Parents of the High School Class of 2017/College 2021

[Poohforyou]

Did anyone get a field flagged on your fafsa? Our fafsa was accepted. Gotta love our EFC, but that's another story.

Anyway line 14, student's citizenship has an "h" next to it. She selected us citizen, which she is. I guess I'll call but just thought I'd check here.

 

[v.t.]

Both boys have been accepted to A&M, one also to Colorado School of Mines. Still waiting on one more school as well as A&M Engineering. The office of admissions doesn't even know when that decision will come out. We attended a workshop and I mentioned that they had received a lot of invitations from other schools for honors or scholarship receptions and was wondering if A&M did that. The response, "Nope, we don't have to." Ugh! Strangely, for big scholarships we would have to go out of state.

 

[Poohforyou]

Both boys have been accepted to A&M, one also to Colorado School of Mines. Still waiting on one more school as well as A&M Engineering. The office of admissions doesn't even know when that decision will come out. We attended a workshop and I mentioned that they had received a lot of invitations from other schools for honors or scholarship receptions and was wondering if A&M did that. The response, "Nope, we don't have to." Ugh! Strangely, for big scholarships we would have to go out of state.

Congratulations on the acceptances. My dd won't possibly hear from her 1st choice until March. She already applied but that's their deadline. I'm hoping it'll be earlier.

As for scholarships from in state school, I can see where they're coming from. They want to grow their name and to do that you have to attract out of state students. We're in NJ and have gotten lots of stuff from southern schools almost begging my dd to apply with promises of $$$$. She isn't interested in going outside the mid Atlantic/northeast.

 

[Kimberle]

(New here)
My dd want to be a nurse. She's been taking nearly all honors and AP classes, with a heavy emphasis on Science. She has a 3.78 gpa. She is so afraid she isn't going to be accepted into a nursing program. (The colleges we're currently looking at state you must be admitted into the program as a freshman.) Most schools don't give specifics for the program other than "highly competitive". One school is a "reach" and she fits very well into the gpa/testing acceptance rates of the others.

One of the colleges does give Nursing program criteria which includes being in the top 10% of your class. (She's 14%.) Now she is terrified she won't get into any program. Last week we went to an open house. One of the sessions was with the director of the nursing program, admissions rep, plus others. Parents were specifically asking "how many apply to the program and how many do you accept." They wouldn't answer. They said they only keep records of the entire freshman class, not by program.

Does anybody have experience with nursing programs? Now, my dd is scrambling trying to figure out a "back up" major. She really wants to work in the science/medical field.

This whole process is SO different from when I was in school. I applied to 2 schools. It's turned into such a "shell game". Get the kids to apply to 15 schools, collect all the admission fee money, put on your website "50,000 of kids applied, we admitted 500".

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

(New here)
My dd want to be a nurse. She's been taking nearly all honors and AP classes, with a heavy emphasis on Science. She has a 3.78 gpa. She is so afraid she isn't going to be accepted into a nursing program. (The colleges we're currently looking at state you must be admitted into the program as a freshman.) Most schools don't give specifics for the program other than "highly competitive". One school is a "reach" and she fits very well into the gpa/testing acceptance rates of the others.

One of the colleges does give Nursing program criteria which includes being in the top 10% of your class. (She's 14%.) Now she is terrified she won't get into any program. Last week we went to an open house. One of the sessions was with the director of the nursing program, admissions rep, plus others. Parents were specifically asking "how many apply to the program and how many do you accept." They wouldn't answer. They said they only keep records of the entire freshman class, not by program.

Does anybody have experience with nursing programs? Now, my dd is scrambling trying to figure out a "back up" major. She really wants to work in the science/medical field.

This whole process is SO different from when I was in school. I applied to 2 schools. It's turned into such a "shell game". Get the kids to apply to 15 schools, collect all the admission fee money, put on your website "50,000 of kids applied, we admitted 500".

We investigated nursing programs this summer in Virginia. DD's reach school (UVA) does direct admit for nursing. Their stats showed that they get at least 670 applications for the 67 first year spots. Her other direct admit back up schools are Longwood and University of Tennessee (UT gets 1000 applicants and it is a financial reach for us). The other schools she looked at have you apply for the nursing program during your sophomore year of college. DD is also looking at back up majors right now. She had a total freak out a couple of days ago.

 

[laughinplace199]

Congrats to all of you who have received acceptances already! It must take a bit of the stress off to know that your kids already have at least one option!

DD has decided to apply ED to her favorite (reach) school, and will submit that application this week. She will be working on the others while we wait to hear in mid-December. If she doesn't get in, the rest of her applications will be done and ready to submit at that time. It's going to be a long fall/winter/spring!

 

[bjscheel]

(New here)


Does anybody have experience with nursing programs? Now, my dd is scrambling trying to figure out a "back up" major. She really wants to work in the science/medical field.

