terrified i will never get into nursing school

melmobley · Jul 20, 2012

terrified**

leenak · Jul 20, 2012

You should check their GPA requirements. From what I've seen most BSN/2nd degree BSN programs require a 3.0 overall GPA. Since your GPA is significantly lower than that, you may need to look at other options such as an ADN program which may only look at your pre-reqs or last 30-60 credits.

willowita, ADN, RN · Jul 20, 2012

Either look for ABSN programs that only look at the grades for the last 60 credits/units or apply to community colleges for an ADN. An associate's degree in nursing can still get you to become an RN. You can then apply for an RN to BSN bridge program for the BSN. It will be the longer path but you gotta take the realistic options that are available to you. But also be aware that some ADN programs require at least a 2.5 GPA, while others just want a 2.0, and selection ranges from school to school (lottery vs points).

With 24 units left, make sure you get A's in those classes. It's gonna count for something, especially if you apply for ABSN programs that only look at the last 60 units.

What kind of grades do you have in the pre-req classes?

melmobley · Jul 22, 2012

Either look for ABSN programs that only look at the grades for the last 60 credits/units or apply to community colleges for an ADN. An associate's degree in nursing can still get you to become an RN. You can then apply for an RN to BSN bridge program for the BSN. It will be the longer path but you gotta take the realistic options that are available to you. But also be aware that some ADN programs require at least a 2.5 GPA, while others just want a 2.0, and selection ranges from school to school (lottery vs points).
With 24 units left, make sure you get A's in those classes. It's gonna count for something, especially if you apply for ABSN programs that only look at the last 60 units.
What kind of grades do you have in the pre-req classes?

C average in chemistry 1&2 and B in biology 1&2 and i got a C in AP1 and a B in AP2. Granted, the human AP classes were taken along with the biology classes both a 1 month accelerated class. i haven't taken any other pre-reqs yet because they vary from school to school. Thinking about applying to an adn programs and accelerated bsn programs. However, the schools i have looked at in Michigan the adn program's average gpa for acceptance was a lot closer to a 4.0 than the absn programs.

Stephalump · Jul 22, 2012

Well, I don't think you'd even make the minimum gpa to apply to many programs. Not sure about your area, but our minimums aren't any lower than 2.5, with accelerated programs being more like 3.0.

I can't tell you if you should keep applying. If you can afford to stay in school, taking over classes and raising your gpa and there's absolutely nothing else you'd rather do, I'd encourage you to keep on improving and applying.

If you can't afford it or don't want to invest the time, then don't!

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Jul 22, 2012

What about a private school LPN program? Pricier, not the RN you want BUT miles more accessible. It would be a step in the right direction anyhow. AND you could be working and maybe get tuition reimbursement for an RN program down the road.

Just a thought.

x_factor · Jul 22, 2012

Sometimes the best thing to do, if you are not accepted to any of the programs because your low GPA, is to start over. Our BSN program here requires a minimum of a 2.8 GPA, but the average GPA of the accepted class is 3.6. The ADN program at the community college where I am taking prereqs (to transfer into a BSN program), has an average of a 3.6 GPA for incoming students as well, though they say the minimum required is a 2.8.

At my CC, they do not look at your previous GPA at other schools for acceptance into the program. They only look at your GPA for the prereqs you take to get into the program (and give heavier weight to ones taken at the CC). The BSN program here works the same way.

Many years ago I went to one of the state universities here, right out of highschool. I was young, and not serious, and left with a 1.1 GPA and on academic probation. I had a F in biology, and D's in other subjects as well. When I decided I wanted to do nursing, I got into a CNA program at the local technical college. I completed the program with a 4.0 GPA. Now I am enrolled in community college, and starting fresh and taking my prereqs for the RN program.

Even with your creidts, you can start fresh and enter into a community college and begin taking prereqs specific for the nursing program. Not all programs look at cumulative GPA, some only look at your prereq GPA for the courses you are taking to get into that program.

Shorty11, BSN, RN · Jul 23, 2012

I have a BS in biology with a minor in chemistry. I graduated with a 2.89 GPA. I was unable to get into an accelerated BSN program in my area because of my low overall GPA. (I live in Texas) The accelerated BSN programs that I looked into require a MINIMUM overall GPA of 3.0 from first bachelor's degree. I decided to look into going to a traditional BSN program after I realized that I would be unable to get into the accelerated BSN programs around here. I found a traditional BSN program that breaks down the overall GPA; instead of counting overall GPA from first degree, the program only counts those classes that will be needed to get the BSN. Throwing out all the advanced biology and chemistry courses I took (and had low grades in) and only counting those courses which go towards a BSN, raised my GPA from a 2.89 to a 3.25. With this new GPA calculation, I was able to get into the traditional BSN program that I applied to. And since I already had so many sciences done from my first degree, I only had to do one semester of Pre-reqs before I was able to start nursing courses. Yes, it is going to take a little longer for me to get the traditional BSN versus the accelerated BSN, but it is much better than not getting either! I will finish the entire BSN program in 3 years total (1 semester of prereqs and 5 semesters of actual nursing courses)

Nursing2102 · Jul 24, 2012

One thing you will learn from reading threads and posts on this website is that hundreds of people are feeling the exact same way you are. If you keep trying, I beleive you will be able to get into a nursing program. If for some reason you are not accepted, try again. If many other people can do it, so can you.

melmobley · Jul 24, 2012

Thank you all! very encouraging! I'm going to try my best to receive A's in the last classes I have to take, apply to a few programs, and if that doesn't work I'll take some time off to gain experience (EMT) and try again.

kmlnielsen · Jul 25, 2012

Pick your program(s) and do whatever you have to get in to those programs. If you need to retake a class or two do it. I have 2 previous degrees and I have spent the last year taking 30 hours of prereqs (which most of them I have already taken). Good news-I have gotten all A's, so my crummy GPA has now come up way up. The program I am applying to only looks at 37 hours of prereqs, so I am golden. I don't think it will be as daunting as you think.