BTW, @NJMOM3 what where your daughter’s test scores if I might ask? She did get into two really hard schools, it would be a tough choice, sounds like the financial aid is a determining factor. Did she apply to others and get in as well? Love to hear your process.
@ netter 11 …your daughter sounds like an excellent student who will do very well in nursing and will most likely have many acceptances !!! It is such a frustrating process . I went to nursing school many many years ago and it was never this competitive ! There are many great schools out there though ! I do think thar the GPA means a lot too . My d has an unweighted 4.0 and I know that helped her immensely so your d will do well with that GPA . My d is also like yours …she works very hard for every A she gets …she did not get the score she wanted on her first SAT and put whatever time she could into taking full length practice tests and studying on her own . It’s not easy though because these kids are under such stress nowadays to keep up the grades , be involved in a million activities , community service etc . They have a lot on their plates . The students who we saw not getting in this year tended to take the whole process nonchalantly … Applying late , not retaking SATs etc…basically just assuming they’d be accepted . It sounds like your daughter will be very motivated . I had both of mine apply to about 12 schools each . Once you know her SAT score it will be easier to figure out what the safeties are . My d had about 4 or 5 safeties that she would actually be ok attending and were also safeties financially . UVA was one of her reaches being OOs and she was so thrilled to get in … I was heartbroken when we started to crunch the numbers .I think Clemson is becoming more popular as a school in general and nursing is just so difficult because of the small number of spots … They also favor SC residents as of course they should . She sounds like a great student though …she will be fine !
Remember - the typical nursing student will do better on the ACT than the SAT. That is because the ACT has many science questions, and less emphasis on math.
There are a number of less selective private colleges with nursing programs that offer automatic merit aid for certain scores, which are often posted on their website. It is common for these types of colleges in the northeast to offer 50% off of tuition merit scholarships for persons towards the top of their total applicant pool. That often brings their tuition cost down to the level of an in-state flagship.
^ thanks so much for the info re: financial aid…looking into all of it…and yes…so true about the Act too …d took both since she really likes math too …definitely worth trying both tests !
@netter11
re: SAT / or ACT just have your D do her best & she will be okay.
To me & this is my opinion only, grades matter more than what you get on a 3-hour test.
Some colleges may or may not recommend the Subject tests. It is not required but you may want to see if there is any conflict with the test dates.
re: The presentations / info sessions
I have been to a few of these sessions & also admitted student day session. Direct admitted programs wanted the students to do well once they are in the program. Maybe that is why they look for students who have taken the most rigorous high school classes with good grades because those nursing classes are not easy.
re: the nursing science classes
@NJMOM3
My D said the nursing classes are very hard at UVA. She likes them. Both of my D said the Anatomy & Physiology 1&2 are very hard no matter where you take them. My other D said the Patho. class is hard ( she is in a different program / different story ). There are a lot of materials to cover.
Yes, nursing is a hard and time-consuming major at every college. There is something to be said about attending a college that is not highly competitive, so that you have more time and energy to put into your nursing and science classes and clinicals. If you attend a college where EVERY class is highly challenging, it may not let you enjoy your college experience. My son is a non-nursing student at UVa, and he complains about how much work is expected even in a class worth a single credit.
My daughter attends a college where the nursing and science classes are very hard, but most of the other classes are not. She’s able to have time for a social life, including involvement in her sorority.
^ yes. That s one of the reasons my other d chose the indirect because she fell in love with the atmosphere of the rest of the college and for her it was worth competing for her spot to be where she wanted . Her nursing classes are hard , but the other classes are very manageable and so far she still has a social life … And yes @ flower mom that is what I am hearing about the sciences from my d… ESP patho . She absolutely loves the class but says the exams are tough ! If they are enjoying those classes then they are in the right major! Actually at UVA s admitted student day we were laughing because the asst dean was joking that one of her jobs was fielding calls from freshman parents concerned because their kids were getting their first B s ! I loved UVA s nursing dept as even though it’s very hard they truly seemed like they wanted everyone to succeed ! I think every school we toured said patho was one of the most difficult because u actually have to critically think and apply and not just memorize . D is also noticing how the questions can be worded very tricky … Just like on the boards .
Thank you @FlowerMom you seem so knowledgeable I will definitely be seeking you out as we move along further in this process!
