I always try to think positive thoughts, However, i also like to think about alternatives. Its inevitable for me to think what would happen if I dont get admitted into a nursing program. So thats my question, What happens after investing all your time and energy into your pre-requisites and although you have good grades they are not good enough to get admitted into a nursing program? I've heard people say that they've been denied with 3.0's and up.. so What happens? are you forced to change your carrer path? can you apply those classes to another profession? What are the alternatives or choices for those who dont get admitted into nursing school? What are your plans if you dont get admitted?
Crazy alright. lol ....It's all how you look at it though. Last semester I had all of my co-reqs completed (17 credits) with a GPA of 3.82. Our school mainly goes by pre-req GPA though, and only the co-reqs are used for a tie-breaker.
>snip
Which way is unfair? Who knows....
Fair? Unfair? Doesn't matter.
What matters is jumping through whatever hoop is presented to you.
Some schools look at GPA. Some look at test scores. Others look at life experience and how well you do in an interview. One program I went through weeds out students by how well they score on pharmacology math. No matter how well you do in other subjects, your GPA, or your stellar personality. Doesn't matter. You must score a 90 or better or you're out the door.
It happened to me.
The important thing is to figure out what your desired program wants you to do, then do it. It's an important life lesson. Do not waste any time, thought or emotion on what is fair or unfair.
It is part of making the transition to being a professional. It's being able to hit the mark - whatever that mark may be. It may have nothing to do with your goal, but if they have what you want (admission to nursing school) and they present you with a challenge for achieving it, then face that challenge, do it better than everyone else, and pat yourself on the back for a job well done.
You will see this over and over in your career - people zooming past you on the career track for no discernible reason. What they have done is figured out what is expected, even if it has nothing to do with job, and they've done and been rewarded. You just have to ask yourself what you're willing to do to get somewhere. Sometimes you're integrity will be tested and you'll have to do some soul searching, but in the end we're all better people for having dealt with those challenges.
Thanks again NatKat, for the uplifting post. It made my morning to see this post in my email. I think I'll even print it out as a reminder to myself. You know when I have those days where I really start questioning, why this process is so hard.
I am retaking Engl 1301, to have an A for SummerI, and retaking Alg for summer II to get an A, that way I'll have a 4.0 and have a better chance of getting in during the application for the spring.
I hate that I have Bs and must retake these classes, but it's what I have to do, to get to where I want to be.
I love this site! I love all the info & support. I wish I would have found this a couple of years ago.
And best of luck to anyone else going through this process. You may not get it the first time.....or the second.....but it's all part of figuring out how to make it work.
This is my first time applying and it was more a "let's see if I can get in" than any serious planning. But now I am stressed out. It's not the finals coming up or the online Nutrition class I hate. I remain calm thinking about that. It's when I think about nursing school admissions that I get nervous. We're supposed to hear in May and I'm hoping it's early rather than late May. I have plans for what I'm going to do either way, but I just want to know.
Malia
PS I already got rejected for the Accelerated BSN and now am waiting on the traditional BSN. MT
No kidding, Ive had to retake B's to get A's as well. Its so ridiculous.
As least we'll know whenever we have to go to the hospital all the nurses are straight A students- so they're pretty smart....
i just want to let you know that at my school they docked you for retaking a class. i retook a class i got a C in an got an A, while the college let me do a repeat/delete on the grade in the class, the nursing department docked me for retaking it. so instead of having an A, the counted it as a B. something you might want to check into before retaking a B class.
I think part of learning anything is not getting it right the first time. The same is true of getting into nursing school. There's nothing wrong with you if you don't get in the first time. Many of us don't. It's okay.
I'll cast my net wide for all BSN and ADN programs in the area. If I don't get in, then I'll have to go back to corporate america or find something to support myself full-time...I'm taking a risk by moving out of town to complete my pre-reqs at the college that I ultimately want to go to for the Accelerated BSN. The university that I'm currently attending doesn't offer all of the courses that I need for the accelerated BSN.
I spoke to a classmate of mine who has an MPH and is going back for her BSN. Her husband's in the military and some of her classes won't transfer. She's looking into the LPN program here, I think I'll look into that as well.
i just want to let you know that at my school they docked you for retaking a class. i retook a class i got a C in an got an A, while the college let me do a repeat/delete on the grade in the class, the nursing department docked me for retaking it. so instead of having an A, the counted it as a B. something you might want to check into before retaking a B class.
It's the same thing here, you get penalized for repeat classes and they are therefore a waste of money and time.
i just want to let you know that at my school they docked you for retaking a class. i retook a class i got a C in an got an A, while the college let me do a repeat/delete on the grade in the class, the nursing department docked me for retaking it. so instead of having an A, the counted it as a B. something you might want to check into before retaking a B class.
Oh man, that sucks! They're always finding a way to set the bar higher.
At my school students aren't docked for re-taking class, but instead they have limited the number of times a person can repeat a class.
I think grades are important as far as showing your ability to manage your time and meet deadlines. It is true one needs brains to be a nurse, but I think having common sense, being able to prioritize tasks and being able to think fast on your feet are important skills too. If someone is a real braniac and can quote statistics 'til the cows come home, that won't make any difference when you have three patients going downhill at once, an angry family member in front of you and a doctor phoning in orders. All the good grades in the world can't prepare you for that.
I know...some schools penalize for repeats. The particular school Im applying at doesnt though. I'd have alot more schools I could apply to if it weren for them docking you points..........man its like you better get it right the first time or you can kiss your dreams of ever being a nurse goodbye. No repeating classes........
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Natkat, BSN, MSN, RN
872 Posts
Fair? Unfair? Doesn't matter.
What matters is jumping through whatever hoop is presented to you.
Some schools look at GPA. Some look at test scores. Others look at life experience and how well you do in an interview. One program I went through weeds out students by how well they score on pharmacology math. No matter how well you do in other subjects, your GPA, or your stellar personality. Doesn't matter. You must score a 90 or better or you're out the door.
It happened to me.
The important thing is to figure out what your desired program wants you to do, then do it. It's an important life lesson. Do not waste any time, thought or emotion on what is fair or unfair.
It is part of making the transition to being a professional. It's being able to hit the mark - whatever that mark may be. It may have nothing to do with your goal, but if they have what you want (admission to nursing school) and they present you with a challenge for achieving it, then face that challenge, do it better than everyone else, and pat yourself on the back for a job well done.
You will see this over and over in your career - people zooming past you on the career track for no discernible reason. What they have done is figured out what is expected, even if it has nothing to do with job, and they've done and been rewarded.
You just have to ask yourself what you're willing to do to get somewhere. Sometimes you're integrity will be tested and you'll have to do some soul searching, but in the end we're all better people for having dealt with those challenges.