Anyone have a high stats kid who ended up at their true safety school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your kid is in CS, rankings are meaningless. There are high stats kid all the way down the line into schools in the 100s, most of whom were WL at much higher ranked schools that kids with the same stats got into. There are fewer spots than qualified students, which is part of why people also note that for CS, it matters much less where you went to school -- there are strong applicants at all the schools.

False, especially when the CS job market is bad like today's.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your kid is in CS, rankings are meaningless. There are high stats kid all the way down the line into schools in the 100s, most of whom were WL at much higher ranked schools that kids with the same stats got into. There are fewer spots than qualified students, which is part of why people also note that for CS, it matters much less where you went to school -- there are strong applicants at all the schools.

False, especially when the CS job market is bad like today's.

I agree. This CS focused thinking was the norm 5-10 years ago but shouldn't be now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Friend was NMSF, 1590, top 5%, tons of rigor including AP Stat and BC Calc. Applied nursing to UVA and UNC from oos. Thought scores were good enough so didn't try elsewhere. Ended up at state university but not even in nursing program.
Now....mistake was only having two reaches. And nursing makes everything unsafe.

OOS is always a crapshoot, sure, but instate, Nursing

If she's not getting into nursing instate, who is?!

Is she permanently blocked from nursing, or just has to apply after first year?

Direct entry nursing is VERY competitive. I am in another state with our flagship acceptance rate of 65% but the BSN has 6% acceptance rate. I am sure UVA nursing is even more difficult to get into. I don't know who actually get in. People on DCUM don't really talk about nursing programs.

This is really interesting to me. I thought nursing was like teaching. Isn't there a shortage of well-trained nurses? Why aren't the programs expanding?

I likewise thought the same and had my eyes opened when DC went thru the application process this past cycle. Direct admit is indeed difficult and some schools don’t even offer it.

It’s just one of the reasons DC took a direct slot at a lower-ranked school (that still has a Level 1 trauma teaching hospital on campus). While it’s “direct,” it is still dependent on a 3.0 in certain prescribed classes like chemistry and biology. Didn’t want to have to “apply” yet again next Spring.

After much conversation with family and friends who are RNs, we’re still unsure it’s worthy of a $100K+ (total) degree when, as has also been pointed out here on DCUM, that the undergrad diploma location is largely a shoulder-shrug. DC has aspirations of NP or PA so it’s as much of a “see how it goes” as the actual degree. Plus, DC worked their a$$ off to have good enough grades, scores and ECs to get enough merit to keep the cost <= any other STEM (where the “M” could mean Medical) degree that has a lot of post-grad and occupational options.

So we are their biggest cheering section, atm.

DP. We know someone in the same situation and were wondering (to ourselves) why the student didn't simply go to a less expensive in-state university for nursing. It really doesn't matter where you go for undergrad nursing.

Why are people so mystified that someone might pay more than the bare minimum for a degree? Do people always go with the cheapest option when they pay for a house, car, wedding ring, watch, suit, vacation, bottle of wine, computer, TV, or dinner?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Friend was NMSF, 1590, top 5%, tons of rigor including AP Stat and BC Calc. Applied nursing to UVA and UNC from oos. Thought scores were good enough so didn't try elsewhere. Ended up at state university but not even in nursing program.
Now....mistake was only having two reaches. And nursing makes everything unsafe.

OOS is always a crapshoot, sure, but instate, Nursing

If she's not getting into nursing instate, who is?!

Is she permanently blocked from nursing, or just has to apply after first year?

Direct entry nursing is VERY competitive. I am in another state with our flagship acceptance rate of 65% but the BSN has 6% acceptance rate. I am sure UVA nursing is even more difficult to get into. I don't know who actually get in. People on DCUM don't really talk about nursing programs.

This is really interesting to me. I thought nursing was like teaching. Isn't there a shortage of well-trained nurses? Why aren't the programs expanding?

I likewise thought the same and had my eyes opened when DC went thru the application process this past cycle. Direct admit is indeed difficult and some schools don’t even offer it.

