Well, the boy got his first rejection letter.

[jinx]

Probably good for him to see that others may not have quite as high opinion of him than he sees when he looks in the mirror.<br /><br />780/730 SAT scores and a 3.1 GPA will not get you into Virginia Tech from the county where we live. There is a quota on Northern Virginia students and you need at least a 3.75 to get in. <br /><br />It's only money, after all these years of paying Virginia taxes, it's a $$$ private college for him. <br /><br />Or maybe he can fend for himself. <br /><br />Jinx

 

[RubberFrog]

Re: Well, the boy got his first rejection letter.

What about George Mason?

 

[DJ]

Re: Well, the boy got his first rejection letter.

I understand.<br /><br />Been there, lived it. There is hope, they can excell at college, as mine have.<br /><br />Once some organizations have seen that your child can actually make it, there is money out there.<br /><br />My two were home schooled. Once they proved their moxie, the money was available.<br /><br />BTW, "old time" (US) corporations are dying. Why go to work for one? The American people, have decided that American Corp's are dead. Send the offspring-abroad-to make the fortune in those enterprises that are emerging.

 

[KRS]

Re: Well, the boy got his first rejection letter.

we have community colleges out here, only $33 per credit hour when I went, waaaayyyy cheaper than a university. I would have all generals taken care of at a local college first, before going for the full price tuition at a univ.

 

[agitator]

Re: Well, the boy got his first rejection letter.

What fyter63 said. Cheaper, classes are smaller, instruction is better and credits will transfer. And the pressure and dissapointment will be off his shoulders.

 

[DaleT]

Re: Well, the boy got his first rejection letter.

Speaking from experience, if your son goes the community college route. Make sure he keeps in contact with advisors at the university(ies) he is looking at. I took several classes that the c.c. thought transferred when in actuallity the university had changed it's guidelines and no longer accepted. When you're talking $50+ a credit hour, at the c.c., it still hurts to realize that the class is no longer useful, credit wise, at the university level.<br /><br />Also, there are scholarships for many things out there that people never look into. With some research you just may be able to find some relief for the tuition.<br /><br />In my opinion, the speed bumps in life are what make us who we are. Good luck to him in all his endeavors.

 

[DJ]

Re: Well, the boy got his first rejection letter.

My sons have been the Comm. College route and the stay on campus college route. # 2 is better.<br /><br />Com. Colleges, while needed, offer NO sense of community.<br /><br />I'm not into the big universities, yet small colleges offer a great deal. They need to spread their wings, within bounds, away from home.<br /><br />Expensive-yes. worth it-every penny.<br /><br />I look at the invenstment two ways:<br /><br />1. I owe it to my sons. A promise kept.<br /><br />2. I owe, the world, a well rounded, educated, offspring.

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: Well, the boy got his first rejection letter.

jinx...<br />having difficulty with the $$.<br />1. was the University free if he had the score 3.75?<br />2. what $$ is involved in the Private College, say per year, and how many years does he have to attend?<br />3. what age is he<br />4. what discipline is he study-ing?<br /><br />I am curious. Young Hayden goes to a private Primary School (6-12yrs of age)but next yr we have to decide on a Public or Private Secondary School (13-18yrs) and then I guess if it is not an apprenticeship then Uni or TAFFE to follow.<br />I like hearing others experiences and opinions.<br />Cheers<br />Phillip

 

[Tyme2fish]

Re: Well, the boy got his first rejection letter.

Too bad he doesn't play football. He could get into Va. Tech with 1.0 average and a scholarship to run the ball!!! Of course then he wouldn't even graduate, just take up space on the classroom roster. Notice I didn't classroom.

 

[ZooMbr]

Re: Well, the boy got his first rejection letter.

One thing to consider - worked for 2 nephews. They waited for winter semester -- those that flunk out leave some room; standards are lowered and if the grades stay up they stay in!

 

[Link]

Re: Well, the boy got his first rejection letter.

jinx<br />Same thing happened to a friends daughter.<br />She blew out her knee and lost her scholarship.<br />Her GPA was just under what needed. For a normal person and not a sports star. She was ticked to say the least!<br />We explained to her that community colleges were so much cheaper than the UW and it was just GURs anyway. So she went that route (as if she had a choice) Finished with a 3.9 and went on to the UW where she also finished with a 3.9<br />It saved her Dad about 20K by her going to a community college and she still wound up a graduate of the University of Washington.

 

[Pony]

Re: Well, the boy got his first rejection letter.

