I had the opportunity to attend a counselor conference in early March sponsored by the Regional Admissions Counselors of California (RACC). RACC is composed of college admission professionals who represent colleges and universities outside the state of California. Members work closely with students and families of California while partnering with high school, community college and independent counselors throughout the state. All of these out-of-state institutions are NACAC or WACAC members and have dedicated the necessary resources for a regional office to serve Californians by providing information on educational opportunities out of state.
George Washington University via www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk
There were 55 universities and colleges represented that day and each admission rep shared News, New Programs, and Highlights with us. I am sharing with you a snapshot of some of the information I learned that day.
Read on to learn of just some of the amazing options available for high school students to explore.
Bucknell University – Lewisberg, Pennsylvania
Offers Direct Admission to its Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. The program is highly competitive with just 35 spots available to incoming freshman each year.
De Paul University – Chicago, Illinois
Music & Theatre VERY competitive majors for admission. And perhaps not too surprising, Film & TV is the most popular major for students from southern California.
New majors for the incoming class of 2023: Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering.
Drake University – Des Moines, Iowa
We will be touring this campus in June along with numerous other universities throughout Iowa. So excited!
New Majors: Public Health, Artificial Intelligence, and American Politics.
Also new at Drake is the Business/Law 3+3 major where students can earn an undergraduate degree and a law degree in six years. With the Business/Law 3+3 program, learners can earn virtually all College of Business and Public Administration major requirements in the first three years. If accepted into Drake University Law School, students finish the requirements for their undergraduate degree during the first year of law school.
Drexel University – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Drexel is reducing its incoming class (2022) size to 2,800 undergraduates. This was done to ensure its students have access to affordable, university-owned housing, and to keep 85% of its classes to 40 or less students.
New Major: Global Public Health (policy side).
Elon University – Elon, North Carolina
New Major: Direct Entry Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Elon’s four-year BSN is a direct entry program. Elon requires a supplemental application along with the Common Application for Nursing majors. Elon’s BSN program is NOT test optional. Nursing applicants must have a minimum SAT score of 1100 or ACT score of 22.
Emerson College – Boston, Massachusetts
Most popular majors at Emerson are Arts & Communications and its Global Study Programs. New majors include 1) Health and 2) Psychology in the Media World.
George Washington University – Washington, D.C.
GW’s most popular majors are all its STEM majors. And fortunate for newly admitted freshman to the Class of 2026, Thurston Hall – a first year residence hall - has been completely remodeled!
High Point University – High Point, North Carolina
Great news for prospective Nursing majors! High Point has expanded its School of Nursing so there are more seats for the class of 2027 and beyond.
Michigan State University – East Lansing, Michigan
MSU is #1 in computer Game Design! It also offers a Direct Entry Business program.
New on campus: the STEM Teaching and Learning Facility. Designed with students in mind, the 21st-century classroom and laboratory spaces are specifically geared toward gateway courses in biological sciences, chemistry, computer science, engineering, and physics. Notably, the load-bearing structure, framing, floors, and ceilings of the north and south wings were constructed using cross-laminated timber, also known as mass-timber. Among other benefits, mass-timber promotes forest health and reduces carbon emissions.
New Mexico State University – Las Cruces, New Mexico
Most popular: Aerospace Engineering and the Creative Media Institute for Film and Digital Arts.
NMSU is a Hispanic Serving Institution. HSIs are one of many federal Minority-Serving Institutions designations from the U.S. Department of Education for higher education institutions that categorically or historically enroll a targeted racial/ethnic group. Other MSIs include Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions, in addition to others. HSIs are categorically defined institutions that enroll a minimum of 25% of full-time undergraduate Latinx students, with at least 50% demonstrating financial need. An institution meeting the HSI eligibility requirements can then apply for this designation, which puts them in a position to compete for grants earmarked for MSIs through the federal government and private foundations.
NMSU also has numerous support programs for first generation college students throughout its campus. And the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) scholarship is automatic for admitted students from qualifying states.
Oregon State University – Corvallis, Oregon
New programs: Creative Writing and Engineering. New structures: a new Performance Art building and a new football stadium for the Pac12 Oregon Beavers!
Southern Utah University – Cedar City, Utah
New Majors: BFA in Filmmaking and Civil Engineering.
SUU also offers the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) scholarship to out-of-state students from qualifying states.
SUU is just 6 hours from California and there are 20 National Parks nearby!
Catholic University of America – Washington, D.C.
CUA offers a Direct Entry into its Bachelor of Science in Nursing Major; and, along with the new Nursing School building that is being built, the BSN program will be doubling size of class from 90 to 180 for 2024! Great news for prospective nursing majors!
University of Nevada, Reno – Reno, Nevada
New Major: Aerospace program coming online in 2024. UNR is building a new Engineering building which will house a state-of-the-art research facility.
UNR also offers the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) scholarship to out-of-state students from qualifying states.
University of Utah – Salt Lake City, Utah
Most popular (and competitive to get accepted into) majors: #1 – Engineering; #2 – Pre-health; and #3 – Business.
Utah also offers the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) scholarship to out-of-state students from qualifying states, though students must have a 3.0+ GPA and apply by December 1.
Utah will admit a class of 5,500 freshman for Fall 2022 (highest ever!); 45% of its students are from out-of-state.
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This blog was written Janice Royal, MA. She is the Founder and CEO of Royal College Consulting.
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Email: janice@royalcollegeconsulting.com
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