Accepted to Emory but not sure

Updated:   Published

I have been trying to get into an accelerated 2nd degree BSN program for a while now. I applied to Emory University in January of this year and didn't hear back from them for months (past the time decision letters were supposed to have been sent out). I was turned down by other schools and felt my chances weren't good for this one, either. I tried emailing them and calling them, with no satisfactory answer. I decided to forget the whole thing.

Today, July 26th, I got a call from them saying that I've been accepted. Apparently, I was on a waitlist (which they didn't tell me).

I have a week to make my decision. Classes start August 26th. I was told my acceptance letter is in the mail, but I'm pretty sure there's no financial aid left this late in the game.

I guess some people would kill to be accepted to Emory University, and I'm happy that I got in, but I also feel bad about the way they kept me in the dark and don't think I would be happy there. On the other hand, if I could make it through the two-year program, I would always have Emory University on my resume and a big name school counts.

Since I didn't expect to get into Emory, I have been working on applications for schools that start in January 2012 that I think I would do well at. And I'm not ready to start school as early as Emory wants me to.

It's a difficult decision--turn down a big name, prestigious (and very expensive) school and take my chances elsewhere, or go ahead and go to Emory? My main criterion is not cost (all the schools I'm looking at are very expensive) or difficulty (they're all very challenging accelerated programs) but my personal feelings about my chances of being a successful and happy student. I just don't feel good about Emory at this point.

What would you do? For those of you familiar with Emory, is this typical of how they treat students there?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I never even considered Emory. Not willing to pay that much for a nursing degree. Having said that, I know Emory grads that are happy with the program. I also know people that turned down their acceptance due to the cost and not having enough financial aid. I would imagine that happens quite a bit with that hefty tuition. However, they should have let you know that you were on the waiting list.

If cost is not a problem, I would not let that deter you. Its pretty hard to get into nursing programs these days.Emory's cost may be an advantage to you - fine school but due to that hefty tuition it ends up being less competitive than state schools. (Note, I am not saying that you don't need decent grades to get in, but due the fact that other schools in the area are more cost effective, they will get far more applicants that push the GPA higher and higher, whereas Emory's tuition will scare some people off)

As far as having Emory University on your resume. When it comes to nursing, the school you attend does not matter much. Nursing is unlike law or business in that respect. The school you attend does not count for much. You will have the same leverage as someone that graduated from a state school and passed the NCLEX. Experience, Recommendations matter more than the name of your school. The GSU grad that externed or worked as a tech will have more leverage than an Emory who did not extern or work as a tech. So don't make the decision solely on being able to put Emory grad on your resume.

Another thing you should consider is what is your GPA? Is it competitive enough to get into the other schools you want to go to? Did you take any entrance exams yet? Before you turn down Emory, find out what the average GPA is for acceptance or lowest GPA accepted last semester was for those other schools. Not what they say on their websites!!! They may post 2.75 needed for consideration but the reality is the average accepted student may be a 3.5 and above with 80 and above on the TEAS V. I know Emory does not require an entrance exam so that could be a good thing if you do't want to take the TEAS V. If your GPA is competitive for other schools and you have a bang up TEAS V or other entrance exam score then shoot for other schools. If not I would go to Emory if cost is not a factor.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Postpartum, Newborn Nursery.

As far as having Emory University on your resume. When it comes to nursing, the school you attend does not matter much. Nursing is unlike law or business in that respect. The school you attend does not count for much. You will have the same leverage as someone that graduated from a state school and passed the NCLEX. Experience, Recommendations matter more than the name of your school. The GSU grad that externed or worked as a tech will have more leverage than an Emory who did not extern or work as a tech. So don't make the decision solely on being able to put Emory grad on your resume.

I have to disagree with that. In the Atlanta area, I think the school you go to does matter. I'm not sure about Emory's reputation, but I know that Georgia Baptist students are highly sought after.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I have to disagree with that. In the Atlanta area, I think the school you go to does matter. I'm not sure about Emory's reputation, but I know that Georgia Baptist students are highly sought after.

I was just thinking about competitiveness for jobs and how quickly the school a student attends, is going to start to matter....A lot.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If you think you can get ready to go in time, GO! Emory has an excellent reputation and that will open doors for you. It sounds like your feelings might be hurt because they didn't tell you that you were wait listed but that isn't an unusual way of doing things. Many schools wait to send out rejections, notify those who are accepted, give them a brief period of time to accept and then call those next on the list to fill those open spots. Are you resentful that you weren't accepted to start with? Could you just be scared?

