I don't understand where I'm going wrong, and the only answer I've gotten is that I did poorly on my SAT's. It's true I almost failed out of high school. But since then, I have gone to community college and now in a university with a GPA of 3.8. I completed A&P 1 and 2, microbiology, intro to Chem, college algebra, English 1 and 2, Spanish 1 and 2, psychology, sociology, biology, anthropology, intro to Christianity and art history. My grades are all A's and B's and I took on 18 credits per semester plus a part time job.
Yet I can't get into my nursing program at my university. They told me try again at the end of the academic year and they will re-evaluate me. (their nursing program starts in the spring)
I don't want to be in school for a B.S.N. for 6+ years! I could attempt to get a PA instead in less time!! What have I done wrong? I was told by the undeclared adviser that there is a shortage among nursing teachers and that my SAT scores reflect how poor I'll do on the NCLEX. But I'm a different person now than I was in high school.
What do you all think please? I am not trying to sound superior. It's just that I've worked my butt off in college for my grades and it doesn't seem to matter?
EDIT: I just also wanted to add that I am a CNA already and also am certified in PCT, EKG and phlebotomy from a vocational school and had a really good letter of recommendation from my RN instructor.. I just am so confused. And I can't make an appointment with a nursing adviser until I am accepted into the program.
Well, in the first place, it's not "your" nursing program, it's a nursing program. One of many. It would help to expand your efforts.
Secondly, nursing programs have become breathtakingly competitive over the last couple decades or so. Everyone and his brother wants to to become an RN. There is 'way too much demand and not enough seats to accommodate everyone who wants to get in. In the last BSN program in which I taught (a state uni program, respectable but nothing special), we got five or six applications for every seat. Every year. All the program's literature said that a 2.5 GPA was the minimum to be eligible, but the reality was that no one with less than a 3.7 GPA on their prereqs and prior college work even got seriously considered -- there were just so many applicants with 4.0, 3.9, 3.8 GPAs that even all of those people didn't get accepted. You may be in that situation -- that there are just so many v. well-qualified applicants that you're simply not quite making the cut. You would be amazed at who is not getting into nursing programs these days.
If this is really, really what you want, I encourage you to look farther afield and consider relocating. There's a chance you might get into the local program next time around, but, as already noted, it's not wise to put "all your eggs in one basket." The more schools you apply to, the greater your chance of getting accepted somewhere.
You do sound like a strong candidate, and I can imagine this must be really frustrating for you. Best wishes!
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
But in my entry essay I wrote about how I come from an abusive childhood and why I want to be a nurse and from my experiences believe I could be more empathetic..I wondered if maybe they rejected me thinking I might not be emotionally capable of nursing.
I totally agree with the others who have mentioned that perhaps you should refrain from over-sharing in your next entry essay.
I had a difficult childhood as well: parental drug addiction, domestic violence, psychological abuse, financial problems, you name it. However, I would never share these past issues with anyone who had to decide whether or not to grant me admission into a nursing program.
Society casts negative judgments over people who over-share the negative aspects of their lives too soon. Over-sharers are sometimes unfairly regarded as broken people, 'damaged goods,' or mentally unstable.
If you have not yet established a degree of emotional intimacy with the other person, a good rule of thumb is to not share your troubled childhood history with him or her. Good luck to you!
SAT score should be irrelevant. I was always under the impression they were an indicator for your ability to handle/ succeed in college level classes. If you have a decent amount of creds under you belt I don't see why it would matter. I am in a program and have never taken the SAT. I do have a good GPA and about 70 credits
My school would not accept SAT; they wanted ACT only. Your ACT score carried a lot of weight, more so than your prior GPA. They claimed this measured your ability to do well in the nursing program. I agree, re-take the SAT.
I have a surprising twist to share! (And certainly I erred - in my essay and not expanding my options - thanks for pointing these out!!) My teachers banded together and spoke up for me! I re-applied and gained acceptance into the nursing program in the same day......I am ecstatic!!! Never would I have expected that. Also, it looks like I can get a minor in biology. I'm not sure what that will do for me, but I'm 2 classes away from it. I feel like I won a lottery or something!
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
My teachers banded together and spoke up for me! I re-applied and gained acceptance into the nursing program in the same day......I am ecstatic!!! Never would I have expected that.
Congratulations! Thank you for returning to share this amazing news with us.
I have a surprising twist to share! (And certainly I erred - in my essay and not expanding my options - thanks for pointing these out!!) My teachers banded together and spoke up for me! I re-applied and gained acceptance into the nursing program in the same day......I am ecstatic!!! Never would I have expected that. Also, it looks like I can get a minor in biology. I'm not sure what that will do for me, but I'm 2 classes away from it. I feel like I won a lottery or something!
Congratulations! When you refuse to give up, the benefits are always worth it!
mzrainydayz, BSN, RN
364 Posts
Sorry to hear, Apply to other schools, don't put all your eggs in one basket.Also consider a new essay?