W's on Transcript

verene, MSN · Apr 18, 2015

You have to disclose the transcript even if you take classes at another school, as schools ask for all transcripts from any schools you've ever attended. Hopefully there is a place in the nursing school application where you can include a short letter stating the circumstances around your withdrawals and the fact that 9 years later things have changed - many schools allow you to address this in a statement, letter, or as part of your essay.

brandiep1982 · Apr 18, 2015

LOL, that was EXACTLY my situation! I had tons of W's from 10 years ago that I dropped because I decided I didn't want to go to school... now that I am finishing up my prereqs for nursing and am applying at different schools here is what I found:

1) the W's only real effect on my transcript was my proportion of passed classes to attempted classes. Because of the W's I had to take two classes out of my own pocket (I did not qualify for financial aid bc of the proportion). After I passed those courses, my proportion of passed vs attempted were then above the % needed to qualify for financial aid again.

2) Bc those W's were ten years ago and I have four semesters chock full of A's only, it is obvious to most admissions departments that I am a different person than I was then. I am a dedicated student who takes school very seriously now. I have grown and matured. (References from professors back this up as well)

3) Nursing schools care about GPA (w's do not factor into that), TEASV scores (or whatever entry type test you are required to take, if your schools require it), references and YOU (interview, essays etc).

None of the schools' advisers I have been talking to have voiced any concern whatsoever about my cloud of W's from a decade ago, and have even mentioned that current grades show how I have changed, and that is what is important.

I think you should be just fine, OP. :)

brandiep1982 · Apr 18, 2015

You have to disclose the transcript even if you take classes at another school, as schools ask for all transcripts from any schools you've ever attended. Hopefully there is a place in the nursing school application where you can include a short letter stating the circumstances around your withdrawals and the fact that 9 years later things have changed - many schools allow you to address this in a statement, letter, or as part of your essay.

Oh, ya. I forgot that. You can't just leave transcripts out. One of the schools I am applying to explained to me that when they run my name through some database, it brings up all the schools I have attended (he explained this because he said some people will totally forget a class they took at one school 6 years ago, then it shows up on their database and they have to ask about it).