@netter11. At Michigan they said they do not consider volunteering at hospitals or other healthcare centers. However there is a reason they said that they don’t do this. They said they found that most volunteer positions in some areas around the country can be had only by having a connection to a hospital. In our area this is true. Only kids of large donors to the hospital can get volunteer positions. Michigan specifically said they are aware that this is what often occur and therefore did not look at volunteering.
When my daughter looked at summer volunteer work, many of the spots for high school students in the big suburban hospitals filled up quickly. She was able to do volunteer work at a smaller inner-city hospital, which the sheltered suburbanites were scarred to go to. Unfortunately, she didn’t get many chances to really interact with the nursing staff.
Updated List for St. Francis University (PA) & Clarion University (PA)
Adelphi NY
Augustana College SD
Alvernia University PA
Arizona State University AZ
Avila University MO
Belmont University TN
Bloomsburg University PA
Boston College MA
Bradley University IL
Capital University OH
Carlow University PA
Carroll University WI - Ck min requirements
Case Western Reserve University OH
Clarion University PA
Clemson University SC
Creighton University NE
Curry College MA
Davenport University MI
D’Youville College NY
DeSales University PA
Dominican University CA
Drexel University PA
Dusquesne University PA
East Stroudsburg University PA
Edinboro University PA
Elmira College NY
Endicott College MA
Fairfield University CT
Florida Southern College FL
Gannon University PA
Georgetown University DC
Grand Valley State University (Limitied Admission - 4 freshmen) MI
Hartwick College NY
Holy Family University PA
Husson University ME
Illinois State University IL
Illinois Wesleyan University IL
Indiana University of PA PA
Jacksonville University FL
LaSalle University PA
Le Moyne College NY
Longwood University VA
Loyola University Chicago IL
Luther IA
Marquette University WI
Marshall University WV
Marymount University VA
Maryville University St. Louis MO
MCPHS - Massachusetts School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences MA
Millikin University IL
Milwaukee School of Engineering WI
Molloy College NY
Moravian College PA
Mount Mercy College IA
Neumann University PA
Niagra University NY
New York University NY
Northeastern University MA
Norwich University VT
Oakland University MI
Ohio Northern University OH
Ohio State University (if honors student) OH
Otterbein University OH
Pace University NY ( Westchester Campus only)
Pacific Lutheran University WA
Penn State University PA
Pennsylvania College of Technology PA
Purdue University IN
Quinnipiac University CT
Regis College MA
Robert Morris University (Moon Township) PA
Rutgers University (only 40/130 direct) NJ
Sacred Heart University CT
Salve Regina University RI
Samford University AL
Seattle University WA
Seton Hall University NJ
Simmons College MA
St. Anselm College NH
St. Francis University PA
St. Louis University MO
St. Olaf MN
Stevenson University MD
SUNY Binghamton NY
SUNY Buffalo NY
SUNY Plattsburgh NY
Temple University PA
Texas Christian University TX
Texas A&M TX
The College of New Jersey NJ
Truman State University MO
University of Alabama at Birmingham AL
University of California-Irvine CA
University of California-Los Angeles CA
University of Cincinnati (OH) - ck min requirements
University of Connecticut CT
University of Delaware DE
University of Detroit Mercy MI
University of Evansville IN
University of the Incarnate Word TX - ck min requirements
University of Iowa IA
University of Maine ME
University of Massachusetts – Amherst MA
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth MA
University of Massachusetts - Lowell
University of Miami FL
University of Michigan – Ann Arbor MI
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities MN
University of Mississippi (Limited Freshman Early Entry Otherwise 2+2) MS
University of New Hampshire NH
University of Pennsylvania PA
University of Pittsburgh PA
University of Portland OR
University of Rhode Island RI
University of San Francisco CA
University of Scranton PA
University of Texas - Austin TX
University of Tennessee Knoxville TN
University of Vermont VT
University of Virginia VA
Valparaiso University IN
Villanova University PA
Virginia Commonwealth University VA - (if apply to their Guaranteed Admission by Nov, otherwise it is Pre-Nursing)
Waynesburg University PA
Westfield State University MA
West Virginia University WV
Wheeling Jesuit University WV
Widener University PA
Wilkes University PA
Worcester State University MA
Xavier University OH
York College PA
Youngstown State University OH
Updated List for Hood College (MD) & Queens University of Charlotte (NC) & Old Dominion University (VA) & Shenandoah University (Va)