It’s just one of the reasons DC took a direct slot at a lower-ranked school (that still has a Level 1 trauma teaching hospital on campus). While it’s “direct,” it is still dependent on a 3.0 in certain prescribed classes like chemistry and biology. Didn’t want to have to “apply” yet again next Spring.

After much conversation with family and friends who are RNs, we’re still unsure it’s worthy of a $100K+ (total) degree when, as has also been pointed out here on DCUM, that the undergrad diploma location is largely a shoulder-shrug. DC has aspirations of NP or PA so it’s as much of a “see how it goes” as the actual degree. Plus, DC worked their a$$ off to have good enough grades, scores and ECs to get enough merit to keep the cost <= any other STEM (where the “M” could mean Medical) degree that has a lot of post-grad and occupational options.

So we are their biggest cheering section, atm.

DP. We know someone in the same situation and were wondering (to ourselves) why the student didn't simply go to a less expensive in-state university for nursing. It really doesn't matter where you go for undergrad nursing.

Why are people so mystified that someone might pay more than the bare minimum for a degree? Do people always go with the cheapest option when they pay for a house, car, wedding ring, watch, suit, vacation, bottle of wine, computer, TV, or dinner?

LOL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Friend was NMSF, 1590, top 5%, tons of rigor including AP Stat and BC Calc. Applied nursing to UVA and UNC from oos. Thought scores were good enough so didn't try elsewhere. Ended up at state university but not even in nursing program.
Now....mistake was only having two reaches. And nursing makes everything unsafe.

OOS is always a crapshoot, sure, but instate, Nursing

If she's not getting into nursing instate, who is?!

Is she permanently blocked from nursing, or just has to apply after first year?

Direct entry nursing is VERY competitive. I am in another state with our flagship acceptance rate of 65% but the BSN has 6% acceptance rate. I am sure UVA nursing is even more difficult to get into. I don't know who actually get in. People on DCUM don't really talk about nursing programs.

This is really interesting to me. I thought nursing was like teaching. Isn't there a shortage of well-trained nurses? Why aren't the programs expanding?

I likewise thought the same and had my eyes opened when DC went thru the application process this past cycle. Direct admit is indeed difficult and some schools don’t even offer it.

It’s just one of the reasons DC took a direct slot at a lower-ranked school (that still has a Level 1 trauma teaching hospital on campus). While it’s “direct,” it is still dependent on a 3.0 in certain prescribed classes like chemistry and biology. Didn’t want to have to “apply” yet again next Spring.

After much conversation with family and friends who are RNs, we’re still unsure it’s worthy of a $100K+ (total) degree when, as has also been pointed out here on DCUM, that the undergrad diploma location is largely a shoulder-shrug. DC has aspirations of NP or PA so it’s as much of a “see how it goes” as the actual degree. Plus, DC worked their a$$ off to have good enough grades, scores and ECs to get enough merit to keep the cost <= any other STEM (where the “M” could mean Medical) degree that has a lot of post-grad and occupational options.

So we are their biggest cheering section, atm.

DP. We know someone in the same situation and were wondering (to ourselves) why the student didn't simply go to a less expensive in-state university for nursing. It really doesn't matter where you go for undergrad nursing.

Why are people so mystified that someone might pay more than the bare minimum for a degree? Do people always go with the cheapest option when they pay for a house, car, wedding ring, watch, suit, vacation, bottle of wine, computer, TV, or dinner?

Unless you have a lot of money, yes, people on budgets go for the cheaper house, ring, tv, dinner, etc...

Also, that dinner is like $50, compared to $85K+ per year. Splurging on a nice tv, or vacation is not the same as spending that much money for a college education that you pay for four years.

How privileged you are to not realize this. Perhaps you should get out of your bubble, just a bit.

[Anonymous]

I am going through the nursing admit process right now with my DD. We are willing to pay tuition for a private or public school within reason (under $50k/year).

We have gone to many college fairs and she has asked the question "if you are not direct admit how many students get in as sophomores into the program" their answer hovers around 10-15%. So while she has the stats to come into a more selective school and keeps her GPA up she may not get into a nursing program and could then be on a five year plan with a different major. She wants a full college experience (dorms, clubs, sports - not SEC level though) and so we are targeting Direct Admit programs only. It gives her a chance to enjoy her first year classes (as long as she maintains the minimum nursing GPA) and not be stressed out a year later with an application process.

