restrictions on your science credits, but overall it wasn't difficult to take advantage of the policy at all. They were super nice about it and never commented on my low GPA from my first go-round at all. These are both private schools, BTW. I would definitely encourage you to check into it - good luck!