Adelphi NY
Augustana College SD
Alvernia University PA
Arizona State University AZ
Avila University MO
Belmont University TN
Bloomsburg University PA
Boston College MA
Bradley University IL
Capital University OH
Carlow University PA
Carroll University WI - Ck min requirements
Case Western Reserve University OH
Clarion University PA
Clemson University SC
Creighton University NE
Curry College MA
Davenport University MI
D’Youville College NY
DeSales University PA
Dominican University CA
Drexel University PA
Dusquesne University PA
East Stroudsburg University PA
Edinboro University PA
Elmira College NY
Endicott College MA
Fairfield University CT
Florida Southern College FL
Gannon University PA
Georgetown University DC
Grand Valley State University (Limitied Admission - 4 freshmen) MI
Hartwick College NY
Holy Family University PA
Hood College MD
Husson University ME
Illinois State University IL
Illinois Wesleyan University IL
Indiana University of PA PA
Jacksonville University FL
LaSalle University PA
Le Moyne College NY
Longwood University VA
Loyola University Chicago IL
Luther IA
Marquette University WI
Marshall University WV
Marymount University VA
Maryville University St. Louis MO
MCPHS - Massachusetts School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences MA
Millikin University IL
Milwaukee School of Engineering WI
Molloy College NY
Moravian College PA
Mount Mercy College IA
Neumann University PA
Niagra University NY
New York University NY
Northeastern University MA
Norwich University VT
Oakland University MI
Ohio Northern University OH
Ohio State University (if honors student) OH
Old Dominion University (VA) - Guaranteed Admission, ck min requirements
Otterbein University OH
Pace University NY ( Westchester Campus only)
Pacific Lutheran University WA
Penn State University PA
Pennsylvania College of Technology PA
Purdue University IN
Queens University of Charlotte (NC)
Quinnipiac University CT
Regis College MA
Robert Morris University (Moon Township) PA
Rutgers University (only 40/130 direct) NJ
Sacred Heart University CT
Salve Regina University RI
Samford University AL
Seattle University WA
Seton Hall University NJ
Shenandoah University (VA)
Simmons College MA
St. Anselm College NH
St. Francis University PA
St. Louis University MO
St. Olaf MN
Stevenson University MD
SUNY Binghamton NY
SUNY Buffalo NY
SUNY Plattsburgh NY
Temple University PA
Texas Christian University TX
Texas A&M TX
The College of New Jersey NJ
Truman State University MO
University of Alabama at Birmingham AL
University of California-Irvine CA
University of California-Los Angeles CA
University of Cincinnati (OH) - ck min requirements
University of Connecticut CT
University of Delaware DE
University of Detroit Mercy MI
University of Evansville IN
University of the Incarnate Word TX - ck min requirements
University of Iowa IA
University of Maine ME
University of Massachusetts – Amherst MA
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth MA
University of Massachusetts - Lowell
University of Miami FL
University of Michigan – Ann Arbor MI
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities MN
University of Mississippi (Limited Freshman Early Entry Otherwise 2+2) MS
University of New Hampshire NH
University of Pennsylvania PA
University of Pittsburgh PA
University of Portland OR
University of Rhode Island RI
University of San Francisco CA
University of Scranton PA
University of Texas - Austin TX
University of Tennessee Knoxville TN
University of Vermont VT
University of Virginia VA
Valparaiso University IN
Villanova University PA
Virginia Commonwealth University VA - (if apply to their Guaranteed Admission by Nov, otherwise it is Pre-Nursing)
Waynesburg University PA
Westfield State University MA
West Virginia University WV
Wheeling Jesuit University WV
Widener University PA
Wilkes University PA
Worcester State University MA
Xavier University OH
York College PA
Youngstown State University OH
This thread has been a tremendous help as I consider my options as a first time college student finishing up undergrad at a community college. I TRULY TRULY appreciate all your input.
Any thoughts on Northeastern University’s nursing program?? I’m really interested in the school but it’s hard to get an understanding of the quality of their nursing program since undergrad nursing programs aren’t ranked. Any input would be greatly appreciated, thanks!
@jessicamaz Northeastern has an absolutely phenomenal nursing program. If you can get in, then I think it is definitely worth while going there!
I am brand new to this Board and would appreciate assistance in understanding the entrance requirements for the program at Texas A&M University in College Station. It seems to be listed here as direct entry but that was not my understanding. I’d appreciate any assistance.
