What make-or-break things get you hired

[Miewn]

There are many things that I'm worried about and this happens to be one of them. Currently I am a student in NYC and I'm about to finish up my first bachelor of arts in Social Science. My GPA is """"not"""" at a very good standing and I still need to take some pre-reqs. I was going to apply to another school with a nursing program and take the pre-reqs there while praying that they'll accept me even with my academic standings.

I'm currently at a 2.1 in my overall GPA. I understand that it's a long haul but I've been researching and will do whatever I can to make it into nursing school. I've been told by a nursing adviser from Medgar Evers that it'll be impossible with my grades and that I should look into a community college program and get a ADN then apply for a BSN. I'll do that if it's the only option I have but I know it'll just delay me even further when I'm already delayed as it is. I've heard you need a BSN to be considered in NYC hospitals when it comes to hiring.

So what my question is:

Is going to a CC the best option I have? -- Or is there anything else I can do. I don't have many access to nursing advisers, I bother advisers from other schools though.

Does schools matter? -- If I settled for any nursing school that will accept me... How will that affect me if I were to look for a job after I graduate. (Granted if I make it there.)

• Also, is there a website for nursing school rankings.
  

I wish to invest my time and efforts into becoming a nurse; the more I look towards it, the more discouraged I feel from the people advising me. Even after being told negative feedback, I'm still willing to pursue this career and I will do whatever it takes.

[sourapril]

You can't do anything about your current GPA. I would focus on the prerequisites you need to take for nursing school. Make sure you get mostly As, maybe a few Bs. Absolutely no Cs. I think you will have a good chance to get into nursing school if you have high science class GPA. I have a couple of Cs and Ds from art classes I took in college which bring down my overall GPA but nursing school doesn't care about those grades. They will look your statement, recommendation letter, your science GPA and how you present yourself (if you get an interview). Good luck!

[NurseGirl525, ASN, RN]

You've dug yourself a deep hole. You don't want to pick just any nursing school that will accept you. Because there are schools out there that will accept anyone and charge you tons of money for a worthless degree. If a school is not accredited, you will have a huge issue finding a job. The school doesn't have to be prestigious just one that is properly accredited. You need to speak with a nursing advisor at a school you want to go to, explain your situation to them and see what you need to do to get into a program. That is pretty much all you can do at this point. You need a pretty high GPA to get into nursing school.

[Undone]

I don't know any CC'S that would take that GPA. Price is a huge factor for those programs and everybody wants in, which makes CC in NY very competitive.

Get A's, in any classes you ctake to bring up your GPA, especially in your science prereqs because you want the program you apply to to see you are strong in science.

Good luck.

[Fruit Sucker]

Maybe worry about getting better grades instead of being in such a hurry to finish. BSN programs in NYC will not take that GPA. I'm not even sure that the CCs like BMCC will take it. You've got your work cut out for you. Try to take some science classes and get As in them, that's the only way I see it happening. And be prepared that nursing courses are going to be a lot more difficult than sociology, and in all the nursing programs I know of, you need at least a 78 to pass classes. If you fail more than two, they will dismiss you from the program.

[direw0lf, BSN]

Yeah this will be hard, not impossible though. It will delay you, but the only option I can see is to go to a community college and get your associates in anything (such as liberal arts), then transfer to a 4 year school. You'll be able to bypass most of the gen ed classes. If you take the pre-req's at a CC, like anatomy and phys and microbiology with a grade of at least a B, you'll have a good chance to get in the nursing program of a 4 year school......if you took those pre-req classes already and got a C or lower, re-take them before you go on to a 4 yr school.

Unfortunately there isn't much else you can do. I'm in NJ and schools here it seems put the most emphasis on GPA and pre-req completion. It didn't matter that I had a good reference from an nurse practitioner and am CNA/PCT certified already. They wanted to make sure my GPA stayed good and I got in the 2nd time around that I applied.

IMO you have nothing to be discouraged about. You know now the importance of your education and grades...stay on the right track, even if it's a little bit longer than other people, you aren't other people :)

[Miewn]

Thank you very much direw0lf, your words are very encouraging.

[PapaBearRN, BSN]

No CC in my state will take an applicant with a 2.1 GPA. It's a minimum 2.5 to be eligible to apply.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I have a dear friend who had an overall 2.5 GPA after earning a non-nursing BS degree. She took a roundabout route into nursing by completing an LPN program, then an LPN-to-ASN transition program, then an RN-to-BSN program.

Many LPN programs at technical colleges and trade schools tend to have less competitive admissions than ASN or BSN programs. I completed an LPN program that required only a HS diploma or GED and a passing score on an entrance exam.

[nursewr]

I don't know why you were advised that community college would be an easier way to go ... Community colleges in NY are just as competitive because of the price. And they are good programs.

But it is not impossible for you to achieve your goal. I did it. I left college to work 15 years ago, and had a 2.3 GPA, I came back to school and got all A's in prereqs except for a B in micro... Applied to nursing school, ASN program got in my first choice, graduated this past December, passed nclex with 75 questions in January, and landed a great job in Obstetrics in a hospital! I start April 6th.... So like I said. I can be done!!! It took me three years to reach my goal after returning, from start to finish. (Pre req's and nursing school)