For many students across the States, thick or thin envelopes arriving in their mailboxes will set in motion the course of their futures. They’ll be awaiting the decisions made by college admissions boards nationwide.
College is an exciting time for both parents and students alike, as they prepare to start new chapters of their lives and explore their intellectual curiosities. For some who apply to multiple universities or continuing education programs, they’re afforded a small set of options about where they’d like to attend. That’s precisely what happened to Ronald Nelson, but his is a unique circumstance: He was accepted to, and subsequently rejected, every single Ivy League university (and five others to boot).
If you’re shaking your head, hear him out. This extraordinary student — he's student body president, maintains a pristine GPA, near-perfect standardized test scores, and conducts his high-school band — rejected all eight prestigious colleges and accepted his offer from the University of Alabama on the basis of a full-ride scholarship. While some funding was offered by a few of his Ivy League drafts, the package from the University of Alabama was unrivaled. Speaking with his parents and counselors, Nelson decided that escaping debt-free was a much wiser pursuit than a name brand degree.
“I wanted to be able to really evaluate my options and come to the right decision that would benefit both me and my family,” he says. “I really think I’ll be able to get just as good of an experience.” Wise words from a very smart cookie.
What would you have done in his position? SHARE with us in the comments!
