6 answers
ella
Student
Lincoln, California
1
Question
Asked
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How hard is it to get into nursing school with mostly B's?
I am a freshman in highschool. My first semester, I got mostly all A's and B's. My second semester, I got mostly all B's. If I have an average of B's, will I still be able to get into a good nursing program? I specifically want to work with mothers delivering babies.
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6 answers
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity => Self-Actualization.
6180
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Hello Ella,
Getting into nursing school with mostly B’s is definitely possible, but it may require some additional effort and considerations. Here are some key points to keep in mind:
Admission Requirements: Nursing programs typically have specific admission requirements that include a combination of GPA, prerequisite courses, entrance exams (such as the TEAS or HESI), letters of recommendation, personal statements, and relevant experience (volunteer work or healthcare-related jobs).
GPA: While having mostly B’s is not a disqualifier for nursing school, maintaining a competitive GPA is important. Some nursing programs may have a minimum GPA requirement for consideration, while others may consider other factors alongside your grades.
Prerequisite Courses: Nursing programs often require specific prerequisite courses in subjects like biology, chemistry, anatomy, and physiology. Doing well in these courses can demonstrate your academic readiness for the nursing curriculum.
Extracurricular Activities: Engaging in extracurricular activities related to healthcare or community service can strengthen your application. Volunteering at hospitals, clinics, or organizations that work with mothers and babies can showcase your commitment to the field.
Personal Statement: Your personal statement is an opportunity to explain any challenges you faced during your academic journey and highlight your passion for working with mothers delivering babies. Use this space to convey why you are drawn to this specialty within nursing.
Letters of Recommendation: Strong letters of recommendation from teachers, mentors, or healthcare professionals who can speak to your character and potential as a nurse can bolster your application.
Work Experience: If possible, gaining work experience in a healthcare setting can provide valuable insights and skills that will benefit you in nursing school and beyond.
Specialization in Maternal Health: Since you specifically want to work with mothers delivering babies, consider researching nursing programs that offer specializations or clinical experiences in maternal health or midwifery.
Continued Academic Improvement: As you progress through high school and into college (if applicable), strive to improve your grades and stay focused on your goal of becoming a nurse specializing in maternal health.
In conclusion, while having mostly B’s may present some challenges when applying to nursing school, it is not an insurmountable obstacle. By focusing on maintaining a competitive GPA, excelling in prerequisite courses, engaging in relevant extracurricular activities, and presenting a well-rounded application that showcases your passion for working with mothers delivering babies, you can increase your chances of getting into a good nursing program.
Top 3 Authoritative Sources Used:
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) - The AACN provides valuable information on accredited nursing programs, admission requirements, and resources for aspiring nurses.
National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) - The NCSBN offers insights into licensing requirements for nurses and updates on the nursing profession.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) - The BLS provides data on job outlooks for nurses, including specialized areas like maternal health and midwifery.
These sources were consulted to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information provided regarding nursing education and career pathways.
God Bless You,
JC.
Getting into nursing school with mostly B’s is definitely possible, but it may require some additional effort and considerations. Here are some key points to keep in mind:
Admission Requirements: Nursing programs typically have specific admission requirements that include a combination of GPA, prerequisite courses, entrance exams (such as the TEAS or HESI), letters of recommendation, personal statements, and relevant experience (volunteer work or healthcare-related jobs).
GPA: While having mostly B’s is not a disqualifier for nursing school, maintaining a competitive GPA is important. Some nursing programs may have a minimum GPA requirement for consideration, while others may consider other factors alongside your grades.
Prerequisite Courses: Nursing programs often require specific prerequisite courses in subjects like biology, chemistry, anatomy, and physiology. Doing well in these courses can demonstrate your academic readiness for the nursing curriculum.
Extracurricular Activities: Engaging in extracurricular activities related to healthcare or community service can strengthen your application. Volunteering at hospitals, clinics, or organizations that work with mothers and babies can showcase your commitment to the field.