I will admit it was a little disheartening to hear that the school she has always wanted to go to is not direct admit for her chosen major. sure she could go to a community college and transfer in (provided she gets accepted into the nursing program) but that is not the college experience we want for her. (both my husband and I went that route. We worked really hard and saved our money to give our kids a four year college experience if that is what they want).

[Anonymous]

At many state schools getting into instate Nursing is same chance as getting into T25.

A lot of top schools only have 100 spots in Nursing yet thousands in other Majors.

UMASS Amherst 12 percent acceptance rate in Nursing is common. There are very few spots in the Nursing program even in state schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am going through the nursing admit process right now with my DD. We are willing to pay tuition for a private or public school within reason (under $50k/year).

We have gone to many college fairs and she has asked the question "if you are not direct admit how many students get in as sophomores into the program" their answer hovers around 10-15%. So while she has the stats to come into a more selective school and keeps her GPA up she may not get into a nursing program and could then be on a five year plan with a different major. She wants a full college experience (dorms, clubs, sports - not SEC level though) and so we are targeting Direct Admit programs only. It gives her a chance to enjoy her first year classes (as long as she maintains the minimum nursing GPA) and not be stressed out a year later with an application process.

I will admit it was a little disheartening to hear that the school she has always wanted to go to is not direct admit for her chosen major. sure she could go to a community college and transfer in (provided she gets accepted into the nursing program) but that is not the college experience we want for her. (both my husband and I went that route. We worked really hard and saved our money to give our kids a four year college experience if that is what they want).

Some schools do not allow Nursing transfers past Year one. University of Delaware is Direct Admit Nursing if you get in. Which is why a lot of DMV kids go there. Pretty close and once in you are in and they give good merit aid if a good GPA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Friend was NMSF, 1590, top 5%, tons of rigor including AP Stat and BC Calc. Applied nursing to UVA and UNC from oos. Thought scores were good enough so didn't try elsewhere. Ended up at state university but not even in nursing program.
Now....mistake was only having two reaches. And nursing makes everything unsafe.

OOS is always a crapshoot, sure, but instate, Nursing

If she's not getting into nursing instate, who is?!

Is she permanently blocked from nursing, or just has to apply after first year?

Direct entry nursing is VERY competitive. I am in another state with our flagship acceptance rate of 65% but the BSN has 6% acceptance rate. I am sure UVA nursing is even more difficult to get into. I don't know who actually get in. People on DCUM don't really talk about nursing programs.

This is really interesting to me. I thought nursing was like teaching. Isn't there a shortage of well-trained nurses? Why aren't the programs expanding?

I likewise thought the same and had my eyes opened when DC went thru the application process this past cycle. Direct admit is indeed difficult and some schools don’t even offer it.

It’s just one of the reasons DC took a direct slot at a lower-ranked school (that still has a Level 1 trauma teaching hospital on campus). While it’s “direct,” it is still dependent on a 3.0 in certain prescribed classes like chemistry and biology. Didn’t want to have to “apply” yet again next Spring.

After much conversation with family and friends who are RNs, we’re still unsure it’s worthy of a $100K+ (total) degree when, as has also been pointed out here on DCUM, that the undergrad diploma location is largely a shoulder-shrug. DC has aspirations of NP or PA so it’s as much of a “see how it goes” as the actual degree. Plus, DC worked their a$$ off to have good enough grades, scores and ECs to get enough merit to keep the cost <= any other STEM (where the “M” could mean Medical) degree that has a lot of post-grad and occupational options.

So we are their biggest cheering section, atm.

DP. We know someone in the same situation and were wondering (to ourselves) why the student didn't simply go to a less expensive in-state university for nursing. It really doesn't matter where you go for undergrad nursing.

Job prospects aside, maybe they wanted a different type of university experience? (And maybe cost was less of an issue than it is for others, meaning they're willing to pay for a more expensive school in order to get a different overall experience.)