It appears it is a 2 + 2 program though it may have been Direct Entry at one point. It is best to go on the college’s actual nursing webpage to make sure the programs on this list have not changed. Also, some of these noted as Direct Entry are only Direct Entry if you meet minimum requirements i.e. Sat Score or Act Score.
Removing Texas A & M (TX) from list:
Adelphi NY
Augustana College SD
Alvernia University PA
Arizona State University AZ
Avila University MO
Belmont University TN
Bloomsburg University PA
Boston College MA
Bradley University IL
Capital University OH
Carlow University PA
Carroll University WI - Ck min requirements
Case Western Reserve University OH
Clarion University PA
Clemson University SC
Creighton University NE
Curry College MA
Davenport University MI
D’Youville College NY
DeSales University PA
Dominican University CA
Drexel University PA
Dusquesne University PA
East Stroudsburg University PA
Edinboro University PA
Elmira College NY
Endicott College MA
Fairfield University CT
Florida Southern College FL
Gannon University PA
Georgetown University DC
Grand Valley State University (Limitied Admission - 4 freshmen) MI
Hartwick College NY
Holy Family University PA
Hood College MD
Husson University ME
Illinois State University IL
Illinois Wesleyan University IL
Indiana University of PA PA
Jacksonville University FL
LaSalle University PA
Le Moyne College NY
Longwood University VA
Loyola University Chicago IL
Luther IA
Marquette University WI
Marshall University WV
Marymount University VA
Maryville University St. Louis MO
MCPHS - Massachusetts School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences MA
Millikin University IL
Milwaukee School of Engineering WI
Molloy College NY
Moravian College PA
Mount Mercy College IA
Neumann University PA
Niagra University NY
New York University NY
Northeastern University MA
Norwich University VT
Oakland University MI
Ohio Northern University OH
Ohio State University (if honors student) OH
Old Dominion University (VA) - Guaranteed Admission, ck min requirements
Otterbein University OH
Pace University NY ( Westchester Campus only)
Pacific Lutheran University WA
Penn State University PA
Pennsylvania College of Technology PA
Purdue University IN
Queens University of Charlotte (NC)
Quinnipiac University CT
Regis College MA
Robert Morris University (Moon Township) PA
Rutgers University (only 40/130 direct) NJ
Sacred Heart University CT
Salve Regina University RI
Samford University AL
Seattle University WA
Seton Hall University NJ
Shenandoah University (VA)
Simmons College MA
St. Anselm College NH
St. Francis University PA
St. Louis University MO
St. Olaf MN
Stevenson University MD
SUNY Binghamton NY
SUNY Buffalo NY
SUNY Plattsburgh NY
Temple University PA
Texas Christian University TX
The College of New Jersey NJ
Truman State University MO
University of Alabama at Birmingham AL
University of California-Irvine CA
University of California-Los Angeles CA
University of Cincinnati (OH) - ck min requirements
University of Connecticut CT
University of Delaware DE
University of Detroit Mercy MI
University of Evansville IN
University of the Incarnate Word TX - ck min requirements
University of Iowa IA
University of Maine ME
University of Massachusetts – Amherst MA
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth MA
University of Massachusetts - Lowell
University of Miami FL
University of Michigan – Ann Arbor MI
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities MN
University of Mississippi (Limited Freshman Early Entry Otherwise 2+2) MS
University of New Hampshire NH
University of Pennsylvania PA
University of Pittsburgh PA
University of Portland OR
University of Rhode Island RI
University of San Francisco CA
University of Scranton PA
University of Texas - Austin TX
University of Tennessee Knoxville TN
University of Vermont VT
University of Virginia VA
Valparaiso University IN
Villanova University PA
Virginia Commonwealth University VA - (if apply to their Guaranteed Admission by Nov, otherwise it is Pre-Nursing)
Waynesburg University PA
Westfield State University MA
West Virginia University WV
Wheeling Jesuit University WV
Widener University PA
Wilkes University PA
Worcester State University MA
Xavier University OH
York College PA
Youngstown State University OH
Yes, please rely primarily upon current info from a college’s own website. Many things printed in books are out of date. Some things posted on CC are inaccurate or out of date, or do not include important details.
Some colleges have limited direct entry programs (such as for honors college students), while most students need to apply to become a nursing major as a sophomore.
Are any CSUs direct entry?