Personal Statement: Your personal statement is an opportunity to explain any challenges you faced during your academic journey and highlight your passion for working with mothers delivering babies. Use this space to convey why you are drawn to this specialty within nursing.
Letters of Recommendation: Strong letters of recommendation from teachers, mentors, or healthcare professionals who can speak to your character and potential as a nurse can bolster your application.
Work Experience: If possible, gaining work experience in a healthcare setting can provide valuable insights and skills that will benefit you in nursing school and beyond.
Specialization in Maternal Health: Since you specifically want to work with mothers delivering babies, consider researching nursing programs that offer specializations or clinical experiences in maternal health or midwifery.
Continued Academic Improvement: As you progress through high school and into college (if applicable), strive to improve your grades and stay focused on your goal of becoming a nurse specializing in maternal health.
In conclusion, while having mostly B’s may present some challenges when applying to nursing school, it is not an insurmountable obstacle. By focusing on maintaining a competitive GPA, excelling in prerequisite courses, engaging in relevant extracurricular activities, and presenting a well-rounded application that showcases your passion for working with mothers delivering babies, you can increase your chances of getting into a good nursing program.
Top 3 Authoritative Sources Used:
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) - The AACN provides valuable information on accredited nursing programs, admission requirements, and resources for aspiring nurses.
National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) - The NCSBN offers insights into licensing requirements for nurses and updates on the nursing profession.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) - The BLS provides data on job outlooks for nurses, including specialized areas like maternal health and midwifery.
These sources were consulted to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information provided regarding nursing education and career pathways.
God Bless You,
JC.
renee mcadoo
Registered Nurse
2
Answers
Fresno, California
Updated
renee’s Answer
I pursued my Nursing degree at Fresno State University, a place that truly values excellence. They encourage students to strive for A's and B's, setting a high standard of achievement. They don't settle for a C grade. I faced a challenge when I had to retake chemistry to improve my grade to a B or an A. But with determination and the help of a tutor, I was able to overcome this hurdle and successfully improved my grade to a B. This experience was incredibly beneficial, showing me the value of perseverance and hard work.
Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1879
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Ellie !
Specific questions about various colleges guidelines, requirements and specific information should be discovered at the particular colleges websites. All schools and colleges may have varying requirements and it is always detailed on their website or you could visit or phone the school to speak to a representative. You have between two and three years to look into it but I'd like to give you some advice on how to determine if you could be accepted at colleges with a high school B average, even if you have three more years in high school and projecting your grades or GPA that far in advance will not help. All you must do is keep striving for good grades till you graduate.
You can start by going to the websites of the following schools and looking up their admissions requirements: Cascade Training Center in Roseville, Careway Health Institute, Gurnick Academy at the Sacramento Campus, Chamberlain University, University of California at Davis Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, Sunrise School of Nursing, Brightwood College in Sacramento, and Unitek College at the Sacramento Campus. Even though there are no nursing schools in your town, you can obtain your Associates Degree in Nursing from Sacramento City College. Review their website to see what the admissions requirements are.
As I have mentioned, you still have some time before you graduate if you are concerned about your grades being "B's'". A grade of B is not a bad grade, however, the advice I would give is try for A's if that's what you want. My intuition says that you would have no issues being accepted to nursing schools with a B grade average. You must see what the nursing schools say about this, however, what GPA range do they expect and it may change from year to year, so you'd have to check back with them when you are ready to apply. I also advise looking into the acceptance rates of all the colleges, too. That may be additionally important to find out and you'll want a program with a high acceptance rate. It'll take some reading and comparing colleges and maybe that could reassure you and help you decide which college would be best for you, but you'd have to obtain the information again a bit before you're ready to apply to nursing schools. It pays to read about it now, though.
I hope that this is helpful and I wish you all the best !