For example, we have a friend whose DS wanted a very specific type of condensed professional program (like nursing, but not.) He chose the school that would get him the degree he wanted for the least amount of money. It turned out to be a school with a very high admit rate overall, and they gave him a ton of merit money because his stats and ECs were well above their average (understatement). The school lacked the full rah-rah campus community experience and the broader, liberal arts / humanities feel. But he valued the merit money more and was happy with his choice!

But a different kid in the same situation might make a different choice - to do the same type of condensed professional program that will yield them the exact same job prospects - in a different environment, even if it means paying more for tuition or taking on more loans.

There are many variables at play when it comes to choosing a college. Different kids (and families) value these variables differently, which in turn leads to people making very different choices.

For example, I have no clue whether Stanford offers nursing, but one kid/family might be THRILLED to pay Stanford tuition to study nursing there, while another family/kid might be THRILLED to pay significantly less for their nursing degree, even if it means turning down Stanford for [choose an 80% admit college].

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone from recent years have a kid who had high stats but ended up with no options aside from their true safety school?
I.e. they applied to top30 schools (with their college counselor's strong support and/or the support of previous years' stats from their school) but the cards just didn't fall their way and they ended up in their true safety school?

How are they doing now?

My kid is a senior at their safety school.

Was rejected from one reach, WL at another (attitude became if they don't want me, I don't want then), in at the state flagship - a target (which they never wanted to attend but we made them apply), rejected from another out of state target and deferred and then rejected from another. In at 3 safetys, and decided they really liked one of them. Has done well, made terrific life-long friends, and is applying to grad schools for next year (humanities major under grad, think History or English).

4.81 wgpa, 12 APs (all 5s), 35 on ACT, national awards and more. And to reiterate, happy as a clam at their safety school.

Great!

And if you actually put time together to select your safety schools, they can be amazing! My own kid was

ED1 Deferred then rejected T10,
WL at 2 T25
Freshman year overseas at a T50 (with 5% admission rates)

Direct admit engineering at state flagship (T60)
Accepted EA T40 (Ulimtately chose this school)
Accepted EA T50 (excellent merit)

Accepted at 3 safeties, top one being a true hidden gem.
The other two were ones kid wasn't as excited about, but data indicated the true gem was a very strong candidate for acceptance for my kid. But the 2nd safety was a guarantee and my kid would have been happy there. But since we chose our targets well (Two schools that definately want you to want them type of schools), we knew chances were higher than many targets (kid was at 75-85%+ for those schools for stats)

Top safety remind in their final 3 (included an April senior year visit with the other two now Top choice) until the end, despite the fact the other two are definately better choices. But if you select the right safeties (ours was a true hidden gem), they are excellent and you can actually envision yourself happily attending---that's what it should be.

Since your kid is in, would you mind sharing the name of your hidden gem?

WPI

Excellent choice for engineering! Now, they are Test Blind and have been heading that direction since 2012, and their average UW GPA is about 3.89, so you have to work to distinguish yourself. (and my kid was worried a bit because they applied the first year WPI went officially Test blind and their SAT was about 90th% so it would have helped even more---but my kid got decent merit and and EA acceptance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your kid is in CS, rankings are meaningless. There are high stats kid all the way down the line into schools in the 100s, most of whom were WL at much higher ranked schools that kids with the same stats got into. There are fewer spots than qualified students, which is part of why people also note that for CS, it matters much less where you went to school -- there are strong applicants at all the schools.

This is a big mistake in my opinion. Being a CS major as an undergrad isn't all that important if you want to work in big tech or fintech. You pass up general school reputation for specialization in grad school but not undergrad.

Are you saying to tell your 18YO, who wants to study computer science and has wanted that his whole life since he built his first computer at age 10, not to study computer science so that he can claim some school prestige on the diploma with a degree he doesn't want? What?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone from recent years have a kid who had high stats but ended up with no options aside from their true safety school?
I.e. they applied to top30 schools (with their college counselor's strong support and/or the support of previous years' stats from their school) but the cards just didn't fall their way and they ended up in their true safety school?

How are they doing now?

My kid is a senior at their safety school.

