What can I do to better my odds of getting into my school's BSN program?

[doc_Huffman]

I was originally a mechanical engineering student, switched to pre-nursing after becoming a 68W Health Care Specialist. With this I got my NREMT-B out of the way, and upon returning home, got my Colorado EMT-B, started school right away switching majors to Nursing, to apply to get into the BSN program. I have one more semester before I can apply (I need A&P 2, Organic Chem, and Developmental Psych), and to take the HESI A2. My GPA suffered somewhat from an AP Calc 1 class from high school, where I did not know I would start out with a 2.0 GPA when I transferred that credit. My first semester (before leaving for training) , I took Calc 2 (highly unprepared),and I got a D; but my GPA went up from the 2.0 to 2.8 or so due to my good grades in the other classes. These Calc classes are not applicable to my degree, but my Cumulative GPA is still suffering as a result. Without the bad grades, I would be sitting at around a 3.4-3.3 ish. I need a 3.0 minimum to even be accepted, but to my knowledge all grades ever taken at the school are considered when applying for admission to the program. I have also been trying to get a job as an ER tech, but have had no luck so far, but I am volunteer firefighting as an EMT with the department to further my background. I am also volunteering in the emergency department with a local hospital. I have been knocking out Pre-Reqs for the program the last 2 semesters, bringing my GPA up to almost a 3.0. It currently sits at a 2.98. I am getting B's and A's but am striving for straight A's. What I'm really trying to get at here is, aside from my not the best GPA, will my volunteering, having my medical background, and continually striving to bringing my GPA up, as well as a good HESI score, likely make me a competitive student in applying for the program?

[RunBabyRN]

You have to meet the minimum requirements to even be considered for any program. There's no getting around that. I had to work to raise my GPA above a 3.0 as well, because of bad grades from when I was young and dumb. Plenty of us have had to do it! I know others in my class did as well. Keep working at it. Study hard for the HESI so that you score well.

From there, make some calls or send some e-mails, and find out which programs in your area offer a veteran preference and what their policy is. I've never seen this on a website, but after doing some digging, I found 4 CSUs (California State University) that have a veteran's preference. For those, as long as you qualified, you're accepted. I was able to attend based on this (irony- lowest GPA getting in, only one to graduate with a job).

[windsurfer8, BSN, RN]

68W....so you are military? If you are a veteran make sure you list it when you apply. Then forget telling people the shoulda coulda stuff and just get the grades up. Work history as EMT might help you dealing with patients and better assessment skills to start with, but the grades are the main part when applying from what I have seen. I am nurse since '06.

[ladyk84]

Like what was said above, your GPA needs to meet minimum requirements. Once those are met, I'm very sure that the university will definitely overlook some bad math grades. Nursing uses minimum math anyways. Blow the HESI out of the water, and your core sciences for nursing. A&P's and micro. We all make our mistakes. I started out with a 2.6 something at my current school from previous uni work. I have a 3.8 now at this school. This is common. Your volunteer and veteran status will do wonders on your application. Don't give up, keep raising your GPA, and don't sweat it. Good luck.

[ThatBigGuy]

From my quick math, you don't sound like you have a lot of total credits, right? I mean, if 2 calculus classes affected your grade so much that you're sitting on a 2.8, then I assume you're looking at something like 20-25 total credits. Am I close?

If this is the case, and you have 3 more classes left for pre-reqs, then attaining your 3.0 is doable. You're only allowed to have one B though, the other two classes will need to be A's. Again, going off the assumed 20-ish credit hours, 2 A's and a B puts you around the 3.0-3.1 mark, while all A's will get you real close to a 3.2 gpa.

Your back ground will be seen as a major plus, especially compared to a traditional college student. However, as mentioned above, you still need to reach that minimum GPA requirement. You will have to knock this next semester out of the park.

Just make the grades next semester, and you'll be fine.