Jessie's Journey to her Dream Job

Jessie had a strong passion for science and a clear career goal in nursing, but her college search was narrow and unrealistic. She focused only on well-known universities without comparing her academic profile to those of accepted students. Unfortunately, her grades and test scores placed her in the bottom 25% for several schools, making admission highly unlikely—and financial aid even less so.

Jessie’s highly independent nature often led to procrastination and last-minute decision-making. Her college search followed the same pattern. By the time her parents raised financial concerns, it was late in the process—but it helped her rethink her options and consider more practical pathways.

Strategy & Coaching Can Make All The Difference

To help Jessie make a strategic decision, Cogi provided a list of affordable and high-quality nursing pathways, including:

  • A community college-to-regional university pathway, which offered one of the highest average salaries for nursing graduates.

  • A 5-year BA/MA option, giving her a fast-track to an advanced degree (which she ultimately declined).

  • Other strong nursing programs, including some Jessie had initially considered—allowing her to compare costs, debt, and earning potential side by side.

Jessie decided to apply to both practical options and her dream school, but as the process unfolded, a new obstacle emerged—her college essay.

Jessie lacked writing confidence and was certain her essay would hurt her applications. Her first draft was rushed, unstructured, and disorganized—to the point where it could have tanked her chances of acceptance.

With coaching, Jessie learned to:

  • Read and evaluate college essays like an admissions officer.

  • Plan and structure an essay effectively.

  • Develop clarity and confidence in her writing.

With just three drafts, Jessie transformed her essay into a clear, structured, and compelling application piece. While not exceptional, the improvement was significant enough to make a real difference in her applications.

Strategy Saves Money

Ultimately, Jessie was accepted to all of the schools she applied to, however as we expected, her Dream School didn't offer additional aid, leaving a price-tag of over $50,000.  Having gained a perspective of the finances and ROI involved, Jessie chose the practical route, a Community College to Regional Public Transfer option, which saved her family over $30,000, while limiting her total debt to $15,000, and set herself up for 2nd highest average Nursing salary of all of her options. 
 

Cogi InSight

Jessie’s journey highlights the importance of realistic college choices and smart essay coaching. With the right strategy and support, students can drastically improve their outcomes—while saving thousands in the process.