My Daughter’s been accepted to a number of good Nursing Programs in the Northeast, but Deferred from her top choices (Northeastern and Villanova): Among the nursing schools she has been accepted to are: UMass Amherst (we are instate), Simmons (Honors program and big scholarship awarded), St. Anselm, (awarded a presidential scholarship), and UPitt (no $). There were some others, but they are not in her final cut. I’ve advised her to have a top pick because the chances seem slim that either Villanova or Northeastern are going to come back with a yes. We’re making the rounds of accepted student days, but I think she’s torn because she would really like to do her clinicals in Boston or another major medical area, but wants a "full college experience (co-ed) and wants to be among her academic peers (HS weighted GPA of 4.4). She’s a good and self disciplined student, but not aggressively competitive by nature. 
I forgot to add that I’d like some other opinions about her choices!
Northeastern doesn’t necessarily offer the “full college experience” or, I should say, doesn’t necessarily offer the “traditional” college experience.The co-op program has a strong impact on college life – at any one time a lot of kids disappear off campus for months at a time. Most do the 5-year plan, although it is possible to graduate in 4 years by taking more classes and doing fewer co-ops. Something to keep in mind as you consider schools.
Yeah, good point. IF she is accepted she’ll have to consider that.
Simmons honors program with merit sounds like a good choice. They have a lower student/faculty ratio than the other programs, clinicals are at top Boston institutions. The honors program offers a well rounded program with students outside of the nursing program. Congratulations to your daughter.
Simmons is I. The heart of the Boston hospitals, with Deaconnes, Beth Israel, children’s, etc. fabulous location. Yeah for your daughter.
Another vote for Simmons w/scholarship. Many of the best Boston hospitals- or hospitals in the world- are close by. If she wants a coed college experience, UMass is also a great program.
Simmons has a great program and a great location. UMass has a top direct admit nursing program as well. Different location.
Are there financial considerations? UMass could be the better financial deal.
http://www.cedarcrest.edu/ca/academics/nursing/pdf/NCLEX-PerformanceRN.pdf
NCLEX pass rates are another thing to factor into the choice.
Some schools pass rate can be as low as 70% and others 100%
From what i have heard you should look at NCLEX pass rates, how many clinical hours you end up with, and how soon you start doing clinicals.
Good luck in her choice. D will also face similar choices once all the decisions are in and has been accepted to the honors programs at UMassAmherst and Simmons as well as several other places. She will major in sciences but not nursing. D put Simmons at the bottom of her list because it is all female and because their dorms are separated from their academic buildings and feels that makes the campus less desirable. OTOH, UMassAmherst is so big. IMHO Simmons is probably the better school for nursing because of the many hospitals at their back door. I believe there is a path from the campus right to a major hospital, well lit at night for students to come and go.
Did she apply to Duquesne? It’s also in Pittsburgh.
What kind of school does your daughter want to attend…aside from the nursing program? Simmons is radically different than UMass in many ways.
Simmons is in Boston but is a small, women’s college. No big sports teams on campus, not a huge campus…period. And as noted, the campus feel of Simmons is…well…not a campus feel.
UMASS is in Amherst and really it’s a big college town. The location in western Massachusetts is not as “urban” as Boston. UMass is a much larger campus with all of the things one would expect from a large flagship campus.
Does your daughter hope to live off campus at some point during undergrad? If so, it’s going to cost less to do so in Amherst than in Boston.
What about driving? Does she plan to use public transport only in Boston (which is very doable), or does she hope,to have a car. Having a car in Boston can be a huge headache. Having a car in Amherst, not so much so.
Just in terms of location, a vote for UMass. I can’t think of a nicer place to attend college (maybe Ithaca or Burlington VT). My son attends one of the five colleges and absolutely loves it there. Congrats to your daughter - she has some really nice choices.
I was shocked to learn that Regis College in Weston, Mass. has a 63% NCLEX pass rate for 2014 and it was 74% in 2013-----UMASS Amherst, Simmons are close to 100% and the students are really top notch.Be sure to check each state’s website for “NCLEX pass rates” – the scores helped me decide which program offered a solid education–something brochures and campus tours don’t do!