Was rejected from one reach, WL at another (attitude became if they don't want me, I don't want then), in at the state flagship - a target (which they never wanted to attend but we made them apply), rejected from another out of state target and deferred and then rejected from another. In at 3 safetys, and decided they really liked one of them. Has done well, made terrific life-long friends, and is applying to grad schools for next year (humanities major under grad, think History or English).

4.81 wgpa, 12 APs (all 5s), 35 on ACT, national awards and more. And to reiterate, happy as a clam at their safety school.

Great!

And if you actually put time together to select your safety schools, they can be amazing! My own kid was

ED1 Deferred then rejected T10,
WL at 2 T25
Freshman year overseas at a T50 (with 5% admission rates)

Direct admit engineering at state flagship (T60)
Accepted EA T40 (Ulimtately chose this school)
Accepted EA T50 (excellent merit)

Accepted at 3 safeties, top one being a true hidden gem.
The other two were ones kid wasn't as excited about, but data indicated the true gem was a very strong candidate for acceptance for my kid. But the 2nd safety was a guarantee and my kid would have been happy there. But since we chose our targets well (Two schools that definately want you to want them type of schools), we knew chances were higher than many targets (kid was at 75-85%+ for those schools for stats)

Top safety remind in their final 3 (included an April senior year visit with the other two now Top choice) until the end, despite the fact the other two are definately better choices. But if you select the right safeties (ours was a true hidden gem), they are excellent and you can actually envision yourself happily attending---that's what it should be.

Since your kid is in, would you mind sharing the name of your hidden gem?

WPI

Excellent choice for engineering! Now, they are Test Blind and have been heading that direction since 2012, and their average UW GPA is about 3.89, so you have to work to distinguish yourself. (and my kid was worried a bit because they applied the first year WPI went officially Test blind and their SAT was about 90th% so it would have helped even more---but my kid got decent merit and and EA acceptance.

I know three kids who chose WPI over higher ranked schools in the last three years who are incredibly happy there. It's not for everyone given it's unique program, but the kids who chose it (with its 7-week quarters) are typically hard working with high stats. Their Payscale rankings are very strong. It's a good choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Friend was NMSF, 1590, top 5%, tons of rigor including AP Stat and BC Calc. Applied nursing to UVA and UNC from oos. Thought scores were good enough so didn't try elsewhere. Ended up at state university but not even in nursing program.
Now....mistake was only having two reaches. And nursing makes everything unsafe.

OOS is always a crapshoot, sure, but instate, Nursing

If she's not getting into nursing instate, who is?!

Is she permanently blocked from nursing, or just has to apply after first year?

Direct entry nursing is VERY competitive. I am in another state with our flagship acceptance rate of 65% but the BSN has 6% acceptance rate. I am sure UVA nursing is even more difficult to get into. I don't know who actually get in. People on DCUM don't really talk about nursing programs.

This is really interesting to me. I thought nursing was like teaching. Isn't there a shortage of well-trained nurses? Why aren't the programs expanding?

I likewise thought the same and had my eyes opened when DC went thru the application process this past cycle. Direct admit is indeed difficult and some schools don’t even offer it.

It’s just one of the reasons DC took a direct slot at a lower-ranked school (that still has a Level 1 trauma teaching hospital on campus). While it’s “direct,” it is still dependent on a 3.0 in certain prescribed classes like chemistry and biology. Didn’t want to have to “apply” yet again next Spring.

After much conversation with family and friends who are RNs, we’re still unsure it’s worthy of a $100K+ (total) degree when, as has also been pointed out here on DCUM, that the undergrad diploma location is largely a shoulder-shrug. DC has aspirations of NP or PA so it’s as much of a “see how it goes” as the actual degree. Plus, DC worked their a$$ off to have good enough grades, scores and ECs to get enough merit to keep the cost <= any other STEM (where the “M” could mean Medical) degree that has a lot of post-grad and occupational options.

So we are their biggest cheering section, atm.

DP. We know someone in the same situation and were wondering (to ourselves) why the student didn't simply go to a less expensive in-state university for nursing. It really doesn't matter where you go for undergrad nursing.