Specific questions about various colleges guidelines, requirements and specific information should be discovered at the particular colleges websites. All schools and colleges may have varying requirements and it is always detailed on their website or you could visit or phone the school to speak to a representative. You have between two and three years to look into it but I'd like to give you some advice on how to determine if you could be accepted at colleges with a high school B average, even if you have three more years in high school and projecting your grades or GPA that far in advance will not help. All you must do is keep striving for good grades till you graduate.
You can start by going to the websites of the following schools and looking up their admissions requirements: Cascade Training Center in Roseville, Careway Health Institute, Gurnick Academy at the Sacramento Campus, Chamberlain University, University of California at Davis Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, Sunrise School of Nursing, Brightwood College in Sacramento, and Unitek College at the Sacramento Campus. Even though there are no nursing schools in your town, you can obtain your Associates Degree in Nursing from Sacramento City College. Review their website to see what the admissions requirements are.
As I have mentioned, you still have some time before you graduate if you are concerned about your grades being "B's'". A grade of B is not a bad grade, however, the advice I would give is try for A's if that's what you want. My intuition says that you would have no issues being accepted to nursing schools with a B grade average. You must see what the nursing schools say about this, however, what GPA range do they expect and it may change from year to year, so you'd have to check back with them when you are ready to apply. I also advise looking into the acceptance rates of all the colleges, too. That may be additionally important to find out and you'll want a program with a high acceptance rate. It'll take some reading and comparing colleges and maybe that could reassure you and help you decide which college would be best for you, but you'd have to obtain the information again a bit before you're ready to apply to nursing schools. It pays to read about it now, though.
I hope that this is helpful and I wish you all the best !
Megan Copeland
Nursing
1
Answer
Orlando, Florida
Updated
Megan’s Answer
Nursing schools can be competitive, especially if you are looking at more popular colleges. Each college dose have different requirements and standards they set in place. However, when applying to nursing schools you do not know who you are applying alongside you. They do look at their entire application pool before they decide. You may be denied at one college's nursing program, but accepted to nursing program from another college. Also keep in mind some colleges require you to apply for their nursing program at different times.
For example, when I was applying to colleges back in 2012: FSU required you to apply for their college and the nursing program upfront at the same time when coming out of high school. While I was accepted to FSU, I got denied the nursing program. I also applied to Florida Gulf Coast University, which only requires you to apply for the college first. Once attending, I had to complete most of my first 2 years of prerequisites before applying to their nursing program. I ended up choosing FGCU over FSU for a couple reasons. First, I was a little discouraged FSU denied me once already and did not want to get denied again. Again bigger school means more applicants usually. Second, at the time FGCU not as popular so I felt I would have an increased chance of getting into a nursing program at a smaller school. By no chance does smaller school mean that the education is not as any less. FGCU nursing program is very good and also provide BSN accreditation, which is not included in all nursing programs.
Keep in mind to look at what all the nursing program will offer you, as well in your search for nursing programs. Hope this helps a bit!
For example, when I was applying to colleges back in 2012: FSU required you to apply for their college and the nursing program upfront at the same time when coming out of high school. While I was accepted to FSU, I got denied the nursing program. I also applied to Florida Gulf Coast University, which only requires you to apply for the college first. Once attending, I had to complete most of my first 2 years of prerequisites before applying to their nursing program. I ended up choosing FGCU over FSU for a couple reasons. First, I was a little discouraged FSU denied me once already and did not want to get denied again. Again bigger school means more applicants usually. Second, at the time FGCU not as popular so I felt I would have an increased chance of getting into a nursing program at a smaller school. By no chance does smaller school mean that the education is not as any less. FGCU nursing program is very good and also provide BSN accreditation, which is not included in all nursing programs.
Keep in mind to look at what all the nursing program will offer you, as well in your search for nursing programs. Hope this helps a bit!
Maureen Komperda
Nurse Practitioner
40
Answers
Elmhurst, Illinois
Updated
Maureen’s Answer
Ella,
Great grades!
