Hi everyone! I am very confused when it comes to the major I want to pursue. I am interested in the medical field, so wherever I decide to go, I will MOST LIKELY (still not 100% sure) pursue a science major. The question is, which science major? I got accepted into the nursing program at Fairfield University and at Fordham I am going in with an “interest” in Biological Sciences (they don’t make you declare your major until sophomore year, unlike with Fairfield since I am in a pre-professional program I must enter as that major in order to graduate in four years).
When I visited Fordham, I absolutely fell in love with it. I love the people, the campus, it’s prestigious vibes and academic prowess…pretty much everything about it…except for the fact if I enrolled there, I’d be a Biology major. I like Biology, I really do. It’s just, with nursing, my future doesn’t have a lot of “what-ifs.” I know that if I were a nursing major, I’d have a much easier time securing a job and wouldn’t have to go to grad school unless I really wanted to. With Biology, I’ve heard that unless you do post-graduate work, you are going to have a hard time finding a job. That scares me.
Now here lies yet another problem…I don’t exactly like Fairfield University. The campus is eh, the students I’ve talked to seem to care more about the next party than their academics, and that’s just not my cup of tea overall. In addition, it’s fairly close to my house, so I know I won’t be getting the full college experience because I know my house is just a short car ride away. Fairfield U is turning more and more into a party school, and Fordham to me, seems like a MUCH better fit for me with the balance of social life and academics, with an emphasis on academics. A question that I think to myself often is, “What if I go to Fairfield U for nursing, then figure out I don’t like nursing?” If that were the case, I’d be stuck at a school that I dislike (I want to avoid transferring). Because I’m still unsure of what I want to do with my life, it brings a whole new complexity to things. Just because I’m interested in nursing doesn’t mean I’ll like it. Basically, I’d be going to Fairfield just for the major, but I’d be going to Fordham for everything but the major. It’s a tough call. I don’t want to pick a school just for a major (in case I don’t like the major) but I know that if I somehow figure out that I want to become a nurse, it’ll take longer than four years if I go to Fordham as they do not have a nursing program = lots o debt.
I appreciate you reading this, as you can probably see, I’m really confused. I have a month to decide on which college and right now I’m leaning toward Fordham because I absolutely love it but I keep thinking about nursing and it’s security post-grad…I just don’t think I can pass on Fordham because it was my second choice school. Would picking Fordham be a mistake?
I think you should go with your instincts and pick Fordham. You may not be ready to commit to nursing at this point and that is fine.
What is the cost for both? They are similar schools academically despite the “vibes” you may have gotten from the tour. Personally, would advise you not to go into six figures in debt for a biology BA degree. This is especially true if you anticipate further education post-college.
Fordham would be 50k and Fairfield almost 40k.
Per year??
Personally, I would not recommend Fordham at that price for a biology BA. 200K plus extra schooling for nursing afterwards does not sound like a good plan financially.
What is your state university? If it’s Uconn, then sciences at UConn are stronger than both these two schools.
What can your parents comfortably afford (no hardship, no loans)?
How sure are you that you want to become a nurse?
Do you have other options that are a fit for both environment and program?
My state school is UConn, but that brings in another issue. I got accepted into the Spring Admission program, meaning I’d have to commute to another campus other than Storrs for spring, then transfer to Storrs in the fall. I was unable to apply to the nursing school right off the bat because I was lacking the physics prereq. I emailed UConn and asked if I took all of the prereqs for nursing at one of the other UConn campuses, I could go transfer straight into nursing. They haven’t responded yet, but I’m guessing that the chances are very slim as it is very competitive. I wasn’t exactly a huge fan of UConn over Fordham, but it definitely is better financially.
Yes, those are the prices per year.
@happy1 40k is probably the max they can do comfortably, although they haven’t exactly rejected the idea of me going to Fordham so I’m sure if it was something I really wanted to do, they’d be able to figure something out. With that being said, I definitely want to make sure I am not wasting their money and know absolutely what I plan to get out of four years there before I commit.
As for the nurse thing, I honestly have no idea if I’d like it when put into practice. I really like how with nursing, you are pretty much always going to have a job secured, have shift flexibility (more than a doctor, at least) so I can start a family way down the road, and make pretty good money to live comfortably. Because I like the sciences and especially the medical field, I naturally thought about nursing as a possible major. I am still unsure about how I feel about the major commitment it takes to be anything other than a nurse (like a doctor). I know there’s still research stuff too that I can do, but I think with nursing you can do that as well.
And I don’t have other options that I like that have both environment and program, unfortunately. I am aware that I definitely should have switched up my college list a little, but it’s a little too late for that. I also got accepted into Drexel nursing with a lot of financial aid, but I am not as much of a fan of that school.
Honestly this is something you have to hash out both within yourself and with your parents. Nobody here should presume to answer the questions of what you want to be and what your family can afford.
Here are a few random comments:
I’m a huge fan of Fordham (my S went there) but he got good merit aid and was in the b-school and had a pretty defined pathway to a job.
I’m wondering if Drexel might be preferable to Fairfield for you (since you really seem to dislike Fairfield)? You might enjoy being in a city like Philadelphia for a change of pace. And you can use money for grad school if you want to pursue being a Nurse Practitioner.
There are many other medically related paths (OT, PT, PA, Speech Pathology etc.) but if you are not in a program for them as an undergrad they will be both competitive to get into for grad school and expensive.
I would consider visiting Fordham (if affordable), Fairfield, and Drexel for accepted students day and then decide.
What about bioinformatics or biostatistics, could you do that at Fordham or UConn? Linked to bio and health, stable jobs, in VERY high demand, no need for grad school.
Did you get into UConn Honors?
Check with your parents: where would the money come from? Income and savings? Or their retirement funds? Or a loan?
@MYOS1634 Fordham has quite a few CIS Academic Programs, including an interdisciplinary minor in bioinformatics. Do you think, if I were to look into it more of course, that it would be a helpful addition to my Biological Sciences major, esp when it comes to job searches? UConn seems to be more geared toward Stats in general, not biostatistics.
And no, I did not get into UConn Honors because I’m in the Spring Admission Program.
Yes, absolutely.
Bioinformatics is in very high demand.
Do speak with your parents about cost though.
Check into UConn too.