Facing a bit of a dilemma

Applying to College
1

<p>So I got accepted into a few colleges (UMASS Dartmouth, La Salle, and York College of PA) into their nursing programs. I'm waiting on a few more (Worcester State, Salem State, Simmons, MCPHS, UMASS Amherst, St. Joseph's College of ME). My parents really want me to go to UMASS Amherst because they think it's such a great school, my sister is going there now (as a commuter), plus it's close enough that I could drive there everyday. Personally, I REALLY would prefer to live on campus. My parents so far want me to stay at home (to save money and because they feel it's safer) and needless to say, I'm not happy about it. The cost of college is a big issue, and I've luckily received scholarships from UMASSD, La Salle, and York, though there is still a large gap between the amount of tuition my family can afford to pay and what they can't. I'm hoping my family will get lucky with the FAFSA. They haven't given my sister anything for the past two years, but then again, she only applied to one school (UMASS Amherst) and marked that she was going to live off campus, at home. I'm hoping that I will get some fed. or institutional aid because I've applied to nine colleges, a few of which cost over 40k, and have marked that I plan to live on campus for all of them. Now, because I applied reg. decision to UMASS Amherst I won't (according to their website) receive notification until mid-March to April. it's been 27 days and the website still says my app is under review (they already have all the required transcripts and scores and what not) </p>

<p>This is a MAJOR concern for me because I'm worried that if I wait another month or two to see if I get into to UMASS Amherst, I'll miss out on my place in the colleges I'm already accepted to. Needless to say, my parents keep saying to wait till I hear from UMASS Amherst before deciding on a college. York, for instance, said in my acceptance packet that I should send my deposit asap because "nursing spots tend to fill quickly." While I'm not decided yet on York, I definitely don't want to lose my spot because I waited too long to send in my deposit. </p>

<p>So, basically my question is, what do you think is the best thing to do now? Also, is there anyway to contact UMASS Amherst and somehow find out if I got accepted into nursing? I don't want to seem pushy, and I know the admissions staff have to process thousands of apps, but I'm getting very worried. Because I know I won't be going if I don't get into their uber-competitive nursing program (from what I heard from my GC and one of the nursing admissions counselors at UMASS, there are only about 60, yes, 60 spaces for the undergrad program, and apparently thousands of people apply each year from across the state, not to mention OOS), I just want to know if I got in already.</p>

2

<p>Are you taking pre-calc or calculus in HS?</p>

3

<p>^*** consolation</p>

<p>I don’t think you can rush UMASS admissions decisions- but I wouldn’t take the “put your deposit in quickly” to heart. I think they’re just saying that as a marketing strategy.</p>

<p>I would wait…I know its stressful because you don’t want to lose your spot anywhere else, but try to wait it out as long as possible.</p>

4

<p>AP calculus, why?</p>

5

<p>Beautifulnights, I have a feeling you are right about them using it as a marketing strategy. I guess I will have to just wait it out. Thanks for your help.</p>

6

<p>You should call the schools that have accepted you. Give them some phony excuse as to why you can’t send in money until mid-April, but they accepted you. That means the spots are available for you until May, right? I don’t think you should feel pressured to accept a school (or pay $$$ to a school) until May 1st.</p>

7

<p>Good for you to apply to so many good schools and have so many acceptances!</p>

<p>You might consider asking your guidance counselor to contact York to clarify their policy or at least help you to confirm that you have a guaranteed spot in one of the other nursing programs even if you do not deposit until March/April. As you are probably aware, the nursing major is extremely competitive and the number of slots at each program is limited. </p>

<p>Finally, you may want to check out the allnurses forum under students. </p>

<p><a href=“http://allnurses.com/[/url]”>http://allnurses.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Lots of posters commenting on nursing schools and admission. </p>

<p>Best of luck!</p>

8

<p>To the OP, I believe that colleges agree not to require students to make up their minds before May 1. So you don’t need to decide now. Keep your options open and see how things play out.</p>

9

<p>The standard national reply date is May 1. Since you are waiting for your financial aid paperwork to come in from all of your schools, it is completely out of line for any of them to pressure you about making a deposit now.</p>

<p>Have your counselor contact York and clarify what their letter means. You may have misread it.</p>

<p>Wishing you all the best.</p>

10

<p>But the real issue that you need to sort out with your parents is this one:</p>

<p>“The cost of college is a big issue, and I’ve luckily received scholarships from UMASSD, La Salle, and York, though there is still a large gap between the amount of tuition my family can afford to pay and what they can’t. I’m hoping my family will get lucky with the FAFSA.”</p>

<p>You need to sit down with your parents and find out exactly what your family can afford. You also need to learn just exactly how much money they are willing for you to take out in loans, and how much money they expect you to earn with school-year part-time jobs, and in summer jobs.</p>

<p>Since you already have filed the FAFSA, you should have the figures on hand that indicate what your Expected Family Contribution is (EFC). This is the minimum that the colleges will expect your family to be able to pay. Can they? If they can’t, you need to figure out whether any of the colleges you have applied to are likely to award you the (extremely rare) kind of scholarship that would cover part of that money. Even if your family can meet the EFC, please remember that most colleges and universities won’t give you enough financial aid to cover the full need (Cost of Attendance - EFC). Most will leave you with a gap. If your parents are aware of this, it may be the reason why they are pushing for you to attend an in-state public U.</p>

11

<p>OP, I asked about the math course because I happen to know that at St Joseph’s 50% of the kids who take pre-calc because their intended major requires calculus flunk the course <em>every year.</em> Yes, <em>every year</em>. And they are apparently all right with that, since they have not put in place a lower level math class. </p>

<p>That’s not a school that <em>I</em> would recommend paying more for than a MA state school.</p>

12

<p>I know this isn’t very relevant OP, but is your username a reference to Harry Potter and the half blood prince “Let us step out into the night and pursue that flighty temptress adventure”?</p>

<p>cuz if it is…major props</p>

13

<p>rocket6louise: It is, actually. I’m a big Harry Potter fan. :)</p>

14

<p>Consolation: Thanks for the info about St. Joseph’s. I actually have been getting bad feelings about that school, because I never really hear anything about it, and it’s a tier 4. No one I know is familiar with it. I guess maybe it doesn’t have a very good reputation at all.</p>

15

<p>Daffymom, I love allnurses.com! I’ve been spending a lot of time there lately reading everything, trying to get an idea if nursing is really right for me. It’s a great site.</p>