This whole process is SO different from when I was in school. I applied to 2 schools. It's turned into such a "shell game". Get the kids to apply to 15 schools, collect all the admission fee money, put on your website "50,000 of kids applied, we admitted 500".

Around here, most kids that want to do nursing take it at the local community college - one year for LPN and two years for RN. I suppose bachelor's in nursing is better in some cases. I didn't realize they were so competitive!

We visited another one today, the college I went to my first two years. It was cool to go back. DD liked it pretty well, it's her second favorite, but they don't exactly have Graphic Design, it would mainly be an art degree. When we got done with our tour, there was another potential art major and they decided they could get DD and her into the art building. It was pretty cool and DD and the other girl showed each other pictures of their art on their phones. DD really liked her and said if they both went they should be roommates. But we don't know her name and DD probably won't go there. But that was the best part of the tour. We had a nice day for it and a good time anyway.

 

[AustinTink]

Both boys have been accepted to A&M, one also to Colorado School of Mines. Still waiting on one more school as well as A&M Engineering. The office of admissions doesn't even know when that decision will come out. We attended a workshop and I mentioned that they had received a lot of invitations from other schools for honors or scholarship receptions and was wondering if A&M did that. The response, "Nope, we don't have to." Ugh! Strangely, for big scholarships we would have to go out of state.

Congrats! When did you hear about A&M? Were they auto-admit?

 

[Pea-n-Me]

(New here)
My dd want to be a nurse. She's been taking nearly all honors and AP classes, with a heavy emphasis on Science. She has a 3.78 gpa. She is so afraid she isn't going to be accepted into a nursing program. (The colleges we're currently looking at state you must be admitted into the program as a freshman.) Most schools don't give specifics for the program other than "highly competitive". One school is a "reach" and she fits very well into the gpa/testing acceptance rates of the others.

One of the colleges does give Nursing program criteria which includes being in the top 10% of your class. (She's 14%.) Now she is terrified she won't get into any program. Last week we went to an open house. One of the sessions was with the director of the nursing program, admissions rep, plus others. Parents were specifically asking "how many apply to the program and how many do you accept." They wouldn't answer. They said they only keep records of the entire freshman class, not by program.

Does anybody have experience with nursing programs? Now, my dd is scrambling trying to figure out a "back up" major. She really wants to work in the science/medical field.

This whole process is SO different from when I was in school. I applied to 2 schools. It's turned into such a "shell game". Get the kids to apply to 15 schools, collect all the admission fee money, put on your website "50,000 of kids applied, we admitted 500".

I am following along from the 2016 thread. I am a nurse, and my DD just started her nursing studies. I'm not sure where you live, and how many BSN programs you have around, but it sounds like, grades-wise, your DD will surely get into one. If she knows she wants to be a nurse, tell her not to give up. We need good nurses and people who want to be nurses! From what I saw in our search, and I've also been speaking to many nursing graduates I know, it can be competitive, but many of the private schools, especially, are looking for good students and may offer $$ to attract good candidates. Some of the public BSN programs, on the other hand, may have thousands of applicants because of cost, so it can be harder to get into them. (And yes, I, too, found they can be hush-lipped about things, not sure why other than maybe they don't want to discourage people from applying, idk.) There is also the possibility of transferring into a nursing major, but that seems to be a lot more difficult than it used to be, because there are so many people trying to do the same thing. (I was shocked last year at college fairs seeing how many students were asking about nursing. When I was in college, it wasn't nearly as popular as it is now.) First semester grades need to be stellar in order for that to happen, from what I've heard. But the student also has to be persistent.

I had a conversation with one admissions person about grades vs. the rest of what it takes to be a nurse. Patients don't care much where someone went to school, or what their grades or SAT scores were, they want someone who's caring and attentive to their needs, as well as competent. So I think these schools need to be careful about what they're looking at when they're making decisions about students - it shouldn't only be about grades. Unfortunately, it seems like it is. I hate to see us lose good people because they aren't top students. OTOH, my DD is like yours, very strong in sciences in HS, etc. Anatomy and Physiology this semester is kicking a lot of peoples' butts, despite their doing well in HS (which assumlngly they all did in order to be in their programs). It takes a LOT of studying to pass these science exams alone, DD is easily spending twelve hours on the weekends just studying for A&P and Bio. Add in everything else, and it's a lot. She said her A&P class is thinning out already as people drop out. So I guess there needs to be a balance of strong academics and desire to do the work involved. The other thing to consider when deciding where to go, if possible, is to see what hospitals the schools use for clinicals, and go to the best ones she can. Hope this helps.

 

[v.t.]

Congrats! When did you hear about A&M? Were they auto-admit?

