<p>You need to retest this fall. Sign up for the Sept ACT and the Oct SAT…and study for them both.</p>
<p>You may do better on the ACT. You need the best scores possible.</p>
<p>I would but my parents won’t let me - I did well the first time, no guarantee I will do better the second which is a waste of money (of which they nor I really have), they say. I can’t argue with that, the SAT was brutal. I would take the ACT in a heartbeat though.</p>
<p>Not at all a waste of money. Explain to your parents that increasing your CR+M SAT score by just 20 points could be all you need for a full tuition scholarship at many schools. Or take the ACT and skip the writing portion - that makes it cheaper and less grueling.</p>
<p>Hm, it is cheaper. First date is Sept. 8, so I have time. I’m not familiar with the ACT, is omitting the writing section bad?</p>
<p>Few if any colleges seem to care about the ACT writing section.</p>
<p>So it’s like what the SAT Writing section is to colleges? Right on, I see what you’re saying. </p>
<p>However, I have cruised those full ride threads and good merit scholarship threads, and it seems like those kinds of schools just don’t exist around here!</p>
<p>Elleya, that you are here researching your options shows that you have a lot of gumption and a lot on the ball, as most students do not do this. Hopefully, you also have some lower cost options that are maybe local for nursing. Perhaps, for the first two years, anyways. That way your mother can stretch that $17-20k out for the latter two years and you can borrow some, too, but a lot less than for 4 years with interest accruing from the onset.</p>
<p>Also, IMO, taking out a private parent cosigned loan for a student in a directed path for career that is pretty sure to pay well, and when said student has shown s/he can do well in college having half of the education under the belt by going through local/community college, is truly a good investment. That I would do. For an 18 year old, right out of high school, the risk are far greater. Most, vastly most, will change direction, many will not do well even if student was high achieving in high school. But once half the 4 years have been successfully completed, and the goal is a clear one that is likely to reap financial dividiends in the form of a well paying job that is available, yes, I would take the chance on an outside private loan for the next two years.</p>
<p>Mmm, I definitely see what you are saying. I’m figuring that the best way to do this would be to go to CC first and either transfer or find an RN-BSN bridge program. There is, conveniently enough, a CC down the street but I am unsure about its nursing program. It drives me nutty that CC costs 5k/yr though. </p>
<p>They claim that if your GPA is over 2.5 you are guaranteed admission to a public school/UMass and if it is over 3.0 you get “a 33% tuition waiver on your in-state tuition costs”. I am not sure if this includes all tuition and fees but I remember that at UMass, tuition is only 1.5k/yr for in-state and I have a waiver on that for four years anyways. For transfer without a degree it covers 34 gen ed credits. I’m definitely going to have to do a lot more research before I entertain this option. My hope is that somehow I can stretch my mom’s money out for a little more than a year, even 3 semesters would be a huge help, plus having work study job + another job (and working my summer job now) would make a little dent in it. Again, much more research to be done.</p>
<p>edit: upon closer inspection, local CC has nursing…at its other campus that’s 30 minutes away. damn.</p>
<p>Bob…I wouldn’t recommend skipping the essay portion of the ACT. Altho some schools don’t really use it, they are still insisting that the students take that section. I know it doesn’t make sense, but that’s often the case.</p>
<p>Elleya…are you low income? If so, then you may qualify for test waivers and app waivers.</p>
<p>Bob…I wouldn’t recommend skipping the essay portion of the ACT. Altho some schools don’t really use it, they are still insisting that the students take that section. I know it doesn’t make sense, but that’s often the case.</p>
<p>Elleya…are you low income? If so, then you may qualify for test waivers and app waivers. </p>
<p>BTW…I don’t think the tuition waiver and the 33% tuition waiver includes the fees. That’s been a disappointment for many MA students. The fees are huge!</p>
<p>'fraid not. If I was i’m not sure i’d be so worried about all of this, haha. My mom says our family gross income is 91k/yr. Too bad we live in an area with a high COA and have over 5k/yr in medical fees, yada yada. As my mom put it, “we look good on paper but in reality we are just living like many other people, paycheck to paycheck,” so that’s how it is.</p>
<p>I take it the ACT essay is similar to the SAT essay?</p>
<p>And yes, the fees are nutty indeed! Basically they amount to about 1/2 of the whole shebang, the other half being room & board. I remember how psyched I was for the tuition waiver, only to find it covers 1.5k. I’m definitely glad I got it but at the same time it’s…not as epic as I thought it was.</p>
<p>At least we’re spared from paying for insurance, har har…</p>