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

[CBxoxo]

I'm interested in a nursing program. Right now I'm just researching schools and figuring out the requirments for the different nursing programs. I just need a general opinion I guess and a honest one too...:)

I have a bachelor's degree in another field. My problem is that my GPA is a 2.7 and the grades on my transcript are not too great. That was about 2 years ago..at the moment, I'm taking prereqs at another school getting better grades (A's and B's...only have taken a few (finished 1 class and currently taking 2) classes though.

I'm really worried that my first school is hurting my chances of getting to any school because I did so poorly...but since I'm getting better grades, do you think schools will take that into consideration? I know these nursing programs are so competative and they only accept top students, do you have any advice on what I can do now since the damage is, I guess already done? Is there anything besides getting good grades that can help makeup for the past? I'm trying really hard in my prereqs and really want to be a nurse.

[Qtip]

Get your ADN from a CC, then bridge to BSN. I had the same B.S. gpa as you and that's what i'm doing. I have a 4.0 in every class I've taken since I got my B.S. now I'm just hoping those old grades don't haunt me when applying to Nurse Anesthetist school. Good Luck!

[poettree]

My friend took the exam and although she did well her gpa doesn't meet the requirement. They suggested she takes some classes elsewhere to boost up her gpa and then transfer them into the program.

Thank you for all your kind words and encouragement. I will make sure to relay them to her and to make sure she doesn't give up. All of your successes really gives us hope that we too will succeed!

For me, I am waiting to hear if I'll get accepted to this lpn program in nyc. It costs $2500. It begins in september and ends in June. There they dont have a waiting list but they only accept applicants once a year. Waiting to hear if I got accepted or not is killing me because I'm afraid my other options (my backup plans) won't be available for long.

GOOD LUCK OTIP on applying to Nurse Anesthetist school =)

[ICUSkeenRN]

CBxoxo-- Don't fret. Your story is VERY similar to mine. Graduated in '01 with a BA and my GPA was 2.7. I let that discourage me and I didn't bother applying to a really good BSN program. Instead, I took pre-reqs at a community college and made all A's and ended up graduating with honors from the ADN nursing program 2 years later. Later I found out my story is similar to many people's stories. If I had it to do over, i would have gone to the BSN program. Instead, I let my low self-esteem affect my judgment out of fear that they would reject me based on my past.

My point is it SHOULDN'T matter what your grades were 2 years ago in a degree unrelated to your current goal of becoming a nurse. Focus on the future and present by showing the admission board what you can do now.

[soxgirl2008]

Your story is similar to mine. I messed up my grades my first year of college because I had no idea what I wanted to do. My grades are fine now, but not competitive enough for any of the cheaper BSN programs around here, and I can't afford the private less competitive BSN programs. But I'm getting my ADN through the local technical college which has a good reputation, and once I graduate I'll only need to take 4-5 classes (all online) to have my BSN because of all the credits I already accumulated, and the RN-BSN programs are much less competitive.

There's a program out there for everyone! Try private BSN programs if you can afford it, or you can always go and get your ADN and bridge to a BSN. Because of all the credits you have it might not take you that long to have your BSN after graduating with an ADN.

[Sandman2855]

My undergrad grades were not exactly stellar either. I would not worry too much about that. Nursing schools take pre-requisite grades WAY more seriously. You also have the chance to write an amazing personal essay and a person interview (for some schools). I believe that they do really look at the whole applicant. I have been through the process recently, applying to many direct entry master's programs in California so I know the process. It is tough, and yes it is competitive, but if you are smart about it you really can succeed.