Thanks!
Yes, they were both auto admit. They received their letters about a week after applying. Colorado took almost a month. I have no idea how long West Point will take. Congressional interviews start Nov. 12th.

 

[AustinTink]

Thanks!
Yes, they were both auto admit. They received their letters about a week after applying. Colorado took almost a month. I have no idea how long West Point will take. Congressional interviews start Nov. 12th.

I have family that taught at West Point and loved it. Best of luck to your boys.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

Around here, most kids that want to do nursing take it at the local community college - one year for LPN and two years for RN. I suppose bachelor's in nursing is better in some cases. I didn't realize they were so competitive!

The Community College Associates Degree RN path is slowly being phased out by hospitals.

http://www.nursinglicensure.org/articles/adn-program-future.html
The associate’s degree in nursing (ADN) has been the benchmark credential for getting a nursing job for the past 40 years, but change is now afoot. A small but growing number of U.S. hospitals are now only hiring nurses that have a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) or higher. And indicators are that many more hospitals will join them in years to come."

Some areas of the country are trying to enact laws that RNs must earn their BSN within 10 years of practicing. Tons of colleges now have RN to BSN programs. Plus the pay scale for BSNs is higher.

 

[cathyce2]

Our EFC was roughly 25% of our AGI, but I guess they ask for asset info too, and student info so maybe it's based on more than income. Here is a quick calculator you could try and see if you get about the same result:
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/...share/expected-family-contribution-calculator

The assets info made a huge difference in our EFC. I own an apartment building and the rent is the majority of my income. Because the market value of the building is high, my EFC is more than the tuition at the private, out of state school my daughter has her heart set on. If I sold the building I could pay for college, but have nothing to live on. But as long as I own it she doesn't qualify for aid. I suppose I could use it for a loan, but who knows where the real estate market will be. Please say a prayer that some merit scholarships come through for her.

 

[aprilgail]

The assets info made a huge difference in our EFC. I own an apartment building and the rent is the majority of my income. Because the market value of the building is high, my EFC is more than the tuition at the private, out of state school my daughter has her heart set on. If I sold the building I could pay for college, but have nothing to live on. But as long as I own it she doesn't qualify for aid. I suppose I could use it for a loan, but who knows where the real estate market will be. Please say a prayer that some merit scholarships come through for her.

My friend did fafsa and took a picture of her EFC- she sent it to me asking what that number was for - 84532. I told her that is what FAFSA thinks she can pay towards her daughters college each year - she was floored LOL.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

These are also good articles about Nursing, and the history of Nursing Education, if anyone is interested.

(And if you're not, just pass this by!)

http://www.aacn.nche.edu/education-resources/bsn-article

http://www.peoriamagazines.com/ibi/2009/apr/importance-baccalaureate-degree-nursing-education

http://www.jblearning.com/samples/0763752258/52258_CH02_Roux.pdf

http://www.aacn.nche.edu/media-relations/fact-sheets/nursing-workforce

The BSN has been around for a century; it's not anything new. Many, many nurses last century obtained diplomas in nursing, doing their training in hospital settings, but most of those programs were closed by the 1990s, and nurse training became almost solely college-based. It wasn't until WWII and the twenty or so years afterward that the ADN was developed, as the result of a nursing shortage that occurred when women became empowered to pursue non-traditional career paths, and that became a way that many nurses then entered the profession. I think the distribution around 2000 was something like ADN 59%, BSN 39% and other 2%.

A few things in the past decade and a half have helped propel the push toward BSN preparation for all RNs. First, from the fourth link, above.

• In a study published in the September 24, 2003 Journal of the American Medical Association, Dr. Linda Aiken and her colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania identified a clear link between higher levels of nursing education and better patient outcomes. This extensive study found that surgical patients have a "substantial survival advantage" if treated in hospitals with higher proportions of nurses educated at the baccalaureate or higher degree level. A 10% increase in the proportion of nurses holding BSN degrees decreased the risk of patient death and failure to rescue by 5%.

In 2010 we had implementation of the ACA, in which nurses are projected to have a more prominent role in health care, which is becoming increasingly complex. And as patients become more discerning consumers, they are seeking out hospitals that offer Magnet Status and excellence in care, and these hospitals are requiring primarily BSN-prepared nurses. Having been discussing these issues for many years here, it seems like at least some of this is regional, but more and more I think, as we've been seeing in nursing and other publications, the BSN will be required. To me it makes sense to get it at the outset if at all possible, as job prospects will be maximized and nurses won't have the need to go back to school hanging over their heads. (Where I work if you don't have a BSN you can't even change jobs within the same place now - it's become that strict.)

 

[lucky978]

My dd want to be a nurse. She's been taking nearly all honors and AP classes, with a heavy emphasis on Science. She has a 3.78 gpa. She is so afraid she isn't going to be accepted into a nursing program. (The colleges we're currently looking at state you must be admitted into the program as a freshman.) Most schools don't give specifics for the program other than "highly competitive". One school is a "reach" and she fits very well into the gpa/testing acceptance rates of the others.

