College question

[john9blue]

doing well on standardized tests can make up for bad grades to some extent.

these days (unfortunately IMO) it's very easy to boost your test scores with proper preparation.

[Gilligan]

that was being nice. He's bright, and can get an "A" just about anytime he wants, but usually doesn't bother and ends up with C or less in most subjects most of the time. He inherits a lazy streak from me - though I've learnt over the years to give myself a kick up the bum. He hasn't got the hang of that yet.

Sounds like me. In high school my grades were similar. I ended up going to a community college for two years to find out what I wanted to do and to get my GPA up a bit. While mildly successful, I ended up with I think a 3.1 after 5 semesters...and I just got into Northeastern University, where the averages are higher than that. Grades don't mean EVERYTHING, but it really helps. I spent a lot of time on the essays and whathaveyou on the applications, to show that I really was interested in going there and not just applying for the sake of applying.

[DoomYoshi]

University of the People is almost completely free. At least that way, you don't feel like you wasted 30k plus.

[muy_thaiguy]

Yeah, a community college or trade school for a couple years might be something to consider. A community college will provide him with a college education at a fraction of a university, but with smaller class sizes (more similar to high school) so it gives a lot of flexibility and allows someone to learn if they want to go to college or not without putting them in debt. Plus, community colleges usually have a system in place to help students transfer to an in-state university a bit easier and more accustomed to the college lifestyle.

[IcePack]

As a non univ or college person, I don't suggest that route to many. (especially if you want to do reasonably well for yourself). There are plenty of trades that offer excellent options for the future, depending on talents outside the classroom.

[jonesthecurl]

As a non univ or college person, I don't suggest that route to many. (especially if you want to do reasonably well for yourself). There are plenty of trades that offer excellent options for the future, depending on talents outside the classroom.

yeah, and he may well end up not doing college (like me - I did some professional exams a coupla years after school, while working, and in fact was working on a part-time History degree much later just because I was interested when the curlson and then his sister came along and interrupted my education).

As I say, we're examining options. College in US, or Uk, or not at all.
You're all being very helpful, without too much of the usual cc sarcasm.
We had a long talk today with some of the staff at school too. Lots to ponder.

[oVo]

The number of people who go to college and actually graduate
is a lot less than you might expect, but even a few years of
higher education is a good thing. Particularly if you can get
into courses that really interest you and not just taking all the
required classes. The social aspect of diving into a larger pool
of people that share common interests is also a good thing.
I received my degrees long ago and still see and maintain contacts
and friendships with people I met during those years.

IF he has a good idea of where he wants to be after school, can
also be a big plus, since you can focus on courses that are aimed
in that direction. One aspect of College is discovering new things
that might not have even been on the table before hand and
that very well might reshape his future plans.

Most schools are only going to transfer a certain number of credits,
which is also something to consider if taking courses elsewhere.

[PLAYER57832]

that was being nice. He's bright, and can get an "A" just about anytime he wants, but usually doesn't bother and ends up with C or less in most subjects most of the time. He inherits a lazy streak from me - though I've learnt over the years to give myself a kick up the bum. He hasn't got the hang of that yet.

Sounds like me. In high school my grades were similar. I ended up going to a community college for two years to find out what I wanted to do and to get my GPA up a bit. While mildly successful, I ended up with I think a 3.1 after 5 semesters...and I just got into Northeastern University, where the averages are higher than that. Grades don't mean EVERYTHING, but it really helps. I spent a lot of time on the essays and whathaveyou on the applications, to show that I really was interested in going there and not just applying for the sake of applying.

Yeah, grades are not everything, I had average grades, but aced the SAT (99% for college bound seniors at the time in math, lower 90's for english).

However, I don't know if all states really have true community colleges. PA really doesn't. Even to go to a small adjunct means paying over $500 a CREDIT.. not a class, but a credit! It is cheaper to pay out of state tuition in many other states and attend there.

Don't forget private schools.
Private schools tend to be pricier, but often offer better scholarships, particularly for kids who are not quite average. Having lived in the UK can easily be one of those "not average" points.


University of the Phoenix and a few other online programs might work, but tend to require the student be motivated. Something tells me that does not meet the description of the child in question. They are really for people who either want or need to work and still want to attend school with a flexible schedule.

ONe thng, it tends to be easier to study things that are interesting. Having an interest is key.

[nietzsche]

Well, it's true enough that I went straight from Grammar to a job myself. I'm not worried if he decides against college, just looking at options.
On the other hand, the youngsters who did the comedy course with me don't seem to have got very far yet in the comedy world... and it's not frankly something you should do if you want to earn lots of money.

