Worried transfer student applying for an RN/BSN college :(

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I'm approaching my last year at my community college. I already have my associate's in liberal arts (general education) and I'm about to complete all of my nursing prerequisite classes. I have high-hopes of transferring into a four-year college, getting accepted into their nursing program and persuing an RN/BSN degree. However, if it only it were that easy!

Here's the thing... my associate's degree does not have the greatest grades ever. However, I only did poorly on classes that have nothing to do with nursing. The classes I did do poorly in that are required as nursing prerequisites I am taking over though. So far in my nursing prereq classes I've gotten all A's and B's, and even though I'm still in the process of taking the more difficult courses (Anatomy :stone), I am very confident and hell-bent on getting no less than a B for a final grade.

Here's the other thing... even though I've been doing well, and will continue to do well, I'm still very worried about my previous bad grades. Even though they're irrelevant to my major, they still effect my GPA. I'm worried that colleges I apply to will take one look at my bad grades and deny me, even though I've shown tremendous improvement... especially in the classes that matter. The classes I'm taking now and the good grades I'm expecting to get from them will definitely help my GPA but it still won't be that great.

I was told that private colleges have more seats available for nursing programs since private schools receives more funds/money for nursing programs. The cheaper colleges, the state schools, are very competitive and always have a very limited availability of sets available for nursing. Unfortunately, my parents are going through a rough spot and can only afford a state college... meaning, I'm pretty much applying to the more competitive/limited availability of seats available for nursing. SO, on top of my previous bad grades and slightly non-impressive GPA, I'm also applying to very competitive schools. GREAT.

Basically, I'm just wondering if anyone out there has experienced or is going through the same thing. Am I just too worried about it? Are schools really all talk when it comes to how "competitive" their nursing programs are? I really don't know what to think and it's constantly on my mind. Any insight would be very helpful to me... thanks in advance!!!

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Specializes in Hospice & Palliative Care, Oncology, M/S.

Hi! Congrats on finishing your classes!

I've been handling the same situation. I first went to college 17 years ago and did... poorly is a nicer way of saying how bad I did! I started community college with a 1.32 GPA. I am in the process of retaking another class, and retook one over the summer that was actually a pre-req.

You're doing what you need to be doing, and the people there WILL recognize that. I've been told twice that retaking the classes shows character and the will to succeed. Plus, it makes me feel better striking those classes from my transcript. Just be sure that all the paperwork is in, because if you retake classes without the university knowing, they may just average the grades instead of replacing the grade. (At least SDSU does).

I hope that helps - I know it's hard, but you're doing great!!!

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Specializes in Goal: MSN in Women's Health/Family Pract.
Hi! Congrats on finishing your classes!

I've been handling the same situation. I first went to college 17 years ago and did... poorly is a nicer way of saying how bad I did! I started community college with a 1.32 GPA. I am in the process of retaking another class, and retook one over the summer that was actually a pre-req.

You're doing what you need to be doing, and the people there WILL recognize that. I've been told twice that retaking the classes shows character and the will to succeed. Plus, it makes me feel better striking those classes from my transcript. Just be sure that all the paperwork is in, because if you retake classes without the university knowing, they may just average the grades instead of replacing the grade. (At least SDSU does).

I hope that helps - I know it's hard, but you're doing great!!!

Hi Coriander - I also first went to college about 20 years ago for a completely different major and due to a personal/family crisis did very poorly my freshman year. I was able to find my way back to a university only to do poorly again. My second time around I was going through a divorce and very suddenly became the single mom of a toddler. I realize I'm not the only one ever going through this. I also now realize that I did considerable damage to my GPA and chances at a university. The first time - it was PTSD - just needed to go through it. But the second time, I think I was so scared of failing out that I would just get an incomplete half-way through the semester. I have numerous classes where I was getting As or Bs, got incompletes and never finished them - they are now Fs. Eventually the university dismissed me from the Fs. Despite that, I have a 3.8 in my Science pre-reqs and 3.0 overall, including all the Fs (many of them). I'm taking my last pre-req and so far have a very high A.

Yet, I am very reluctant to apply to UNC, which is where I'd like to go, because to be admitted to the university I'd have to be eligible to return to all prior schools attended and I am not. I thought about going to talking to admissions but I don't feel like forcing something that may not be meant for me.

