Is It Possible to Get Into an LPN Program With Bad Grades?

If you have bad grades and want to get into an LPN program, you might be a little worried about whether or not this is possible. Unfortunately, there isn’t a simple answer because different schools have different admissions requirements, and there may be other things that factor into an admissions decision too.

First of all, different people have different ideas of what “bad grades” actually are; to some people, bad grades are anything less than being a straight A student, while to other people bad grades are when people get D’s and F’s. Typically, schools will look at your overall Grade Point Average (GPA), test scores (ACT, SAT), and then consider other things like the extracurricular activities you participated in, and then any explanation for bad grades.

LPN programs taught at community colleges may be the easiest to get accepted into as most community colleges have pretty lenient admissions standards. In fact, one strategy of people who can’t get accepted into the four year university of their choice is to attend community college to get their grades up, then re-apply at that university for a better shot at admission. If you’re looking to attend an LPN program somewhere other than a community college, you may be faced with stricter admissions requirements and you may not; again, this depends on the school. One of the best things to do may be to contact the schools that you’re considering and find out what there admissions requirements are so that you can get an idea of whether or not you’ll have a good chance at being accepted. It may also be helpful to speak with an admissions counselor too so that you can get information on whether or not you’re likely to be accepted, and if not, what you can do about it.

If you’ve had a few bad semesters of grades because of a certain life even or other circumstances, it may also be helpful to explain this. For example, if you struggled with an illness or were sick for a while, a school may take that into consideration when making the decision on your admission. If you had a death in the family that was difficult to deal with and that impacted your grades for a semester, it may be helpful to explain that too. Whatever you do, make sure though that you are honest and don’t lie on your admissions application; tell the truth, take responsibility for all of your choices, and explain your situation if you have any kind of unique situations that may have impacted your grades. And again, speaking with an admissions counselor at a school that you’re considering may also be very helpful to you during the admissions process, so don’t be afraid to ask as school that you’re considering going to if they can connect you with someone in the admissions department.

Want to see what LPN schools are in your area? See our online guide to LPN schools to learn more!