A future and a career is an unsettling concept at this point in someone’s life. However, I am grateful I have always had an idea as to what I want to do. I want to attend a school far from where I currently reside and study neonatology. Many things come to mind when college is a topic including applications, requirements and tuition. There are also positive aspects to ponder such as a new home, providing for one’s self, and engaging in new activities. After I receive my high school diploma, I plan to enroll in Nursing School at The University of South Alabama, obtain an undergraduate degree in nursing, and become a neonatal nurse. The University of South Alabama (South/USA) is located in Mobile Alabama. The main reasons South has made its …show more content…
Neonatology is the practice of nursing that is specific to newborns particularly high-risk infants and those with complex conditions (“What is a Neonatologist?”). After much wrestling with many other medicine related majors I decided on neonatal nursing due to its relation with infants, helping others, and salary. Other careers I contemplated consisted of Obstetrics And Gynecology, Behavioral Therapy, and Audiology. All of them had one thing in common, that they required many more years of schooling than was acceptable for me. Neonatology attracted me as a high paying career in the medical field that allowed work with infants and the ability to help families. Having a family is my priority first and foremost. Being able to provide them with all they could want and need is important. On average a neonatal nurse will make $23.20 an hour out of college approximately $48,010 annually. This number can reach to around $44.33 hourly and $95,256 annually and sometimes more depending on one’s location (“Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Registered Nurse Salary”). South’s highly regarded program will allow for greater job …show more content…
As a student, I have likes and dislikes and they coincide with my grades. My overall grade point average (GPA) is a four point zero. The minimum GPA required to attend the College of Nursing at USA is a two point seven five compared to a two point five for traditional university admittance. Other requirements of traditional university admittance include documentation of high school transcript and official SAT/ACT scores. The required SAT score for South is a 980 or a 19 on the ACT. There are also basic core course requirements that consist of four years of English, three years of social science such as history, psychology, and sciences that focus on relationships of individuals, three years of math (Algebra I, II, and above), three years of science, and three years of advanced electives. Aside from academic requirements, like any university, additional means are required to attend the school. Tuition and fees for South are based on credit hours. The Undergraduate out-of-state credit hour rate for the College of Nursing is $696. If one takes fifteen credit hours per semester at $696 a credit it averages to $10,440 a semester and $20,880 annually. Other miscellaneous costs including room and board ($5,650), meal plan ($3,490), and books and supplies ($1,100). These costs total out to around $10,240 for a final tuition and other costs total of $20,680. In order to be accepted and pay tuition deadlines must be met. The