Most of this is me venting so I appreciate it if you read the whole thing!
I've been taking classes (FT and PT) at my community college since Spring 05 (except for the whole year of 2006). Since then, I've acquired around 10 W's, an F, a D, and a C. After this semester, I'll have a couple more F's. Before this semester, I had a 2.3 (which will now get lower) GPA. I'm still on the tail end of the freshmen classification. I guess I would be a sophomore if I didn't get these F's this semester but I don't know how that works. Believe it or not, I'm very smart. I'm just not FOCUSED! It is difficult for me to pay attention.
I'm a CNA, and I did extremely well in that class - not that it was hard, but classes like English Comp II isn't hard either, so why did I get an F? I got an A in English Comp I. That is my only A. My problem is I don't study enough. I procrastinate till the night before. Sad thing is, I know my problems but it is very hard for me to correct them and it is made worse by the fact that I feel like I'm not getting anywhere. Year after year, there's times when I could have applied to nursing school and got in. I could have been DONE with nursing school by now. It is extremely depressing for me, especially because I know who I REALLY am. I am an overachiever in the mind, but it's difficult for me to just DO IT. I wish I could just erase my academic history and start all over again
However, I will NEVER give up my dream of becoming an RN!!
I am now contemplating if I should just apply to LPN school and do an LPN-RN program after that. I feel that once I actually do something related to nursing, I actually do what I'm supposed to, because I feel like I'm getting somewhere. That's how I felt in my CNA class.
I have a 4 year old daughter and I am getting married in December. I CANNOT be playing around (keep in mind, however, I don't drink, smoke, or party - I'm a procrastinator!)!
Here's my dilemma: I talked to the nursing advisor a few weeks ago at a university here and she said that before last year, they accepted everyone into the nursing program. I guess people found out and all of a sudden it became more competitive. It is an excellent program. The hospitals can tell them apart from others. They admit new students one time a year for both the Fall and Spring semesters. Should I wait it out and try to apply next year (deadline is March 1st) or try to apply to the LPN program (which admits new students 4 times a year) now?
I currently go to school with several people who have learning disabilities. They identified them and the school does make special arrangements. One of my good friends takes tests on different days then the rest of the class. She is given extra time. Once you get tested and they identify a learning disability most schools have some kind of program in place to accomodate the learning disabled.
Here is the deal, you need to get your grades up to be competive. In my school the average GPA for admission was 3.8. This isn't to say that all schools will be soley based on GPA, but coolpeach is right to say that nursing school is even harder than prerequisites. I know so many of my fellow students who had 4.0 gpa in prerequisites are happy to be passing in nursing school. The ones that are successful have already determined what there strengths and weaknesses are. It is one thing to say you are a procrastinator, but is that the only reason you got F's? Maybe your study habits need to be changed. Maybe you are concentrating on the wrong ideas. Maybe you are a audio learner, or a visual learner or someone who learns best in study groups. You need to work this out now. Maybe you are easily distracted. If that is the case, you will want to impose strict conditions on study. Turn off the TV, computer, and radio. Set aside a place where you can study without interruption. Make it a pattern. Study in the same place at the same time. I know I have a tendancy to procrastinate when I am studying in the same room as the computer. I love to hang out on allnurses.com but then I have to say to myself. "You need to be studying".
Once you assess your study habits and have done what you can to correct them, then you might look at retaking some of those F and D classes. Some places will ding you for retakes, but maybe you can get your GPA up high enough to meet the minimum of some schools. I know there are several ADN programs through the local community colleges in my area that require a minimum gpa of 2.7. Once you meet the minimum GPA they admit based on lottery.
Don't overload your schedule. If you sign up to take a difficult prereq class like A&P don't take too many other units or you will set yourself up for failure.
If nursing is what you want then go for it and do everything you can to make it happen.
