Advice for HIGH SCHOOL senior (sticky situation)

[adpiucf]

Straight talk is key. It will be up to him and his mom to take the good info you give to him and make something of it. The USNews web site is a good place to begin. For only $15 you can access their colleges report. He can see for himself the grades and scores he would need to get into certain schools, and also look at different geographic locations, and programs he hasn't considered.

I'd also look online and make him take the Myers-Briggs test so he can gague what kinds of jobs he might enjoy-- to give him a direction to pursue in college.

I agree that if he can't get into a 4-year school, a community college in another location far away from the temptations of his "home boys" is a good way to begin. In Florida, successfully completing an AA guarantees you admission to any 4 year public school in the state to finish up your BA/BS. So, for example, let's say he moves to Orlando and attends Valencia Community College. After getting his AA, he could move on to UCF, USF, FAU, UF, etc., to get his 4-year degree.

Sounds like the boy could use a change of scenery and a heart-to-heart with some straight up facts -- maybe a get together with his guidance counselor, too.

ETA: It's possible to go to college without scholarships or a trust fund. Although I had very good grades in HS in everything except for math, I was shut out of the high yield scholarships b/c of my poor math scores. I got by with student loans. Merit scholarships came later when I was in college. It is possible to make it all happen, and college debt, while debt, is a good kind of debt-- he will have greater earning potential with a college degree.

ETA: Another ETA... Is he a racial minority? I hate to sound un-PC, but coming from a diverse background, or being an under-represented minority can win you some scholarships and college acceptances. Use every advantage you've got.

[alum]

I would suggest one of the "lesser" 4 year public schools in this student's state of residence as opposed to a cc.

$10 and you get the hard copy issue of US News college rankings

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The kid's gc or career college counselor should be able to give accurate advice. They know where the 4.0's, the 2.0 s and everything in between matriculate from their hs.

[Munchkin03]

There was an article in the NYTimes a few days ago about a study that said that although many students start CC with the intention to move on to a 4-year college, that it rarely ever happens. Even if a CC graduate does move on to get a 4-year degree, his/her earning potential is not as high as those who started at a 4-year college, even if the CC kid has better grades.

[PhoenixAzul]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

There was an article in the NYTimes a few days ago about a study that said that although many students start CC with the intention to move on to a 4-year college, that it rarely ever happens. Even if a CC graduate does move on to get a 4-year degree, his/her earning potential is not as high as those who started at a 4-year college, even if the CC kid has better grades.

This has been my experience. Many people I graduated with took the CC option, and for one reason or another, never made the jump to 4 year degrees. Not to say that they aren't successful, my best friend is making scads of money as a medical technician, but their intention to get a 4 yr degree was never realized.

[carnation]

There are many community colleges that have dorms for the out of town kids. This might be an option!

[SouthernSweet]

Originally Posted by PhoenixAzul

This has been my experience. Many people I graduated with took the CC option, and for one reason or another, never made the jump to 4 year degrees. Not to say that they aren't successful, my best friend is making scads of money as a medical technician, but their intention to get a 4 yr degree was never realized.

Some professions, such as nursing, don't pay any differently for new grads for an ASN vs BSN...the difference will be in a few years when they are looking for promotion, and the BSN's for example, will almost always get hired or will be first choice for more complex areas of the hospital.

Med Techs are the same way....in 5 to 10 years, AS's don't make anywhere near as much as those with a BS.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by PhoenixAzul

This has been my experience. Many people I graduated with took the CC option, and for one reason or another, never made the jump to 4 year degrees. Not to say that they aren't successful, my best friend is making scads of money as a medical technician, but their intention to get a 4 yr degree was never realized.

We need to just face the face that not everyone is "college material", and make the best of either CC, or trade school. If he goes to CC, and graduates, but never moves on to a 4-year, he'll still be better off with an Associate's in anything then he would with no "higher education".

[SouthernSweet]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

We need to just face the face that not everyone is "college material", and make the best of either CC, or trade school. If he goes to CC, and graduates, but never moves on to a 4-year, he'll still be better off with an Associate's in anything then he would with no "higher education".

I second this.

[Still BLUTANG]

thank you everyone who responded and made suggestions.

After some rough patches this year, I am glad to say the young man graduated from high school last week. YAY!!!!!

Although he has friends (including a very pretty girlfriend) going away to all types of 4-year schools... he didn't have the motivation to pursue any of the leads provided. I also called the mother to the carpet because she didn't push him to follow through with anything, she was more concerned about filling out applications FOR him to schools she thought he might be interested in. Not like, any of the fifty-leven accredited colleges & universities we have in our metropolitan region. Schools that advertise on TV in the middle of the night.

They never filled out the FAFSA, he did not take SATs, he did not apply for any scholarships, so... he has enrolled in a local for-profit college that "offers career-focused education in high-demand fields." He'll be staying at home and his parents have taken out a 2nd mortgage to pay for this school. His tuition is MUCH more expensive than the community college and even a little higher than in-state tuition at the local 4-year schools (many of which are highly ranked but kinda lax on admission for in-state students).

I know everyone's path is not the same, but I feel an obligation to share with her family the notion that ya kinda have to follow a plan to get to your goals. I'll still offer to take the younger kids (16 and twin 13 y/o) to college fairs and sit down and talk about goal planning and whatever, but from this I learned to fall back, play my position and be quiet.