WGU and GPA - Can those who got in share?!

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · May 5, 2013

Well, WGU's pre-licensure program IS a BSN program for starters. And, unless I am mistaken, you must have current healthcare experience involving patient care (pharmacy tech would not qualify).

I would STRONGLY recommend calling WGU and speaking with an enrollment counselor specific to the pre-licensure program. I do not want to burst your bubble, but I am thinking you need to look at another program.

Trenata · May 5, 2013

I have been in contact with an adviser for a while. She informed me that I need to have previous healthcare experience, but it doesn't need to be current. I was also a medical/office assistant. But, I will ask her again just to be sure.

Theone40 · May 5, 2013

If you are in California it is extremely competitive. You should aim as high as possible for your science. I have a 3.97 science GPA, (only 2 A- for labs, rest A's) and I got a 76 % on my TEAS and did not get accepted. With a low GPA you need a higher TEAS score. My counselor said if my TEAS was above 82% then I would have had a chance. For experience there are a few options just talk to your advisor they are all wonderful and extremely helpful someone is available anytime you call.

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · May 5, 2013

I'm not trying to be Debbie Downer - honest. But PLEASE be sure you are speaking with a pre-licensure specific enrollment counselor. The general enrollment counselors are wonderful folks- but this program is so unlike any other WGU program - even nursing programs- that you need to be SURE you're getting accurate info.

Good luck to you!

Trenata · May 5, 2013

Allright, thanks marycarney. I have been speaking with an adviser who is part of the pre-licensure program and also a student nurse in the program. I hope that she has given me accurate info, I will phone her again just to verify.

I plan to study hard for the TEAVs this summer! However, I won't be done with my science prereqs until next summer...

They have been very helpful thus far!

Trenata · May 7, 2013

I received this from my adviser today, "Healthcare experience helps to make a student more competitive, but is not required." There was further explanation as well to clarify the need to have healthcare experience, it is about competitiveness and my past healthcare experience places me in a competitive category, but not as competitive as someone with current experience. So, I am glad of it, because I really have my heart set on WGU. I just need to do well on my science pre-reqs and hopefully the TEAVs as well!

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · May 7, 2013

Thanks for updating that. As a two-time WGU grad, I get asked about the pre-licensure program a lot, and I never have all the answers. I'm going to study up on it, and I appreciate your input. Good luck to you.

The quality of my WGU education was top-notch, and if (when!) you get in, I'm sure you'll find the same. Best wishes- and please update as you progress through the process.

pandabrown · May 9, 2013

Good day!

I am a current prelicensure student at WGU...I started in February '12. I am not sure about all the specifics of the GPA, but I do know (like other nursing programs) that your sciences are the most important. Your A&Ps, chemistry, etc. You can take biochemistry, nutrition, pharmacology, and I think possibly a couple of others if you need them, at WGU. They will have you finish the prerequisites before you start the actual program. For my cohort we had 3 months, but I think they have since changed it.

You will have to take the TEAS V, which is an ATI test. WGU uses ATI's tests throughout the program. There is a study manual for the TEAS V, just make sure you get the one made by ATI (doesn't have to be from their website, though). I took the TEAS V and scored a 90%.

I did not have any healthcare experience at all...my extent of healthcare was applying band-aids to my children and handing my husband a Tylenol. There was an interview...a couple actually. I also had two really good letters of recommendation: one from my A&P teacher (I was also a tutor for A&P, so that helped) and another from the owner of the hospice company my husband works for, whom I have known for years and have worked odd-jobs with.

I read another person's comment to make sure you are speaking to the correct counselor...and YES, make sure you are! Ask every single question you have on your mind! They have the information, make sure you get it.

I hope some of this information helped! Good luck!!

Trenata · May 9, 2013

Thanks Pandabrown for the info!!! I plan to study for the TEAVs this summer. The math scares me, but I feel good about everything else!

I have asked so many questions of my counselor - so far she has been awesome and extremely helpful - not the last bit annoyed because I ask so many questions!

If you don't mind me asking, I know we take biochem through WGU, but chemistry is not an actual pre-req. In your opinion, do you think it is important to take a general chemistry first for the program and for doing well on the TEAVs? I could save a whole semester if I didn't need chem, but if it is something that will help me to be more successful all around, I will take it.

That is good to know they use ATI, so I can pick up study books in the future.

pandabrown · May 9, 2013

Biochemistry (this level at least) is a mixture of, you guessed it, biology and chemistry. A really cool class, interesting and loads of fun (no, I'm not being facetious). I think having taken chemistry helps, but it's not necessary. I really liked chemistry (I liked it so much I tutored that too!), but I probably would not have taken it unless I had to (as a prerequisite for other nursing schools I was considering). I'm pretty confident that if I didn't take chemistry beforehand, I would have been able to make it through biochem without too much difficulty, with all the videos and lessons on the internet, it should be relatively quick and easy to learn the very basics.

Personally, I wouldn't put off applying just to take a class that might help me a little when it's not actually required. You will get resources from WGU (etextbooks and access to video lectures) that will help you through the class.

For taking the TEAS, the chemistry is very helpful. But, if you study from the TEAS study manual, hopefully everything else you have studied should carry you over and cover the questions you miss. I was taking microbiology at the time I took the TEAS, and the week after I took the TEAS, we covered the questions I missed! If you have taken micro, GOOD! It'll help. The cool thing about the TEAS is that it's not a focused test, it's pretty general, consisting of a few questions on what seemed like every class I have ever taken from high school to college! That's good because there are so many opportunities to get the answers right! I didn't know any of the answers that had to do with micro, but I knew everything for some of the others.

Just keep in mind, ATI tests are so much about understanding the questions that are being asked. Use the manual, it is not a conclusive guide though, so take what you read in it and learn more about what you are unsure of. My cohort recently got the whole set of ATI books from WGU (for free) and I hope they will start doing that for all the nursing students...those books are invaluable!

Trenata · May 9, 2013

Thank you for the input - it really helps. I will study the manual this summer and see if I think I need chem or not - it would be great to save the time - maybe I can just get away with a chem for dummies book and khanacademy.com!!! Although, I was hoping the math practice in chem would be helpful! Hmmm....