Thanks everyone for the advice, I'll be following up all the options except the cc one.

Ship him to Mexico. Have him go to a foreign friendly university like the one I went to. In 4 years he'll have more perspective of life, will have plenty of beer in his stomach, and tuition must be around 4k per semester in a nice enough university, i can guess living would be like 1k per month. Preferably in a place like Guadalajara.

[thegreekdog]

that was being nice. He's bright, and can get an "A" just about anytime he wants, but usually doesn't bother and ends up with C or less in most subjects most of the time. He inherits a lazy streak from me - though I've learnt over the years to give myself a kick up the bum. He hasn't got the hang of that yet.

If he's bright, then maybe he will eventually want to go to college. New Jersey has Rutgers and some other state schools (most of my cousins went to Trenton State). Pennsylvania has some pretty good state schools as well. It should not be a big deal to get into one of those schools.

[Timminz]

Take the tuition money and send him to live somewhere exceptionally foreign for a few years.

He would probably learn more from that than university would teach him in the same amount of time.

[qwertylpc]

I can relate to the laziness, my Chem grade has dropped 22 points from a 99 to a 77. #senioritis

[john9blue]

Take the tuition money and send him to live somewhere exceptionally foreign for a few years.

He would probably learn more from that than university would teach him in the same amount of time.

or die of malaria

[PLAYER57832]

that was being nice. He's bright, and can get an "A" just about anytime he wants, but usually doesn't bother and ends up with C or less in most subjects most of the time. He inherits a lazy streak from me - though I've learnt over the years to give myself a kick up the bum. He hasn't got the hang of that yet.

If he's bright, then maybe he will eventually want to go to college. New Jersey has Rutgers and some other state schools (most of my cousins went to Trenton State). Pennsylvania has some pretty good state schools as well. It should not be a big deal to get into one of those schools.

Getting into PA colleges is not a big deal as long as you don't mind paying some pretty hefty tuition. I would not suggest that investment unless you were more sure of the return... that is, if he finds a program he likes and is excited about, otherwise you will be largely wasting your money.

[ManBungalow]

Private schools tend to be pricier, but often offer better scholarships, particularly for kids who are not quite average. Having lived in the UK can easily be one of those "not average" points.

What's that supposed to mean?

[PLAYER57832]

Private schools tend to be pricier, but often offer better scholarships, particularly for kids who are not quite average. Having lived in the UK can easily be one of those "not average" points.

What's that supposed to mean?

Having experience in other countries is considered valuable because it provides kids with experiences/perspectives those who have never been outside the US. It is one stated reason why many colleges actively recruit a percentage of foreign students, but having US kids that can provide that is considered beneficial.

Basically, good colleges want to attract kids who can bring all sorts of things "to the table" -- it may be excelling in something (or several something's), or it may mean having unusual upbringing/experiences, it may be having an unusual skill --- (yodelling or bamboo tennis racket construction, whatever). How they judge that varies, but yeah.. having spent time in other countries, particularly more than just a short visit, can be one of those things.

[Ace Rimmer]

I have to say, do NOT put "I am an ace rimmer" on your application. It seems to have kept me from the Ivy League

For some reason though, University of San Francisco offered me a full scholarship

[Timminz]

Take the tuition money and send him to live somewhere exceptionally foreign for a few years.

He would probably learn more from that than university would teach him in the same amount of time.

or die of malaria

I'm a strong proponent of life-long learning.

[jonesthecurl]

I have to say, do NOT put "I am an ace rimmer" on your application. It seems to have kept me from the Ivy League

For some reason though, University of San Francisco offered me a full scholarship

smoke me a kipper.

[PLAYER57832]

I have to say, do NOT put "I am an ace rimmer" on your application. It seems to have kept me from the Ivy League

For some reason though, University of San Francisco offered me a full scholarship

smoke me a kipper.

LOL.... there actually is such a University---- US San Francisco, to be exact (or there used to be... maybe I ought to have checked before writing that? )

[Ace Rimmer]

I looked it up to make sure there was one first. Actually I looked to see where Berkeley was, I didn't think it was in SF but I wasn't positive.

[oVo]

Oakland is just across the bay from SF.

[PLAYER57832]

Oakland is just across the bay from SF.

UC Berkeley is in [gasp] Berkeley. Its a couple cities over from Oakland.

[Symmetry]

Same advice I give anyone set on higher education- consider options outside the country.

[CBlake]

I know some people who went to a Community College for 2 years, and then transferred to a University for the remaining 2 years of undergrad.


--Andy

Me.