I have twin daughters and up until about 6 months ago both of them wanted to be a nurse. We live in Massachusetts and have also found that the nursing programs around here are very competitive. My daughters don't test well, although they take honors/AP classes and have a 3.9 GPA. That being said they have both chosen back up majors that they are now pursuing instead of nursing. I don't agree with it (I think if they are passionate about being a nurse...they can find a way). In Massachusetts there are "nursing schools" that offer a 2 year RN degree and then a bridge program after for them to get their bachelor's degree. Granted it's not the traditional path but definitely an option and will get you to the same degree (BSN).

Good luck to your daughter. Keep reminding her that there is a way to get to the nursing degree if she sets her mind to it!

 

[mamacatnv]

Both boys have been accepted to A&M, one also to Colorado School of Mines. Still waiting on one more school as well as A&M Engineering. The office of admissions doesn't even know when that decision will come out. We attended a workshop and I mentioned that they had received a lot of invitations from other schools for honors or scholarship receptions and was wondering if A&M did that. The response, "Nope, we don't have to." Ugh! Strangely, for big scholarships we would have to go out of state.

WooooWhoooo on those acceptances!
If looking into Mining, look at the Univ. of Nevada Reno, Mackay School of Mines is one of the best there is plus, their tuition is reasonable and its a beautiful campus that is not overly huge (My DS is an Alumn)

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

These are also good articles about Nursing, and the history of Nursing Education, if anyone is interested.

(And if you're not, just pass this by!)

http://www.aacn.nche.edu/education-resources/bsn-article

http://www.peoriamagazines.com/ibi/2009/apr/importance-baccalaureate-degree-nursing-education

http://www.jblearning.com/samples/0763752258/52258_CH02_Roux.pdf

http://www.aacn.nche.edu/media-relations/fact-sheets/nursing-workforce

The BSN has been around for a century; it's not anything new. Many, many nurses last century obtained diplomas in nursing, doing their training in hospital settings, but most of those programs were closed by the 1990s, and nurse training became almost solely college-based. It wasn't until WWII and the twenty or so years afterward that the ADN was developed, as the result of a nursing shortage that occurred when women became empowered to pursue non-traditional career paths, and that became a way that many nurses then entered the profession. I think the distribution around 2000 was something like ADN 59%, BSN 39% and other 2%.

A few things in the past decade and a half have helped propel the push toward BSN preparation for all RNs. First, from the fourth link, above.

• In a study published in the September 24, 2003 Journal of the American Medical Association, Dr. Linda Aiken and her colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania identified a clear link between higher levels of nursing education and better patient outcomes. This extensive study found that surgical patients have a "substantial survival advantage" if treated in hospitals with higher proportions of nurses educated at the baccalaureate or higher degree level. A 10% increase in the proportion of nurses holding BSN degrees decreased the risk of patient death and failure to rescue by 5%.

In 2010 we had implementation of the ACA, in which nurses are projected to have a more prominent role in health care, which is becoming increasingly complex. And as patients become more discerning consumers, they are seeking out hospitals that offer Magnet Status and excellence in care, and these hospitals are requiring primarily BSN-prepared nurses. Having been discussing these issues for many years here, it seems like at least some of this is regional, but more and more I think, as we've been seeing in nursing and other publications, the BSN will be required. To me it makes sense to get it at the outset if at all possible, as job prospects will be maximized and nurses won't have the need to go back to school hanging over their heads. (Where I work if you don't have a BSN you can't even change jobs within the same place now - it's become that strict.)

DD and I read much of the same literature when we were researching nursing this summer. Do you think the competitiveness and small class sizes at universities that have nursing programs will eventually result in a shortage of BSN nurses? My DD is in the top 22% of her class, AP and honors classes, dual enrollment program with a local CC (3.75/4.0 in her CC classes), yet she and another poster's daughter, who is even higher ranked, may not get accepted to the BSN programs they are applying to. 10% acceptance rates, classes of less than 100 students, and few state programs (many of our state universities don't have BSN programs), make the competition to get in fierce! How will schools keep up with the demand?

I do realize there is another avenue - getting the RN at a CC then doing a 2 year transition program. The 4 year university plan is more attractive for many students. Although the 2 & 2 route may be cheaper.

 

[bjscheel]

Yeah, I feel like nursing is an occupation that shouldn't be so restricted in ability to get the training!

 

[lucky978]

Yeah, I feel like nursing is an occupation that shouldn't be so restricted in ability to get the training!

The issue is that they don't have the educators to teach the students. So...if anyone actually does have a BSN, they should seriously consider a Master's in Nursing Education. THAT's an in demand occupation!!!