@warnme1 first, having taken SAT only once, how about taking ACT and again taking SAT. Maybe not too late to sign up for June testing. Many students can raise their score/do better on one or the other. Both my DDs were able to raise ACT score into very good/excellent scholarship levels - but it took work. Lots of practice testing, tutoring, prep classes. First semester HS senior year was intense prep with ACT as the priority - one DD just needed to raise ACT one point and she did it. Other raised her score to Presidential Scholarship level, and achieved that on the last test date her school accepted (took ACT Sept, Oct, Dec of senior year). Look at what your parents can and are willing to pay (some ‘overlook’ room and board, but that is a significant cost). The scholarship level at colleges is often first looking at your numbers, GPA plus ACT/SAT.
If you are serious about nursing, look at the programs in your area, in-state public first. Can google state nursing board and they should have all the programs listed. Some nursing programs have a ‘scholars’ program, where you are guaranteed a seat in clinicals (most starting junior year) if you are accepted into that school’s program, and meet the academic criteria along the way.
You can find out a lot about various programs and schools with on-line information. Also check to see if there are programs where you can pay in-state for another state (where there is ‘reciprocity’). For example WI has this with MN, so my niece, who went to a small time HS (which did have pretty strong science preparation, which served her well) went to a state nursing program in MN, Winona State (a smaller college, which was a good fit for her first two years of college). Winona has clinical program in two places, and she was in Rochester MN to finish her last two years. She now works for the Mayo affiliated hospital system.
Be advised that some states have their BSN program as 4.5 years (often with the summer term between junior and senior year). This is the case in AL. So if looking at OOS public or private programs, be aware of that additional expense.
For example UAB, a very large nursing program (they begin students in clinical rotations FA, SP, and SU), has a scholars program (have to apply by HS senior year, maybe Dec 1 deadline…need to check for current). I am told by another parent (whose DD just finished sophomore year and was hoping to win a seat at AU nursing) that AU has nursing at AU and AU-Montgomery. Is kind of deflating to have gone the first two years at AU and then getting the degree at AU-M.
Both AU and UA’s nursing programs are very competitive to advance into clinicals - more students than the clinical slots, so high GPAs during college FR/SO years needed.
DD has Golden Excellence Scholarship at UAB (for hers, as an in-state student, it was paying $7,000/year - 8 terms, which almost covered her tuition costs) - and is in the summer classes, will graduate BSN May 2016. Over 2/3rd of her nursing clinical class last fall were scholars students; many academically strong students decide nursing during college and really drive the GPA up for those remaining seats. In AL, there are very good nursing programs at schools like UNA, UAH, USA, etc - so some students may start at a larger university and finish nursing at one of these other schools.
Have your parents help you explore and plan a college budget. You don’t want to start at a school, then find it is un-affordable or you can’t complete your degree there due to other factors (change of major, unable to get into the academic program desired, etc).