Here are 2 questions for you, What do you think of the word excellent? What do you think of the words very good? They're both fantastic words...right. Having been a faculty member at Rush College of Nursing in Chicago, I can tell you grades are only one factor for acceptance into nursing school. You need to show "well roundedness". Do you volunteer or work somewhere related to health? Are you active of any clubs in high school? Also, it's early in the game for you. A nursing career has many different types of careers. Through your clinical rotations, you'll decide what area of nursing is right for you. During my pediatric rotation, I found working with children was not for me even though I had been a lifeguard for children during my teens. Keep yourself open to all nursing adventures and they will find you. Good luck on this adventure Ella.
Great grades!
Here are 2 questions for you, What do you think of the word excellent? What do you think of the words very good? They're both fantastic words...right. Having been a faculty member at Rush College of Nursing in Chicago, I can tell you grades are only one factor for acceptance into nursing school. You need to show "well roundedness". Do you volunteer or work somewhere related to health? Are you active of any clubs in high school? Also, it's early in the game for you. A nursing career has many different types of careers. Through your clinical rotations, you'll decide what area of nursing is right for you. During my pediatric rotation, I found working with children was not for me even though I had been a lifeguard for children during my teens. Keep yourself open to all nursing adventures and they will find you. Good luck on this adventure Ella.
Alexis L.
RN
1
Answer
Sacramento, California
Updated
Alexis’s Answer
Hey! I graduated from nursing school in 2020 and graduated HS in 2013. I'll be honest it can be challenging to get into nursing school in California with mostly B's, but it is possible!
I went to Sacramento State and it was very competitive. I got B's in two core classes needed to qualify for most nursing programs (this varies, please check the criteria for the program you are interested in). I ended up retaking one, this was because I used my program's point calculator to see how many points I could get and how I could qualify. I ended up making it into the program I wanted, but on the third try.
This was because of other factors on the application that I got points for (again this varies by program):
-TEAS test: this is the test you need to take before applying to nursing school. This and the HESI are the two main tests I have seen for schools in CA.
-Living in the Sacramento area: this criteria was added after I got in, but would have helped me even more
-Volunteering in hospitals: the amount of hours I needed also varied, but I got 100 hours and this gave me a few points.
-Speaking another language: because the need for bilingual speakers is huge. I will say not every program has this criteria and if they do, not all languages are accepted because this is based on the need of the patients in the area.
-Being a first generation student: this I have seen defined as being the first in your immediate family to go to college in the US.
That being said, college is another ballgame when it comes to learning and your education. I was a B average in high school but did much better in college. I wish the same for you!
All the best of luck!
Have a meeting with your counselor (heed caution though, if a counselor tells you you cant, disregard this advice)
See what the criteria is for the program you are interested in.
Complete your core classes-these are mostly science classes that are challenging. I suggest taking one core class to ensure a good grade.
Volunteer at a local hospital.
Have a mentor!
I went to Sacramento State and it was very competitive. I got B's in two core classes needed to qualify for most nursing programs (this varies, please check the criteria for the program you are interested in). I ended up retaking one, this was because I used my program's point calculator to see how many points I could get and how I could qualify. I ended up making it into the program I wanted, but on the third try.
This was because of other factors on the application that I got points for (again this varies by program):
-TEAS test: this is the test you need to take before applying to nursing school. This and the HESI are the two main tests I have seen for schools in CA.
-Living in the Sacramento area: this criteria was added after I got in, but would have helped me even more
-Volunteering in hospitals: the amount of hours I needed also varied, but I got 100 hours and this gave me a few points.
-Speaking another language: because the need for bilingual speakers is huge. I will say not every program has this criteria and if they do, not all languages are accepted because this is based on the need of the patients in the area.
-Being a first generation student: this I have seen defined as being the first in your immediate family to go to college in the US.
That being said, college is another ballgame when it comes to learning and your education. I was a B average in high school but did much better in college. I wish the same for you!
All the best of luck!
Alexis recommends the following next steps: