Future nurse looking for an urban college
Student wants to keep her independence but still be close to home
BY JENNIFER DOME
Staff Writer

CHRIS KELLY staff Shaina Whyte, Brick Memorial High School, looks forward to going to a college in an urban area where she can meet different people.

Sitting in the Brick Memorial High School student services office, Shaina Whyte seems secure, confident and ready to take on the world.

Shaina, 17, had two of her college applications completed and mailed by the end of October — applications for Rutgers University in New Brunswick and Temple University in Philadelphia. She said she got some of her applications out early so she could hear back and “get a [comfortable idea] of what I’m doing and where exactly I’m going.”

Although she juggles school, a position on the yearbook’s editing staff, basketball, track and an after-school job at Marshalls, Shaina said she’s comfortable with her schedule.

She must be — the high school senior has a 3.6 grade-point average and with all her other activities still has time to participate in the school’s multicultural club, learning about different cultures and even cooking foods from around the world with her peers.

“I do believe she has things under control,” Marlene Whyte, Shaina’s mother, said. “I only intervene when I think she has a problem.”

But Shaina seems to have few problems with the process of applying to schools. She’s filling out the applications on the Internet, a convenient and easy option.

“It’s not complicated, but there are a lot of steps to it,” Shaina said. “It’s a bit of a long process.”

She’s taken the SAT twice and studied on her own, using collegeboard.com.

Shaina said she was “pretty ready” for the process of applying to college. Her school’s English classes have helped when it comes to filling out the applications’ essay portions.

“Most of it you can do yourself,” she said about the applications.

The school counselors at BMHS have been a big help, too.

“Everybody’s really out there to help you and make it a success,” she said.

She added that everything she needed to get sent to a prospective college was sent.

“It’s been a pleasant experience thus far.”

She said she was aware from a very young age that all of her schooling would count toward getting accepted to college.

“Everything you learn will eventually culminate into this,” she said.

During her sophomore year, Shaina said she started to research different schools by reading books and attending college fairs.

She also visited Pennsylvania State University — fortunately, a cousin is enrolled at the school’s campus in Altoona, Pa. While she hasn’t decided definitely that she’ll apply there, it is one that she’s considering.

Marlene said she spoke with Shaina about going to a college that is far away. She said she would like her daughter to be only a few hours away, at most.

“I’ll have the comfort that I can be there for her,” Marlene said of her only child.

Shaina said she is looking for a place that’s far enough from home so that she’s independent, but close enough so she can get home if she wants.

Even if it’s nearby, Shaina said she’s looking for a large campus, a place with lots of different activities, sports and clubs. She’s drawn to a more urban setting because she can get around more easily and she’ll have the chance to meet different people.

The Whytes have talked about the cost of going to college, and it’s understood that loans will be necessary and scholarships will be welcome.

“It’s just something she has to do,” Marlene said about Shaina’s taking on the responsibility of college loans.

Shaina said she doesn’t want to work while going to school — she plans on majoring in nursing and would like to become a pediatric nurse. This concentration has a lot of hands-on training, something that will require a lot of time.

According to Shaina, she feels Temple and Rutgers have the best programs for nursing, so it might be a little harder to get into those schools.

“I’m really excited about it; I really can’t wait,” she said about going to school.

Marlene said she knows what it’s like to be out in the work force and thinks it’s a good thing that Shaina’s able to go to college.

“It’s hard to survive without any college degree,” Marlene said.