Why are people so mystified that someone might pay more than the bare minimum for a degree? Do people always go with the cheapest option when they pay for a house, car, wedding ring, watch, suit, vacation, bottle of wine, computer, TV, or dinner?

Unless you have a lot of money, yes, people on budgets go for the cheaper house, ring, tv, dinner, etc...

Also, that dinner is like $50, compared to $85K+ per year. Splurging on a nice tv, or vacation is not the same as spending that much money for a college education that you pay for four years.

How privileged you are to not realize this. Perhaps you should get out of your bubble, just a bit.

Yes, but the point is, some people have the money to spend. Maybe it's grandparents' money (often it is), maybe they've just saved forever, whatever. Maybe they just have one kid and this is what they want to spend it on. That people have different spending priorities should not be so shocking.

Personally, we are spending money on a more expensive, selective college for our oldest and I have a close friend with similar earnings who spends more money on houses, cars, vacations, spas, etc., who I know finds it silly. I didn't say anything when they made their kid choose a far less selective state school over the private he really wanted. It's all about choices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Friend was NMSF, 1590, top 5%, tons of rigor including AP Stat and BC Calc. Applied nursing to UVA and UNC from oos. Thought scores were good enough so didn't try elsewhere. Ended up at state university but not even in nursing program.
Now....mistake was only having two reaches. And nursing makes everything unsafe.

OOS is always a crapshoot, sure, but instate, Nursing

If she's not getting into nursing instate, who is?!

Is she permanently blocked from nursing, or just has to apply after first year?

Direct entry nursing is VERY competitive. I am in another state with our flagship acceptance rate of 65% but the BSN has 6% acceptance rate. I am sure UVA nursing is even more difficult to get into. I don't know who actually get in. People on DCUM don't really talk about nursing programs.

This is really interesting to me. I thought nursing was like teaching. Isn't there a shortage of well-trained nurses? Why aren't the programs expanding?

I likewise thought the same and had my eyes opened when DC went thru the application process this past cycle. Direct admit is indeed difficult and some schools don’t even offer it.

It’s just one of the reasons DC took a direct slot at a lower-ranked school (that still has a Level 1 trauma teaching hospital on campus). While it’s “direct,” it is still dependent on a 3.0 in certain prescribed classes like chemistry and biology. Didn’t want to have to “apply” yet again next Spring.

After much conversation with family and friends who are RNs, we’re still unsure it’s worthy of a $100K+ (total) degree when, as has also been pointed out here on DCUM, that the undergrad diploma location is largely a shoulder-shrug. DC has aspirations of NP or PA so it’s as much of a “see how it goes” as the actual degree. Plus, DC worked their a$$ off to have good enough grades, scores and ECs to get enough merit to keep the cost <= any other STEM (where the “M” could mean Medical) degree that has a lot of post-grad and occupational options.

So we are their biggest cheering section, atm.

DP. We know someone in the same situation and were wondering (to ourselves) why the student didn't simply go to a less expensive in-state university for nursing. It really doesn't matter where you go for undergrad nursing.

Job prospects aside, maybe they wanted a different type of university experience? (And maybe cost was less of an issue than it is for others, meaning they're willing to pay for a more expensive school in order to get a different overall experience.)

For example, we have a friend whose DS wanted a very specific type of condensed professional program (like nursing, but not.) He chose the school that would get him the degree he wanted for the least amount of money. It turned out to be a school with a very high admit rate overall, and they gave him a ton of merit money because his stats and ECs were well above their average (understatement). The school lacked the full rah-rah campus community experience and the broader, liberal arts / humanities feel. But he valued the merit money more and was happy with his choice!

But a different kid in the same situation might make a different choice - to do the same type of condensed professional program that will yield them the exact same job prospects - in a different environment, even if it means paying more for tuition or taking on more loans.

There are many variables at play when it comes to choosing a college. Different kids (and families) value these variables differently, which in turn leads to people making very different choices.

For example, I have no clue whether Stanford offers nursing, but one kid/family might be THRILLED to pay Stanford tuition to study nursing there, while another family/kid might be THRILLED to pay significantly less for their nursing degree, even if it means turning down Stanford for [choose an 80% admit college].

