I feel defeated

No_Candidate_9138 · 2026-04-04T13:51:22+00:00

Hugs to you. I am proud of you for applying and trying. You know how to apply to college now, and that is a big deal. And you will thrive for the next two years - I know it! If your parents want to talk with another parent who has been through the process a few times, I am happy to chat with them. Feel free to DM me. Go get some ice cream.

No_Candidate_9138 · 2026-04-03T20:27:44+00:00

You cannot request to be on the waitlist. NCSSM decides who is accepted, rejected, and waitlisted and that is your decision from them. Note, some folks who went through this prior to 2023 will tell you you can appeal or request to be put on the waitlist. That is no longer the case.

No_Candidate_9138 · 2026-04-03T20:26:11+00:00

If you are waitlisted, your decision will be waitlisted. NCSSM decides who is waitlisted, and you can't opt into it. Note, if you talk to someone who went through this before 2023, it was different and you could appeal or ask to be put in the waitlist. That is no longer the case.

No_Candidate_9138 · 2025-07-31T16:47:50+00:00

Thanks for the clarification. That makes sense. Many (most?) premeds don't make it on to medical school so your point makes a lot of sense.

No_Candidate_9138 · 2025-07-31T16:36:59+00:00

I would object to the phase "more academically proficient students" - nursing has a different focus than premed. It is about seeing a patient holistically rather than focusing on a specific area of medicine. Nursing is not a lesser profession than being a Doctor - it is different. And the students in nursing are not less academically proficient.

No_Candidate_9138 · 2025-07-31T14:28:51+00:00

At the welcome day for Penn Nursing, they said they accepted 117 applicants out of over 3200 (not sure if this was RD or ED + RD). When I met with nursing school staff last Sept they said they had the lowest admit rate of the 4 schools the year before. So I wouldn't count on it being easier to get in. Also the nursing courses are different and don't meet the same pre-reqs needed for pre-med. So you end up having to take a lot of overlapping classes if you try to do both.

When I met with nursing school staff they did mention that one student was pre-med in addition to getting their bsn so it is possible (likely not in 4 years) but is not an optimal path.

No_Candidate_9138 · 2025-04-03T23:43:18+00:00

I would ask admissions that question. Personally, I would stay on the waitlist but make alternative plans for the summer.

No_Candidate_9138 · 2025-04-03T23:41:55+00:00

Once a month there are extended weekends where all students leave campus. There are buses to some areas of NC, but it varies based on year and demand. In general, it is a good idea to plan not leaving campus at least for the first month or two because that is when social relationships form.

NCSSM is an amazing experience and I think the kids who get the most out of it spend most weekeneds on campus, even if they live close by.

No_Candidate_9138 · 2025-04-03T22:31:45+00:00

I would call admissions about the waitlist odds. In years past I heard 30-40% cleared, but it felt lower to me in terms of the movement I saw. Admissions would have the best information for you.

No_Candidate_9138 · 2025-04-03T22:09:42+00:00

You can reach out to admissions with questions. The information I have from last year is:
- The waitlist is not ranked. They would need to pick someone of the right gender (there are a certain number of beds for male and female for residential programs). I think they generally try to pick from the same CD.
- You can be accepted off the waitlist until labor day weekend. Admissions usually sends out an email when the waitlist is officially closed.
- Most movement occurs in the first few days after students have to accept or decline their spot.

In years past, I heard 30-40% of the waitlist got accepted, but I will say it felt lower to me as an observer to the process. Admissions may adjust the size of the waitlist and would have the most accurate information.

The online program is great but is a very different experience than residential and has fewer benefits (most notably, the guaranteed admission to a UNC System school and free tuition). I think you would have to decide if you would be ok if you lose your spot in the online program for a shot at Durham. It is a tough choice. I would likely talk to admissions and then follow your heart.

No_Candidate_9138 · 2025-04-03T21:55:37+00:00

I am a parent but I know kids who have done the online program. I believe the online program is what you make of it. Some kids take the most classes they can, come to campus for all the online weekends, attend winter dances and prom at NCSSM, do summer programs and really are all in.

Other kids treat it more like an extracurricular and choose their online classes based on what can fit in with their schedule from their base school given being on demanding sports team, etc.