So plan B is to go to the local CC, which is also much closer, reducing my chances of failing/not doing so well/any excuse due to distance/complications/parking. I plan to get all As or close to it. Then go for my RN-BSN or RN-MSN depending on what I like once I do my clinicals. Some MSNs don't require the BSN but CRNA at Duke does require it. If so, I will apply to UNC-CH and do the online RN-BSN while I work somewhere.

Anyway, my question to you is - what exactly do you mean by "striking" classes and how do you go about it? Ideally for the same amount of time (2 years), I'd rather get my BSN but as indicated in my plan B it might be best to go for less complicated given my history.

Good luck with your plans to both of you.

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Hi! Congrats on finishing your classes!

I've been handling the same situation. I first went to college 17 years ago and did... poorly is a nicer way of saying how bad I did! I started community college with a 1.32 GPA. I am in the process of retaking another class, and retook one over the summer that was actually a pre-req.

You're doing what you need to be doing, and the people there WILL recognize that. I've been told twice that retaking the classes shows character and the will to succeed. Plus, it makes me feel better striking those classes from my transcript. Just be sure that all the paperwork is in, because if you retake classes without the university knowing, they may just average the grades instead of replacing the grade. (At least SDSU does).

I hope that helps - I know it's hard, but you're doing great!!!

Thanks for your kind words. Fortunately my GPA is around a 2.5, low but fixable, and I'm taking 4 lab classes and 2 regular classes with high expectations for A's/B's so hopefully that 2.5 is upped near a 3.0+ GPA. Fortunately my college cancells out the lower previous grade achieved. For example, I got a F in my first attempt algebra class and I took it over and got a B. My transcript still has the "F" but did not apply the class credits for that F, meaning my GPA now counted the new B and voided the old F. However, I'm only taking one more class over that I previously got a D in and the rest will all be brand new classes. Hopefully it does enough to help my GPA! :eek:

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Specializes in Hospice & Palliative Care, Oncology, M/S.

The reason I started back at a community college is that for a couple of years I had agoraphobia and panic disorder. The idea of smaller classes on a smaller campus was more manageable for me than the thought of walking into a class of 500. :)

By "striking" classes I mean that I've requested that the school simply remove an entire semester from my transcript as none of those failed courses pertain to my current situation. From what I hear it's a possibility but they've had the paperwork for a couple of months now and I haven't heard yet. I was going through a lot mentally when I was young, and now that I'm under treatment for some things I feel that my current grades can convince them that I'm NOT an awful student.

I hope that you both find your way with your dreams... don't give up on yourself! :yeah:

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Usually admissions committees do a "subset" GPA. That is they calculate the GPA of prerequisites only. IOW if you do well in prerequisites those are the grades that really count for admissions decisions. (It is still important to do very well in every class from now on...)

Best wishes!

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I say don't worry about it too much. When I decided to be a nursing major I had already messed up my transcript. My GPA was no more than a 2.5 and I think that is stretching it. By the time I finished pre reqs and classes need to transfer I ended up with a 3.2. I got all As and a C in my pre reqs and I am glad to say that I got accepted for Spring 2010. I think that state colleges are so competative because so many people apply for them.

I hope that makes you less stressful.

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How about instead of relying soley on mommy and daddy to pay for school, pull out some loans and apply to a private school. Since they cost more they are less competive and you have a better chance of getting in.

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Specializes in none!.
How about instead of relying soley on mommy and daddy to pay for school, pull out some loans and apply to a private school. Since they cost more they are less competive and you have a better chance of getting in.

really? she was asking for help and it seems kinda, i don't know, antagonistic, to say that. if her parents are willing to pay for school, then good for her. i wish my parents would pay for school, but that's not the way they help me. and besides, who wants to end up $40,000+ when they graduate. private school is a last, last, last resort for me.

if i were you i would do an "academic renewal". I did very poorly at the first school i attended and have 3 semesters of F's to show for it. You have to prove that you have completed 30 units with satisfactory grades and that those semesters no longer reflect you as a student or current academic abilities. Then they don't remove them but "code" them so that they no longer are part of your gpa. At my school, you can only do whole semesters, and only two classes. fortunately for me only 2 semesters had any transferable classes.

at any point, you're not the only transfer student in this situation

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I have a 2.6 GPA from a previous bachelor's degree, it was a christan college and none of the credits transfered to the community college since they refuse to acknowledge the accreditation of the old school. After taking 12 credit hours they will "bankrupt" the old GPA and I start from scratch. At the end of this semester I will have a 4.0!

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