I had a pell grant before I transfered. I was on academic probation, and the school wouldn't allow me to get it until I had took X amount of classes with good grades. It wasn't dependent on the financial aid. It was dependent on the school policy.
At the new school I have pell grant and student loans. So it didn't affect my being able to attend or get financial aid at the new school.
But, I would make sure that if you transfer, you do whatever it takes to not fall into the same pattern. It worked out for me to do it this way, because I was prepared to do whatever it took.
I don't have advice except to explore why you ahve so much trouble concentrating. Are you anxious, antsy, need a more structured environment to study? You may have a medical cause, or you may just be so deeply entrenched in your habits that at this late stage they are near impossible to break. I will say this. Before you dig yourself any deeper in the hole with GPA and school, you have to find a way to make a change. This may sound harsh, but if by some chance you get accepted to a nursing school even with a low GPA, your study habits are going to come back to haunt you and you will not make it through nursing school. I think that you should be evaluated for a medical/psych cause and work from there. Nursing is a job that requires a lot of concentration and attention to detail. Whatever the cause is it has to be dealt with for you to be succesful and get to where you want to go.
I had a similar story...started at a community college, wasn't ready, no time-management, smart but scared of doing bad so I just procrastinated, tons of W's and an NC and F my first year.
BUT I didn't turn it around , asked for help, acquired new study skill sets and eventually graduate with a 3.8 and honors! I tutored on campus once I really gained momentum, and I went on to be a private tutor for three years helping lots of students with this very same story. I NEVER thought I'd do this kind of work...I mean, I almost dropped out of high school 'cause I didn't think I was "good at school."
Most schools have tutoring/study skills centers, often staffed for free by student volunteers. Schools want their students to succeed, and they have resources for you if you seek them out. They cover everything from time-management, to test-anxiety, learning disabilities, organization, research, writing, you name it. They can help you identify your weaknesses, and TEACH YOU HOW TO OVERCOME THEM. A study coach, and even other students are great resources to get you on track too. Another key: study groups! Study groups force you to do the work, and keep on track too.
Good luck on this journey! It IS possible to uncover your inner over-achiever!! School is a funny game, that we can all master if we have the right tools. When we really look inward, examine ourselves, and truly uncover these emotional uncertainties that are keeping us down, then anything is possible!!!!
Until you find a way to work hard enough and early enough to raise your grades I wouldn't recommend applying for nursing, or any other program that affects people's lives. It's not a sin to procrastinate, but it would be a shame for an patient to wait as you keep putting off researching an IV med, or changing a huge gross dressing.
For those who are saying you went to a different schools without transfering your records...are you sure its ok you do that?
I guess what I am asking is did the school say not to transfer them?
The reason I am asking is that the nursing program I am applying to made a point at the information session of saying: You must submit a transcript of all schools EVER attended regardless of where or when.
If you do not, and they find out they will drop you from the program, and all the classes you have taken are gone. All the time and money you have spent is also gone.
Its the same way at the CC I took my pre reqs at. I thought it was that way everywhere.
When i read your poste it was like I was reading my own life story. I am 27 now, but right out of high school I went to the big university and just began slacking. I'd drop classes and just not take it seriously. Well when i turned 26 I decided I was really going to go for this nursing thing. I started over. I re took classes and I am getting a 4.0 for 5 quarters now. I start RN school in the fall!! Hopefully!
Here is my advice... pull it together~! Commit, and you can do this.
Also, start over. Go to a new school and you will get a new GPA. Usually gpa doesn't transfer over.
A fresh start is what you need! good luck, if I can do this, anyone can.
, asked for help, acquired new study skill sets and eventually graduate with a 3.8 and honors! I tutored on campus once I really gained momentum, and I went on to be a private tutor for three years helping lots of students with this very same story. I NEVER thought I'd do this kind of work...I mean, I almost dropped out of high school 'cause I didn't think I was "good at school."
WorkofHeart8
135 Posts
Gemberley, what if I got financial aid? Who do I call to ask about that?