Before anyone starts condemning Universities because they are more expensive, or advocating how Community Colleges are so great because they are so much cheaper.............we NEED to know if he has an intended degree or what he plans to major in. It makes a difference. If a University is known for a particular degree field it can be worth ever extra penny IMHO. For example, I am an architecture major and UW-Milwaukee just happens to have one of the top architecture programs in the nation and it only costs about $5,000 a year plus books etc......You cant get a better value than that

 

[KRS]

Re: Well, the boy got his first rejection letter.

English 101, philosophy, and the like and be taken at comm college, regardless of intended degree.

 

[jinx]

Re: Well, the boy got his first rejection letter.

Kiwi: here are the answers to your questions.<br />No, the university was not free or reduced price at a 3.75 average. That is just a ballpark minimum to be accepted. The cost of Virginia Tech for a resident of the Commonwealth is a about $10k including room & board.<br /><br />Private liberal arts colleges in Virginia are 20,000 to 40,000 per year. Virginia will kick in 1500 as a way of saying we're sorry we haven't kept up with growth over the years.<br /><br />4 years is customary for a bachelors degree.<br /><br />He is currently 17 and is undecided as to a major, but is into English and History<br /><br />Fortunately, the cost is not too big an issue. As long as he applies himself. I'm not real big on subsidizing sloth.<br /><br />Jinx

 

[Pony]

Re: Well, the boy got his first rejection letter.

Originally posted by azfyrfyter63:<br /> English 101, philosophy, and the like and be taken at comm college, regardless of intended degree.

Yeah true, but transfering credits from a community college to an university can be a HUGE headache........which in the end can turn a 4yr degree into a 6yr very quickly.

 

[DaleT]

Re: Well, the boy got his first rejection letter.

While I'll agree that transferring from a c.c. can be a huge headache. In todays era a "4 year degree" is seldom 4 calendar years to begin with. More often it takes 5 years to achieve a bachelors degree. Factor in any classes that do not count towards a degree, many times students have to take pre-requisite classes, and the costs and time can add up very quickly. In speaking with a friend of mine recently, B.A. in Human Resources and head of his department for a hospital, it really doesn't matter where you start you're classes it is where you're degree comes from. For example, I started at a university then transferred to a c.c., finishing my core classes, eventually I will be transferring back to one of 2 universities. My degree will be from one these universities not the college. My transcripts will show I attended a c.c. and the credits and g.p.a. that transfer.<br /><br />As I stated before be sure he keeps in contact with the universities on what will transfer if he ends up going this route.<br /><br />I know of several people who did well at the c.c. level and were able to receive scholarships because of it. <br />the average person changes their major several Times in their first 2 years of college. So don't be suprised if it seems like he's skipping around on his class choices.

 

[Pony]

Re: Well, the boy got his first rejection letter.

posted by Dale T:<br />As I stated before be sure he keeps in contact with the universities on what will transfer if he ends up going this route.<br />

Agreed. I also agree with you saying that 4yrs seldom is 4 years........Its pretty difficult to keep up on an 18 credit pace.<br /><br /><br />I'll admit that C.C. can work to ones advantage, but it can also be a disadvatage in certain degree paths.

 

[Navigator]

Re: Well, the boy got his first rejection letter.

Just be careful of the degree requirements. Some degrees are a full 4 year program, with a lot of sequential courses. If you go the CC route and the degree program has requirements meant to be taken in the freshman and sophmore year, you may have to take 2 years off to get caught up. It stinks, but its the truth. I ran into this exact scenerio when I was in school.<br /><br />Nav

 

[QC]

Re: Well, the boy got his first rejection letter.

This discussion is very timely for me and I am leaning toward the Community College route for a couple of reasons. 1) money is always a consideration and 2) I think he can get as good a quality education AND still get the on your own experience with the final two years. DJ's thoughts come from experience and I take that very seriously, so I am reconsidering all, but still leaning towards the 2 + 2 or 3 thing.

 

[DaleT]

Re: Well, the boy got his first rejection letter.

QC, in all honesty it is a very individual based decision. Tour the campuses of all the schools and talked to current students. Community colleges are a little less demanding at first while the university is more work like, in my experience anyways. I couldn't, at 18(way too immature), handle the pressure of a university and work so the c.c. was more conducive to my needs. Friends of mine went to directly to c.c.'s and because it was less demanding did poorly. <br /> <br />If finances are a concern scour the net for scholarship/grant opportunities and apply for many of them it could pay-off figuratively and literally.