+1
People here don't realize that some high stats kids with SAT 1500+ and 12 APs (AP Chem, AP Bio, AP Physics, AP Calc, AP Stats, APUSH, AP Lit) actually want to go to nursing school. They don't need a BSN from UPenn or BC but if they can get in and can afford it, why not? Other high stats kids that can’t afford $80K/year but are willing to pay ~$50K/year may prefer a traditional college experience over pursuing an ADN/BSN route at a community college too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Friend was NMSF, 1590, top 5%, tons of rigor including AP Stat and BC Calc. Applied nursing to UVA and UNC from oos. Thought scores were good enough so didn't try elsewhere. Ended up at state university but not even in nursing program.
Now....mistake was only having two reaches. And nursing makes everything unsafe.

OOS is always a crapshoot, sure, but instate, Nursing

If she's not getting into nursing instate, who is?!

Is she permanently blocked from nursing, or just has to apply after first year?

Direct entry nursing is VERY competitive. I am in another state with our flagship acceptance rate of 65% but the BSN has 6% acceptance rate. I am sure UVA nursing is even more difficult to get into. I don't know who actually get in. People on DCUM don't really talk about nursing programs.

This is really interesting to me. I thought nursing was like teaching. Isn't there a shortage of well-trained nurses? Why aren't the programs expanding?

I likewise thought the same and had my eyes opened when DC went thru the application process this past cycle. Direct admit is indeed difficult and some schools don’t even offer it.

It’s just one of the reasons DC took a direct slot at a lower-ranked school (that still has a Level 1 trauma teaching hospital on campus). While it’s “direct,” it is still dependent on a 3.0 in certain prescribed classes like chemistry and biology. Didn’t want to have to “apply” yet again next Spring.

After much conversation with family and friends who are RNs, we’re still unsure it’s worthy of a $100K+ (total) degree when, as has also been pointed out here on DCUM, that the undergrad diploma location is largely a shoulder-shrug. DC has aspirations of NP or PA so it’s as much of a “see how it goes” as the actual degree. Plus, DC worked their a$$ off to have good enough grades, scores and ECs to get enough merit to keep the cost <= any other STEM (where the “M” could mean Medical) degree that has a lot of post-grad and occupational options.

So we are their biggest cheering section, atm.

DP. We know someone in the same situation and were wondering (to ourselves) why the student didn't simply go to a less expensive in-state university for nursing. It really doesn't matter where you go for undergrad nursing.

Why are people so mystified that someone might pay more than the bare minimum for a degree? Do people always go with the cheapest option when they pay for a house, car, wedding ring, watch, suit, vacation, bottle of wine, computer, TV, or dinner?

Unless you have a lot of money, yes, people on budgets go for the cheaper house, ring, tv, dinner, etc...

Also, that dinner is like $50, compared to $85K+ per year. Splurging on a nice tv, or vacation is not the same as spending that much money for a college education that you pay for four years.

How privileged you are to not realize this. Perhaps you should get out of your bubble, just a bit.

Yes, but the point is, some people have the money to spend. Maybe it's grandparents' money (often it is), maybe they've just saved forever, whatever. Maybe they just have one kid and this is what they want to spend it on. That people have different spending priorities should not be so shocking.

Personally, we are spending money on a more expensive, selective college for our oldest and I have a close friend with similar earnings who spends more money on houses, cars, vacations, spas, etc., who I know finds it silly. I didn't say anything when they made their kid choose a far less selective state school over the private he really wanted. It's all about choices.

The vast majority of colleges aren't worth $60K+/year from an ROI standpoint.

Your priority is spending money on your kid's college experience; others prioritize their vacations, or in our case, retirement.

Personally, I think it's silly to spend that much money on college just for the 4 years of that particular college experience. If they want to experience being out of state, they can get a job out of state and experience that. Heck, DH got a job across the pond to experience being out of the country.

Generally, people spend 10+ years in their house, so I can understand wanting a nice house. It also appreciates better.

I don't drive nice cars or buy name brand clothes, but we do prioritize experiences like traveling, and retirement.

The outcome for a kid who went to a $40K school vs most $60K+ school for the same major isn't all that different.