<p>Thank you! I’ll check into those FlowerMom!</p>
<p>And zzz - I know how crazy it sounds to think OOS schools would equalize. We live in Texas - a state so ridiculously competitive that many out of state schools actually recruit our top 25% students because most cannot get into our two flagship schools (University of Texas - Austin and Texas A&M). The state has a Top 10% Rule that forces all state funded college or universities to admit any student who graduates in the top 10% of their class (they do not have admit to their major of choice - but they must admit you if you are a Texas resident). Because of this, UT-Austin now takes 85% of their freshman this way - not by choice - and they have been able to lower the forced admission to only taking the top7%. We see a few here and there be admitted to UT outside the top 7% - but not many. I think A&M is up to 75% auto-admit. There are plenty of other state schools to chose from - but UT & AM are the coveted homes. They are both excellent schools and everyone who goes knows how incredibly fortunate they are to be there… At the same time - brilliant, hard-working students who fall outside the top 7% & 10% leave the state to schools that want them and recruit them. We have SO many go to LSU, OSU, OU, Alabama, Mississippi… - many of them at in-state rates if they are in the top 15-25%. The economy has scaled that back some - but solid students have money available. None of these schools appeal to my daughter because they don’t have strong nursing schools (in her opinion).</p>
<p>She has excellent stats (top 1% of class of 638 and solid ACT/SAT with numerous EC’s). UT-Austin just went to direct entry for nursing and they are a highly ranked nursing school (this fall will be their first direct entry class and as word of direct entry leaks out - my guess is the applicants will go from 900 this year for 100 slots to 1500/2000 for those same 100 slots. We think she’ll be ok for Fall 2015, but no guarantees…). </p>
<p>Which is why we’re looking for some reach schools that actually make sense (not a clue whether she’d ever get into Georgetown or UPenn - but we’re not willing to pay for the privilege if she does…). So we’re trying to research and begging everyone for thoughts…</p>