Kaley
I am a sophomore in college with a 2.9 gpa going into my junior year. Is it still possible for me to get into a nursing program after i graduate college even if i only bring my gpa up to a 3.3?
I was just looking at all of my past grades in college so far and didn't realize how terrible I'm doing. In high school, I was an average student. I think i ended with a 3.4 gpa and honestly I didn't really care too much about school. My freshman year I was a little lost and didn't know what i wanted to be at all. At first i tried business but did not feel like I would end up with a job where i could really give back and feel fulfilled with my life. So i decided I think nursing would be best for me. I am currently at Penn state and cannot get accepted into the program, so i switched my major to biology. My freshman year i got four C's, some B's, and some A's. My first semester of my sophomore year I did TERRIBLE and i didnt even realize how much this was all catching up to me. In my Chemistry class i got a D and retook it this semester finishing with a B. Needless to say, that brought my gpa down. Also, my biology 110 class i got a C in. My gpa is now at a 2.9 and I am SO upset with how bad i am doing. I don't know why it took me this long to sincerely care about school but i really do care and now its only going to get harder. If i kick butt these next two years is it possible for me to raise my gpa to a 3.4? Also, does anybody know if i can even get into a nursing program after college and have some of my biology credits transfer into the program? Also, my end goal is to become a nurse practitioner. I just need to know if that is at all possible. Im feeling very disappointed and discouraged with myself. #college #nursing #biology #registered-nurses #counselor #nurse-practitioner #nurse-management
2 answers
Ken Simmons
Ken’s Answer
Hi!
The most important thing that you can do is to try to improve your GPA as well as you can while still in high school.. This will show those at whatever college that you choose that you were really trying to make improvements. I would advise talking to your school counselor to see if there might be any ways that he/she can help you improve your study habits. This will help you to do better in high school and in your nursing courses.
Talk to the admissions counselor to see about being admitted with your projected GPA and let them know that you will be working with your school counselor to improve your study habits and GPA. and also talk to the director of alumni relations to arrange to talk to graduates of their nursing program to see what they are doing and how they got there. Community College programs are an excellent means for entering into the nursing field!!
Send thank you notes to those who help you. Please keep me posted. I would like to follow your career journey.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR KIND WISHES
Hajira
Good luck on your educational and career exploration journey! I would like to follow your progress!
Ken Simmons
Derek Biggs
Derek’s Answer
The GPA can be a tough one to overcome, but there are some things you can do to still get into Nursing school.
First off, make sure you are picking a school that fits your budget and gets you the nursing degree you want. Remember, offices and hospitals don't care where you earned your nursing degree from. They only care that you earned it. That said, there are a number of institutions that would admit students with a lower GPA, but also want to consider working experience and other factors into that. This is not to say that GPA isn't important, but know that it isn't the only deciding factor.
What is your medical field working experience like? If you are able to earn a 2 month certificate in surgical tech or x-ray tech roles, that helps get your foot in the door. Often, this experience overrides much of the application process. Seek out offices that will help you get started and find those that will pay for your certificates. You would be surprised how many practices want to help out! Working through college is one of the best things you can do, especially for the medical field.
As for raising your GPA, yes, focusing the next two years and getting the best grades you can will help. Especially down the stretch when you are taking upper division courses and really focus in on the specifics of what you are pursuing. This will not only help you raise the GPA, but will give you a better understanding of what to expect in your career and if it is something you enjoy.
If the medical field is where you want to be, then I would seek out the offices around you and get started working with them while focusing on the final year(s) of school. Get as much experience as possible. When applying to nursing schools, research those schools that take on experience factors more than a GPA. You will be able to find many out there, even some that allow for the first year to be online.
Best of luck!
Derek