Hi everyone, I am a senior in high school and I have been accepted to BSN programs in nursing at Ohio State, UAB, Pitt, Penn State, and Rutgers. I would love to hear some positive or negative stories from current or former students who attended these schools. How was the academic rigor, the clinical experience, the faculty support, the campus life, and the job placement? What did you like or dislike about the program and the school? How did you choose between these schools or others? Any advice or insight would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
If you have direct admission to the nursing program, what are the academic progression requirements, particularly minimum grades and GPA to remain in the program? Minimum GPA can range from 2.0 to high 3.something.
If you do not have direct admission, how competitive is the secondary admission into the nursing major?
How do cost and affordability to you compare?
2 Likes
Are all of these acceptances direct admit to nursing? Are they affordable? If yes, congrats! Those are two hefty hurdles! Have you visited these schools? Spoken to current students? Do you prefer one type of campus over another?
If none of these programs are direct admit, what % of applicants are accepted? Can you speak with students who were accepted through secondary admissions? How competitive is the process? Can you speak (now) with a pre nursing advisor (I know HS students who have)? What would you do if you are not accepted?
It is hard for me to compare schools without knowing if you were admitted to nursing.
1 Like
Pitt, Penn State, and Rutgers are direct admit. Ohio State can be if admitted to the Early Admissions Pathway. I don’t know about UAB, but this appears to be non-direct entry.
1 Like
Are those programs always direct admit? If yes, this student is in a great place!
1 Like
Yes
1 Like
OP have you visited these schools?
1 Like
My choice would be Pitt, due to the fact that it is direct entry and in close proximity to many excellent hospitals. Penn State requires either junior or senior year in Hershey rather than the main UP campus. I’m not as familiar with the other schools, but I would definitely choose one of the direct entry schools, as long as they are affordable.
3 Likes
Definitely choose one of the direct entry programs. After that, go visit - the environments are very different.
Are all 3 direct entry programs affordable without loans for your parents?
6 Likes
I believe Rutgers also has a lot of good hospitals very close by.
3 Likes
I have visited Pitt, Penn State, and UAB, and will visit Ohio State soon.
1 Like
UAB is guaranteed admission if you maintain a 3.2 GPA.
Which Rutgers campus would you be on?
New Brunswick.
There are hospitals nearby.
1 Like
I think the biggest downside at Rutgers NB is how the campus is split and requires students taking buses to get from one part/class to another.
However if the student is instate for it, the inconvenience is offset by the lower cost! Whereas if the student is OOS it’s an easy way to cut down on the list.
3 Likes
Make sure the check the NCLEX pass rate at the school. That’s a big deal. You want to pick one that has 100% or as close to that as possible.
2 Likes
Besides looking at campus size and ease of getting to class, I would look at the distance/choices of clinicals, whether you need a car etc.,
1 Like
Regarding cost, I should have no problem, as I would be considered In-State for Pitt and Penn State (my dad has lived in PA for over 2 years). UAB gave me a massive scholarship, which basically covers my tuition. My mom’s workplace offers a 70% discount for tuition as well.
If anyone is a current or past student or if anyone knows one, how was the academic rigor, campus life, faculty support, etc?
1 Like
Look at the NCLEX pass rates as @chicagoshannon said, to cross out 1 or 2.
I can adress Pitt&PSU
Pitt is in a cool urban neighborhood with a compact campus. College life spills out into the city’s.
Penn State is in a cool college town with a huge campus and tons of “spirit”.
Both have a topnotch reputation in PA.
My opinion is that there’s no better time for a student to be living in a college town than while in college and then to have all the benefits of living in a city once they have a salary.
But here the situation is different: as a psu nursing student, you’ll be part of an elite group (Nursing is the most difficult college to get into, sub 10% acceptance rate -and did you apply to Schreyer Honors?) so you have to be ready for the challenge and manage it in addition to all the fun PSU offers; and then there’s your 3rd year, when you must live in Hershey, where not only the amusement park is located but also one of PAs large hospital complex. You won’t be on that huge campus in a college town but will spend the year with nursing&medical students. It’s a change of pace and of focus, less of a traditional college student life and more “professional”, kind of like a co-op year.
In Pittsburgh, you don’t have the same “spirit” but all the hospitals are right there. The breadth of professional experiences available simply can’t be matched. All 4 years flow together seamlessly and I don’t think you even need a car.
@jlhpsu is a nurse in PA with kids at psu who also knows Pitt 
2 Likes