trying to get into a nursing program...but have bad grades from the past

CrunchyMama, ASN, RN · Feb 28, 2009

They might take your new grades into consideration or they might suggest you take them over again. Good luck! :)

powers2004 · Feb 28, 2009

I am in the same boat ,our school will let you do a fresh start to erase all grades from the past but I hate to do that to because I did not Fail any classes from before just made a lot of c 's which still count but also are not so good to get into nursing school. I don't know what we can do.

BellasMommyOBRN · Feb 28, 2009

don't get so discouraged about a 2.7 gpa. some of the bsn programs (which have accelerated tracks!) around here aren't nearly as competitive .......just very expensive. i know someone with a 2.69 that was just accepted at one of them here in rochester.

every school has certain requirements but, your going to find that it's the public universities and the community colleges that have the biggest surge in applicants......why? cause they are cheaper. look around your area and see if this is the case for any of the schools around you.

i have no idea about your financial situation but, maybe this is a possibility for you. :)

Emptynstr2 · Mar 1, 2009

My grades weren't that great from a previous degree from 28 years ago, so I took many classes over in order to finish my prereqs that reflected decent grades. My suggestion is to retake some classes to get that GPA up where you want it to be. It will be worth the effort. Good luck! You can do it! :grad:

kathleenincal · Mar 1, 2009

most colleges do random selections. they take so many A's, B's and then onto the c students. I knew one gal who carried a 4.3 average and was shot down 3 times. most colleges will take people on welfare first because they get state money in helping welfare people get to work faster. i know its not fair but keep going, you will get in eventually, tho myself, i am applying for private college.

sunnyazgirl · Mar 1, 2009

I had a "C" grade in a nutrition class I took over 14 years ago, which affected by cumulative GPA.

I found out, by looking at my college's handbook online, that I could request an "academic amnesty" - which means any classes that were 5 years or older that a student received a lower grade on could be granted "amnesty" which would then remove the grade from my cumulative GPA calculation.

So, I completed the online academic amnesty request and within two weeks was approved amnesty on my "C' grade. Just having that one grade removed raised my GPA significantly.... :-) The amnesty can only be granted once and the class and grade will still show up on your college transcript - but there will be an asterik next to the grade to signify that it is not being calculated into your overall GPA. You also will no longer get credit for the class. So, if you still need the class, it will have to be retaken!

This is a great option for many people who didn't get the best of grades when they were younger........

Check it out and let me know if your schools offer this.......:wink2:

bluemalibu · Mar 1, 2009

Unlike the universities, many of the community colleges here in California are using a lottery system rather than a GPA based competition for admittance.

The ones that I am familiar with require a 2.5 minimum GPA in the core science prereq's and a realistic TEAS test minimum score to remain eligible to re-apply each semester to be placed into the lottery pool. Each subsequent semester that you are eligible and apply, your name is added again, so you would have twice as good of odds of being selected. (So far, no one has had to wait more than three semesters before beginning the program.)

Since you already have the BA degree, the 2-yr school is the way that you should go anyway... the degree will carry the same weight as a BSN when you are in consideration for a manager position, and these CC schools cost 2/3rds less than the universities do.

~Blue

magn1jes · Dec 16, 2009

I know this is an older thread, but I could have written it myself. I am in the same boat, although I have not yet started taking the prerequisites I am missing. I was a business major and psychology minor in my previous education lifetime, but got poor grades, which I am not proud of, and I know they are not a good reflection of me or how well I can do. I did well in almost all of my prerequisites, it was just my business classes I did poorly in. If I attend the same college, I plan on retaking a few of the classes required that I did poorly in. I have also been in contact with the local technical college, because there I can start fresh. The reason I want to continue at this college is that it offers a bachelors program, which the tech. school does not, and I feel it would take me longer if I had to transfer... but I don't really know. Has anyone transfered from an associate degree institution to a bachelors? Did it take you longer?

Should I stick with my past college and hope to get accepted into their program, although my GPA isn't anything to brag about? Or should I start fresh at the tech. school? I wouldn't have to re-enroll at my current college, and could start classes next semester, while the tech. school I would have to wait until summer or next fall.

Also, the lady that suggested I get in touch with the tech. school is the head of the nursing dept. at the college I was hoping to attend, but she has not seen my transcript.

Another question... how many of you ladies/men going to nursing school have families at home? Any small children? I am asking because my DH and I have been thinking about starting a family, and don't really want to wait, but don't know if it's good timing. Would it be possible to do both school and family at the same time?

Christy72 · Dec 16, 2009

hmmm that amnisty thing is intersting. I wonder if I could do that for one of the Secondary ed classes I took and got a C in hmmmm.

amandabrown23 · Dec 19, 2009

For all of you worrying about having a bad GPA I had only a 3.0 and was accepted. Our school has horrible waiting lists and I managed to make it through. I had all As and Bs except my sciences, so if I can make it then so can you! Good luck!

Arcadia73 · Dec 20, 2009

I am in the same boat! I was a bit of a party girl in my youth so my grades weren't what the could have been. I did graduate with a B.A. in Psych, but my gpa was a 2.4 or something! Anyhow, I decided the best thing for me was to go to a priviate college and enroll in their lpn program. My old grades in bio, math, psych & english were above a C so I only have to take the 8 lpn courses. Once I get thru that I will do a either a bridge program to RN there or go thru Excelsior College. It CAN be done! Good luck to you.

~Bright Blessings!~