I want to take my junior daughter and her friend to look at a few colleges over their spring break the first week of March. So far - they have expressed interest in visiting Syracuse and Univ of Vermont. We would start at family’s in NJ over the weekend which is right near TCNJ so might look there on Monday. Anyone want to help me figure out a trip path and potential schools to visit? Open to planes, trains and automobiles. The girls have been to Boston and to NYC so probably not looking there. We are early in the process. Some things they know - not terribly interested in small (though havent seen one), potentially interested in nursing or education, havent taken ACT/SAT yet but would guess around 27 with GPAs in the 3.8-4 range, would like to be in a big town or near or in city. So no Ivies or highly competitive schools. Probably only have capacity to visit 3-4 schools. Am overwhelmed. Thanks!
One option (based on nursing):
TCNJ to
SUNY Binghamton to
Syracuse to
Utica to
UVM
If you wanted to skip Syracuse, you could go north from NJ to CT, which has quite a few good nursing schools.
TCNJ to
Fairfield to
Sacred Heart to
Quinnipiac to
UConn to
UMass Amherst to
UVM
Note that Fairfield & Sacred Heart are Catholic schools.
We drove to all our college tours, and it was such fun. Lots of quality time with both my kids. Plus, if they have their permits or licenses they can help drive.
For nursing there is a big advantage in getting in a direct-admit program, in which frosh are put into the major. Pass your classes and the NCLEX, you are a nurse. Many colleges instead have kids take 2 years of prep classes and then apply for the major. The accept rate may not be high, leaving the kids in a quandry if they don’t get in. For example Long Beach State had 830 applicants and accepted 80 in Fall 2019
My advice is for your D to volunteer in a local health care setting during this school year and next summer to get an idea if nursing is right for her. And if so then she should apply as a nursing major to direct-admit schools (much more info on the nursing sub-forum here). In college if she changes her mind it would be easy to switch majors into something compatible with a teaching degree.
Thank you @taverngirl - not interested in Catholic schools and they actually already visited UMass Amhearst but will definitely consider:
TCNJ to
Quinnipiac to
UConn to
UVM
Any other thoughts?
@mikemac I wish I thought she could get to the point of being sure enough to apply to a direct admit program but given where she is - I just dont see it. Some days she isnt even sure she wants to go to college …
@Clementine7624 the only others I can think of would be in RI, which wouldn’t be very convenient if you’re heading to UVM after UConn.
Penn state and Uconn have nursing programs.
What schools are in Philly? Drexel?
Just outside Philly - Villanova, St Joe’s (but you said no to Catholic), Temple.