I take back my earlier advice, this is a decision you must make. I would like you to really consider your reasons for why you are considering not accepting though.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

UPDATE:

When the admissions representative called me, she said I had "a week" to decide. She emailed me a copy of the acceptance letter that's supposed to be in the mail. (Incidentally, they told me earlier in the year that my decision letter was in the mail, and it never appeared.)

According to the letter, I have until August 10 to decide, which is 15 days from the day she called me. That is not a week. That is more than two weeks. She requested that I give her my decision "within 48 hours of receiving your financial aid package." I'm going by what the letter says.

The tuition per semester is $18k. Plus fees, living expenses, books and supplies, and transportation, it comes out to $27k. The entire program is four semesters and it is not accelerated. That's a total estimated price of $108,000.

Per semester, they gave me a $3000 grant, which I'm sure is the minimum amount they give everyone. There's $1250 in work study, which means I have to take time and energy away from studying to work for them for money I don't get to keep. There are also some paltry federal loans, which are not aid--they're money I owe the government.

Big name schools put forth an image of being "good" because they are hard to get into, but no one can quite put their finger on exactly what is so good about them. The only thing I can think of that makes Emory objectively better than other schools is they have a $4.7 billion endowment. You'd think they'd pass along some of that sweet Coca-Cola money on to their nursing students.

Emory will be Emory whether I go there or not. But my life will be very different depending on the decisions I make. The reasons I would want to go to Emory mostly revolve around wanting to show off that name brand to other people. But being a nurse is not about impressing people.

By the way, if Emory is such a great school, why is their NCLEX first time pass rate 93%? Why isn't it 100%? What happened to the 7%?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

A similiar situation happened to me..I decided to attend the school with the "better reputation" I started off as a part-time student. Throughout the first semester my heart was not at this school. I prayed about it and I received a acceptance letter from the school that was my original choice!!!!I transferred and this turned out to be the BEST decision of my life!My pharmacology and health assessment course transferred as well. So all in all, I didnt lose TIME or MONEY.:yeah:Have u considered beginning Emory pt(if possible) and seeing what happens with the schools youre presntly applying to for Jan2012..Hope this helps,keep us updated:lol2:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Honestly, I would go to Emory only if I did not think I was a strong enough candidate to get into the other programs. I still disagree with the other posters that say where you go to school matters in nursing. I have yet to hear that from any RNS I know in the area. But who knows. As long as you graduate from an accredited program, pass the NCLEX you are good to go. The only thing that matters IMO as far as school goes these days is BSN vs ADN. And even that its still not as bad as most people make it out to be. I am in an ADN program and most of the grads from last year have already found jobs. I shadowed one a few weeks ago at my clinical site. She had no problems getting a job after graduation. She also worked as a tech while in school. That is what I consistently hears makes a difference when it comes to hiring new grads whether BSN or ADN. Work as a tech or extern while in school. I honestly do not believe that an Emory grad would have the upper hand even over an ADN grad that worked as a tech. If the hospital is magnet status and looking for BSN and both have no experience, then sure the Emory grad might get the position but all things being equal, Emory grad vs lets say Clayton State or GSU grad. Same GPA, I do not think an Emory grad will have the upper hand just because they graduated from Emory.

I would not make this decision based on being able to say you are an Emory Grad. That would be my last resort. Too much money for a nursing degree IMO unless you just cannot get in anywhere else.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am currently looking at two other schools which begin in January 2012.

Oklahoma City University has a 16-month accelerated second degree BSN program that accepts all who qualify. It's closer to home, less expensive, and I'll most likely get more financial aid because I'm starting the process early. I think I have a good chance of being at the top of the class, which is important because I want to be in Sigma Theta Tau. I'd also rather have a 4.0 from OCU than a 2.5 from Emory.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) has a 20-month accelerated second degree BSN program. Their website looks really good, which may be shallow of me, but I think how a school presents itself reflects on how well they're put together. I attended Indiana University Bloomington during my first bachelor's as a sort of "study abroad" thing and I absolutely love IU. Indy and Bloomington are not the same, though.

I'm not keen on having to start in August. Starting in January gives me time to prepare. I want to familiarize myself with the NCLEX. I've already looked up the textbooks they use at OCU and they have most of them at the local university library. I also want to enjoy these last few months at home.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion