HOW I GOT INTO NURSING SCHOOL WITH A 3.0!
After five LONG years of physics, calculus, organic chemistry, biology, etc…I finally obtained my degree. Graduating at 24 years old with a degree in Biology, I thought I’d be stepping into multiple opportunities but boy was I wrong. Literally, two years later I was back in school completing pre-requisites to apply for nursing school. I did not have my plan set out as I should and when I graduated ended up working at a bank, cleaners, mortgage company (not at the same time) just to maintain an income.
Making the decision to go to nursing school did not come lightly. I come from a family of nurses and always dreamed of doing something completely opposite. I’ve always had a compassionate spirit and liked helping people but never looked at nursing as a field of choice until I completed a nursing assistant class and found a love for working and caring for elder adults. Stability was very important to me because at this point I felt old—and I knew that nursing would be consistent and that I’d always have a job. However, undergrad was a rollercoaster of prioritizing myself and fun over my studies and my GPA was not competitive…a whopping 2.5!
I researched and found a highly reputable school in my state and decided I’d apply (I know, super ambitious to say the least) and complete some prerequisite classes to boost my GPA a bit before applying to the actual nursing program. I did boost my GPA to a 3.0 but I was beyond nervous and embarrassed to apply. I was afraid they’d think I was a slacker and unable to hold my own in the program. One of the most asked questions I’d received when showing interest in the program is, “why do you want to be a nurse”. As simple as the question is, answering is not so simple. I did not want to give the first answer that came to mind which was true—”I enjoy helping people”. Applying for nursing school with a low GPA meant I had to show through words I was a good fit for the program especially when I was technically competing with other applicants with much higher GPA’s. I knew I had the heart to be a nurse and I wanted to show the committee I was a nurse! They only accepted, at the time, I believe 20 students. I knew the letter would be the deciding factor as to whether I was accepted or not.
In my letter I told them my reason, my motivation and my why. These sound like the same thing but all of these were different for me. I was able to convey how I fought not to go on the same career path as my mother and aunts and how becoming a mom sparked a huge fire in me to be someone my child could look up to. I basically told them the truth, MY truth. My letter was a page and a half and I even mentioned my GPA in the letter, letting them know I was aware of my GPA and how I was ready to prove that them choosing me would be a good decision. I had a few people proofread it for me. I read it over and over and second guessed myself so many times. With the support of family, I sealed and delivered my letter and just waited.
The day I received my acceptance letter I remember faintly. The letter went to my mom’s house and I read it in the car. It’s very hard to get me to cry but I cried this day. I was so grateful that I was given the opportunity. My GPA did not define me and I was ready to show them they made the right decision. I had 2.5 years of long nights, studying, papers, feeling like I was going to fail, etc., ahead of me. My journey to becoming a nurse was about to begin…
FOUR WAYS TO SHOW THEM YOU’LL BE AN EXCELLENT NURSE!
Show them the real you in your letter and your compassionate character— be honest (even the small things you think don’t matter i.e. taking care of your grandparents, being a parent, being there for a sick friend).
2. Don’t overthink it. Tell them enough to keep them interested but don’t make it too long where you will bore them.
3. Stay away from common words and phrases that most people use when applying to nursing school (“I really like helping people”—maybe you do but find another way to say it because every letter will have this very same line. Remember the key is to stand out.
4.Proofread your letter over and over and get someone else to proofread it as well.
Remember, even if you don’t get accepted, most nursing programs only admit a certain amount of people per semester. Don’t blame yourself if you’re not accepted and try again next time. YOU GOT THIS!