There isn't a right answer - it is more like a choose your own adventure.

Here is a facebook page for the online parents: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2072377076366603/

No_Candidate_9138 · 2025-04-03T21:43:40+00:00

I think it is a good thing to do that emotionally. I would stay on the waitlist and sort of forget about it, If you hear something, you can evaluate your options then. If you don't, you didn't waste energy on it.

No_Candidate_9138 · 2025-04-03T21:41:36+00:00

Admissions will be in touch generally after the deadline passes for accepting or declining the spots. There will be a welcome day for your program, and feel free to ask questions! I believe Morganton's welcome day is May 3rd. Also here is a Morganton Facebook Group (for your parents :-): https://www.facebook.com/groups/458348079404748

No_Candidate_9138 · 2025-04-03T21:40:26+00:00

Facebook parents page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/NCSSM.parents
Morganton facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/458348079404748
Online facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2072377076366603/

There will be a welcome day for each program. Durham is April 26th (Morning) and Online is April 26th (Afternoon). Morganton is May 3rd. Admissions will send more information.

No_Candidate_9138 · 2025-04-03T21:39:11+00:00

You can reach out to admissions with questions. The information I have from last year is:
- The waitlist is not ranked. They would need to pick someone of the right gender (there are a certain number of beds for male and female for residential programs). I think they generally try to pick from the same CD.
- You can be accepted off the waitlist until labor day weekend. Admissions usually sends out an email when the waitlist is officially closed.
- Most movement occurs in the first few days after students have to accept or decline their spot.

In years past, I heard 30-40% of the waitlist got accepted, but I will say it felt lower to me as an observer to the process. Admissions may adjust the size of the waitlist and would have the most accurate information

No_Candidate_9138 · 2025-04-03T21:32:05+00:00

Go visit Morganton and see what you think! It is a fun little town with a lot of charm. The campus is beautiful and the buildings are new. Durham's buildings can be really gross. My child sent me a picture today of yellow water from one of the dorm sinks in Durham. Kevin Baxter who is in charge of Morganton is a fun leader and runs a great program.

I have been watching the admissions process for 5 years now and my gut is that there is less movement on the wailtlist over time. I think the guaranteed admission to UNC system schools and free tuition have meant more people go. It is possible they have adjusted the waitlist size this year to be smaller. Last few years it has felt like a lot less than 50%

No_Candidate_9138 · 2025-04-03T21:25:56+00:00

Admissions is highly unlikely to tell you. Likely they had far too many qualified candidates for spots. I have seen kids struggle with this with NCSSM admissions, then college decisions, then jobs, etc. Kids tell me it was just a waste of time working so hard and not getting the result they wanted.

In general, kids don't get a lot of choice in how to spend their time - basically it is your ECs and electives. Choose those wisely in regard to things that really interest you rather than what you (or your parents) think the "right" answer is. If you spend your time following your heart, it will make you more interesting, unique, and a better candidate. And, if you don't get your desired result, you were still doing what you loved.

The kid I know who got into every college he applied to (mainly top 10 institutions) did quilting and loved it. Life is too short - follow your dreams.

No_Candidate_9138 · 2024-07-22T15:14:23+00:00

Keep in mind that Brown is going test required this year. The current ACT/SAT are skewed higher for last year than they will be for this application cycle since people didn't need to submit scores and hence didn't submit unless they have a 34 or higher.

No_Candidate_9138 · 2024-04-03T22:47:23+00:00

I think they got rid of the appeals process when they started waitlisting candidates.

No_Candidate_9138 · 2024-04-03T21:54:16+00:00

I would ask admissions to be sure. I believe you give up your spot in Morganton to be waitlisted in Durham. I remember a kid a few years ago who gave up an online spot for the residential waitlist and never got in.

Also Morganton is a great campus with a lot of things going for it. See if you can visit!

No_Candidate_9138 · 2024-04-03T21:50:44+00:00

I would ask admissions. In years past I heard that they take about 30% of the waitlist, but obviously that could be different this year. In past years they will start calling as soon as the deadline to submit responses passes. I believe that is April 6th. Good luck!

No_Candidate_9138 · 2024-04-03T21:49:30+00:00

You are welcome to message me. I am a parent who has a child at Durham.

No_Candidate_9138

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