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When applying to college, what are the most important things to consider?
I am currently a junior in high school which means I need to start thinking about applying to college soon. I want to go into nursing but, I don't know what to think about when I'm applying for colleges. Should I attend somewhere far or close? If I really like the college but they don't have my major, what do I do? How do I pay for college? Student aid or scholarships? Are my grades more important or extracurriculars? I want to know what important factors I should consider when I'm applying.
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Ani’s Answer
Hi, Rhianne!
You've asked some great questions. When applying to colleges, it's definitely important to find ones that have a good nursing program. A first step could be to research what the top nursing schools are in the areas in which you are interested in going to college. For me, I wanted to live on campus, but wanted to be close enough that I could drive home on the weekends if I wanted to or drive home whenever I needed. I went to school about an hour away from home - however, if this is not something that is important to you, research colleges anywhere! If you are looking for the full college experience, I recommend going to a school where you can live on campus if that is within your budget.
Once you know if you want to live on campus or not and how far you'd want to move, the next step would be finding schools that have great nursing programs that are within your budget. Be sure to apply for all of the scholarships you can!! And if you need more help with paying, apply for financial aid. If you can avoid doing student loans, definitely take that route. But for most, this is unavoidable, so don't be discouraged if you have to take out student loans. Just make sure you are educated on what having student loans means, what it consists of, and how to properly manage your loans. I believe most schools offer lower tuition for residents of the state, while others offer free schooling for residents (like Georgia). Make sure you look into all opportunities for financial assistance!
You'll also want to look at the graduation rate, campus life, and any extracurriculars you may be interested in. These are factors you want to consider when choosing schools to apply to!
I hope this helps :) good luck with your search!
You've asked some great questions. When applying to colleges, it's definitely important to find ones that have a good nursing program. A first step could be to research what the top nursing schools are in the areas in which you are interested in going to college. For me, I wanted to live on campus, but wanted to be close enough that I could drive home on the weekends if I wanted to or drive home whenever I needed. I went to school about an hour away from home - however, if this is not something that is important to you, research colleges anywhere! If you are looking for the full college experience, I recommend going to a school where you can live on campus if that is within your budget.
Once you know if you want to live on campus or not and how far you'd want to move, the next step would be finding schools that have great nursing programs that are within your budget. Be sure to apply for all of the scholarships you can!! And if you need more help with paying, apply for financial aid. If you can avoid doing student loans, definitely take that route. But for most, this is unavoidable, so don't be discouraged if you have to take out student loans. Just make sure you are educated on what having student loans means, what it consists of, and how to properly manage your loans. I believe most schools offer lower tuition for residents of the state, while others offer free schooling for residents (like Georgia). Make sure you look into all opportunities for financial assistance!
You'll also want to look at the graduation rate, campus life, and any extracurriculars you may be interested in. These are factors you want to consider when choosing schools to apply to!
I hope this helps :) good luck with your search!
Updated
Doc’s Answer
📜 DEGREE MAJORS
What do you want to study in college? Answering that question is the fastest way to narrow your college search. As a student who's planning on pursue popular major like nursing, it's imperative you look for colleges that are known for their high-quality education and commitment to student success. A college’s reputation matters when making your choice. It reflects academic quality, resources and alumni experiences. A strong reputation can attract top faculty and lead to opportunities like internships and jobs. Choosing a college with a positive reputation ensures quality education and support will open doors to exciting opportunities after graduation.
💰 AFFORDABILITY
Cost should a major factor in your college search. When it comes time to pick a college, you want to make sure the school fits your budget, even after accounting for fees and living expenses. The average public university costs over $20,000 per year, while private universities cost nearly $45,000 per year. On top of tuition, fees, and room and board, students should also consider the area’s cost of living and expenses like transportation, extracurriculars, and entertainment. Lastly make sure to research financial aid, grants scholarships, and fellowships can lower the cost of your college degree.
🏛️ LOCATION
Location should figure prominently in your college search. Location can affect the cost of college substantially. Students can typically save thousands by choosing a public, in-state school. On average, in-state tuition costs $17,000 less per year than out-of-state tuition.
Location also affects your ability to receive state financial aid, including grants that support state residents. Prospective applicants should check the most affordable colleges in their state to see how much they can save at an in-state school.
🎓 GRADUATION RATE
At the end of the day, college is merely a stepping stone on the way to a brighter nursing future. Consider each school’s graduation rate. If only a small portion of students are completing the full program, there’s bound to be good reason. Any reputable university’s website should provide their graduation rate, the percentage of students who are working in their field of study and those who had a job within six months of graduation, you can find this information on colleges website. College is expensive and you should come out of it feeling like it was worth your while. If you’ve chosen a more competitive career path, you may want to prioritize colleges with an abundance of career and internship resources for their students.
🏆 EXTRACURRICULARS
Of course, you're at college to further your academic career. However, there are other opportunities to get involved in as well. Make sure that the schools you're considering offer extracurriculars that interest you and that you might want to get involved in. Activities like debate, chess club, model United Nations, and mock trial can demonstrate your interest in learning and knowledge beyond just coursework, since you’re choosing to complete additional academic work beyond the requirements of your college degree. The size and personality of the student body will play a big role in finding your niche, so ask about current students while going through the admissions process.
What do you want to study in college? Answering that question is the fastest way to narrow your college search. As a student who's planning on pursue popular major like nursing, it's imperative you look for colleges that are known for their high-quality education and commitment to student success. A college’s reputation matters when making your choice. It reflects academic quality, resources and alumni experiences. A strong reputation can attract top faculty and lead to opportunities like internships and jobs. Choosing a college with a positive reputation ensures quality education and support will open doors to exciting opportunities after graduation.
💰 AFFORDABILITY
Cost should a major factor in your college search. When it comes time to pick a college, you want to make sure the school fits your budget, even after accounting for fees and living expenses. The average public university costs over $20,000 per year, while private universities cost nearly $45,000 per year. On top of tuition, fees, and room and board, students should also consider the area’s cost of living and expenses like transportation, extracurriculars, and entertainment. Lastly make sure to research financial aid, grants scholarships, and fellowships can lower the cost of your college degree.
🏛️ LOCATION
Location should figure prominently in your college search. Location can affect the cost of college substantially. Students can typically save thousands by choosing a public, in-state school. On average, in-state tuition costs $17,000 less per year than out-of-state tuition.
Location also affects your ability to receive state financial aid, including grants that support state residents. Prospective applicants should check the most affordable colleges in their state to see how much they can save at an in-state school.
🎓 GRADUATION RATE
At the end of the day, college is merely a stepping stone on the way to a brighter nursing future. Consider each school’s graduation rate. If only a small portion of students are completing the full program, there’s bound to be good reason. Any reputable university’s website should provide their graduation rate, the percentage of students who are working in their field of study and those who had a job within six months of graduation, you can find this information on colleges website. College is expensive and you should come out of it feeling like it was worth your while. If you’ve chosen a more competitive career path, you may want to prioritize colleges with an abundance of career and internship resources for their students.
🏆 EXTRACURRICULARS
Of course, you're at college to further your academic career. However, there are other opportunities to get involved in as well. Make sure that the schools you're considering offer extracurriculars that interest you and that you might want to get involved in. Activities like debate, chess club, model United Nations, and mock trial can demonstrate your interest in learning and knowledge beyond just coursework, since you’re choosing to complete additional academic work beyond the requirements of your college degree. The size and personality of the student body will play a big role in finding your niche, so ask about current students while going through the admissions process.