Wasn't much of a student

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Specializes in PRE-NURSING CLASSES.

I wasn't much of a student when I initially attended community college. I took classes and left without cancelling courses and recieved F's for some other classes that I found semi interesting I received B's. I never cared for school but went for my parents sake till I gave up completely. Hated school. Many years later with a strong passion for Nursing I am now getting A's mostly and B's. GPA is getting better but still low. Is there a chance that the powers that be would look at my current performance and how I have done and am doing with the prereqs or strictly on GPA? Any advice?

Appreciate the help,

PREMALERN

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Sounds like you're really turning things around now. We wish you the best of luck!

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I wasn't much of a student when I initially attended community college. I took classes and left without cancelling courses and recieved F's for some other classes that I found semi interesting I received B's. I never cared for school but went for my parents sake till I gave up completely. Hated school. Many years later with a strong passion for Nursing I am now getting A's mostly and B's. GPA is getting better but still low. Is there a chance that the powers that be would look at my current performance and how I have done and am doing with the prereqs or strictly on GPA? Any advice?

Appreciate the help,

PREMALERN

It really depends on the type of program your looking at. It seems from prev posts that community college programs are the toughest to get into and based strictly on GPA (except for the whole lottery system used by some schools).

The BSN programs in my area really seem to take a holistic view. I think it is just as competitive but in a different way--you have to do a lot more to get in since they dont rely solely on grades (which could be good for some). Most BSN programs look at overall GPA, pre-q GPA, letters of rec, essay, volunteer health care experience, resume and other details that make a strong applicant. Some of these programs also have interviews in addition to this. Therefore, if your grades are lacking you can compensate with other strong qualities. I actually have a friend that got into a top ranked nursing school with a 2.8 but of course had other stellar attributes. My friend is also male,which I think helped a bit.

I guess what I would suggest is if you are looking at ASN programs then try for some lottery schools and just ask around. I dont know your prev GPA and how its currently affecting your GPA now, but most ASN programs look at your overall GPA. Nevertheless, what I would do is continue with the pre-reqs take a bunch of related classes to raise your GPA. Also, look at schools that take a holistic view and not solely on GPA. Most ASN programs that do go on GPA alone, it seems like they never take anyone lower than 3.5. I heard even some 4.0 students get turned away from these programs.

Nevertheless, it sounds like your busting your butt now and dont give up. Its definitely going to be a long struggle. I know my hardwork paid off. I got in to nursing school on the first try, but it took me two years of hardwork to get in and I only had a 3.5! Nevertheless, my schools did go more holistically. Well, good luck and dont give up!

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are all the courses at the same school? if not, is it necessary to provide all transcripts?

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

Good luck to you.

I did what the poster above suggests. I went to a large university and made a whopping 1.1 GPA. Years later when I went back to school I started over at another school and never acknowledged the first school.

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Specializes in SNF.

My CC when on most competed courses. only ..But I did repeat f's from 20 years ago to get into my dream school....it worked!!!:monkeydance:

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

I'm the same way: wasn't that great the first time in school (though I didn't get Fs, it still wasn't pretty). I did get a degree finished though.

Whether my old GPA is going to matter in the decision for nursing school...that, I don't know for certain. It is still higher than the minimum required for admission to the program (only 2.4 is needed), and I've done well in all of my pre-reqs the second time around in school. But here it is April, and the advisor at the school had told me I should start hearing things in February (!). So something might be up...I'm too scared to call and ask.

I hope they do take my current performance into account too--I think it should count for something that you and I have managed to turn ourselves around academically.

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I could've written your post! I'm having the same problem. However, my CC does have an academic renewal policy . . . I think that's what they called it. If the classes were awhile ago and you have so many credits with good grades, they will drop the bad grades from the GPA. They will still show up on the record but the bad grades won't be averaged into the GPA. Maybe your school has something like that. I'm trying to get a scholarship and don't currently have the "required" GPA, and I haven't had enough "good" credits yet to erase the bad ones, so I had to write and ask for an exception. I have a 4.0 since I've been back, and none of my bad grades were even in prereq classes, so I'm hopeful.

Good luck!

Kelly

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I would encourage you to take all the classes over that you got F's in, unless your school has a "begin again" policy...some schools have this if you have been away for 5 years or more and will 'reset' your GPA.

If they don't, and it's only a semester worth of classes, then you would be shocked at how high your GPA will be once you get those F's replaced on your transcript.

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Yes, there is hope!

I started at a community college 15 years ago. I took A&P twice and got F's both times. I took THREE semesters of classes, got F's, D's and C's and finally quit school with a 1.75 GPA!

Two years ago I went back to that same community college and have just finished ALL of my prereqs for the nursing program with all A's. Unfortunately, because of the classes I took 15 years ago, I have a 3.7 GPA, when I should really have a 4.0!

Anyway, this community college is nearly impossible to get in. They pass up on people with straight A's all the time. Three weeks ago, I received a letter from the school saying I was accepted into their nursing program for this fall!

This school is pretty unforgiving. If you get a B in a science, they won't let you in the program. Thankfully, they realized that I was a different person 15 years ago. I was 18 years old then and never even cracked a book!

What I'm trying to get at is that many school definitely take into consideration a shady academic past. Especially if it was years ago. There's hope for you! Keep pluggin away and keep it up! You ought to be very proud of yourself!

Are you applying for this year?

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I also wanted to add that I ended up writing a kick a$$ essay for my admission packet on this. I titled it "The Truth About Me".

Something to think about if you have to write an essay to apply!

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Good luck to you.

I did what the poster above suggests. I went to a large university and made a whopping 1.1 GPA. Years later when I went back to school I started over at another school and never acknowledged the first school.

Was this a while ago?

first off every school I have applied too has disclaimers of disclosure meaning if you don't disclose all you will be booted. Second I was just applying to a school the other day via online once I put my SS in every school I have ever attened in the past 25 years popped up. I thought that's handy but not if I didn't want mention one. So I am not sure if that will work in the modern day of communications.

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