Did I get in based on a quota?

[LibaSkelova]

First, I am very happy that I got in to nursing school, and I am NOT complaining. I am just a very curious person. I am 21 years old, Asian American, male, first generation college student, came from a low income and single parent household.

I applied to these three programs. I'll list all them(not the specific school though)

1) University- Selects 64 students per semester. Has 2 cycles (Fall and Spring). 150 students apply. Very Expensive, and has 5 semesters.

2) University/Community- This is a dual degree program. Technically, I still take most of my classes at the community college, but at the same time, I takes classes in the university for the bachelor degree portion. Affordable, and get your bachelor at the same time. Takes 24 students, and 150 students, apply every semester. Has 2 cycles, has 5 semesters, and very affordable for a Bachelor degree

3) Community College- Takes 48 every semester, but has 3 cycles, including summer. Only has 4 semesters, and very inexpensive.

For the School 1 & 2, criteria for getting in is pretty much the same. 50% Hesi score, 40% GPA. The only difference is School 1 uses the remaining 10% for residency while school 2 doesn't. School 3 is just lottery based.

At first, I found out that I didn't get in in School 1, and it was obviously my HESI score since I only scored an 86, but my GPA was pretty good though, 3.88. Then, a month later, I got in to School 2 and 3. Obviously I chose 2. If I only got in to the community college, I'll be very content, but getting in to School 2 is a shock to me. Everyone says, even my advisors, that the program that accepted me(school 2) is much more competitive than school 1, which is weird. I'm actually glad that I didn't get accepted in the first school since it's too expensive.

Anyway, I talked to other people who were rejected in my program (school 2), and scored 90's on their HESI, but have slightly lower gpa than I do. GPA and HESI are the only two things they look at in School 2(dual degree). We applied on the same semester also. I thought the school were objective, but I'm wondering if they have this secret selective process, and looked at gender, background, etc. without telling us. Maybe I'm just not giving enough credit. I don't know, I'm paranoid.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Why does it matter how you got in? You got in. Congratulations!

[AliNajaCat]

^^^ I'm with her. You've got better things to think about now. Congratulations! Now go be great!

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

They may well want to improve their diversity, but that doesn't mean they are willing to accept unqualified individuals, no matter what your ethnicity or gender is. If they didn't think you could cut it, they wouldn't have admitted you.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Based on your qualifications, I really doubt that there was any affirmative action going on here .... You meet or exceed all requirements. It's only "quota" if they are giving you a pass, or you're less qualified than other newly admitted students & that is certainly not the case.

Congratulations. Be proud of yourself.... we are.

[Extra Pickles]

Don't obsess about how it is you got into the program, that's a waste of time. Instead, focus (obsess?) about how to stay in the program. That will be your job for the next couple of years!

[SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP]

Bear in mind that the admissions dept might have weighed GPA more heavily than the HESI score. In any case, you met or exceeded the standards of admission and were accepted. Congrats :)

[Username invalid, RN]

I think I get why you're asking. Knowing the answer helps paint a picture about the culture/values/priorities of the college. I'm not sure how to find out, beyond looking in your student handbook- but I'd want to know, too. It's interesting, and just feels like something that shouldn't be hidden from students.