Should my kid attend these schools over community college?

[Anonymous]

ODU

[Anonymous]

Mason or Mary Washington!

[Anonymous]

Pick a 4 year for sure.

[Anonymous]

Yes, would still send to a four year college. The odds of a less motivated person making it through college are higher there than a community college.

CCs are good for motivated students who don't have much money, or a very specific career goal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Personally, I'd push the 4 year route. They will feel "less than" if they go CC and everyone else goes 4 year. (Not true, but they may feel this way.). It's also not the college experience. It's a lot like high school. I also think they will get better supports at one of thee 4 year schools you mentioned. If they do well, they can always transfer to another, more rigorous school if that's what they want (but thy may love it there and that's good, too).

My kid is a late bloomer and went to a school folks disparage on here. After a year, has applied to transfer and has gotten into schools folks here really respect (T25-50). Kid went to college and took it very seriously, working their tail off and it paid off. They are smart, just a bit of a late bloomer.

We feel the same, we're worried about self-esteem. We're transplants to our county and everyone else has a weird fascination with the local CC. Kid's post about it on their IG pages which we find odd, but again CC's have their place and purpose. We don't think the local CC will have enough supports in place. We also think being around more motivated/ driven students will help. We would classify our kiddo as a late bloomer or lacking maturity, so this is helpful.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, if he is a male, I would send him to the military. Female, just send her into education at any school.

[Anonymous]

My DS will graduate from UVA in May after spending two years at NVCC. He will graduate with a BS in Computer Engineering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kiddo is not a high performer and struggles academically. They are just now becoming interested in engineering. They don't have the grades or the math classes to make it into most engineering programs. Business is another interest.

In an attempt to guide them, I'm not sure which direction to push them in. Should I guide them far away from engineering and into an easier major or degree?

Community College is a great option for them, but I fear they will continue to be middle of the road and won't have great transfer options. We came across a few 4 years that feel like a waste financially for a kid who is undecided, challenged academically and not super motivated. Johnson and Wales University, Marshall University, Washington and Jefferson College and Fairleigh Dickinson are all realistic options.

Is it worth it to push for a 4 year that has lower standards / more hand holding, or would you encourage CC?

NP, as a potential engineering major why limiting to the small privates? WVU, ODU, VCU, UMBC, ECU, etc all have relatively high acceptance rates, good engineering programs and hundreds of other majors if your student has a change of heart. Assuming less expensive than your current list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kiddo is not a high performer and struggles academically. They are just now becoming interested in engineering. They don't have the grades or the math classes to make it into most engineering programs. Business is another interest.

In an attempt to guide them, I'm not sure which direction to push them in. Should I guide them far away from engineering and into an easier major or degree?

Community College is a great option for them, but I fear they will continue to be middle of the road and won't have great transfer options. We came across a few 4 years that feel like a waste financially for a kid who is undecided, challenged academically and not super motivated. Johnson and Wales University, Marshall University, Washington and Jefferson College and Fairleigh Dickinson are all realistic options.

Is it worth it to push for a 4 year that has lower standards / more hand holding, or would you encourage CC?

NP, as a potential engineering major why limiting to the small privates? WVU, ODU, VCU, UMBC, ECU, etc all have relatively high acceptance rates, good engineering programs and hundreds of other majors if your student has a change of heart. Assuming less expensive than your current list.

Oops. Marshall is public.

[Anonymous]

The local nickname for Farleigh Dickinson is Fairly Rediculous. The school isn't much better than cc, probably the same drop out rate, and equally the same type of student, ie very few who are committed academically. If they don't do well in school, why pursue 4 more years if it is torture? What about trade school? What about a culinary school or institute?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS will graduate from UVA in May after spending two years at NVCC. He will graduate with a BS in Computer Engineering.

thats aweome!

[Anonymous]

My DS was around that GPA unweighted sophomore year. His UW was better (3.3) after junior year but still not fantastic. He has taken only 2 APs. He was accepted into engineering at WPI, RPI, RIT, Clarkson, Embry-Riddle, NJIT, Drexel and UConn. Got a high ACT and has done well this year which helped. Some kids need a little time to get it together. Colleges like to see improvement.

Even if your DS stays at 3.1, he could get into a 4-year school and possibly for engineering. There are many good schools with acceptance rates over 80%. WVU and Mich St have engineering and accept >80%. Clarkson and Drexel have acceptance in high 70’s/low 80s (these were our safeties) and strong engineering.

I think people see others’ stats on this site and think a 3.6 is “struggling”. No, a 1.9 is struggling. Plenty of 4-year colleges will take a kid with a 3.0.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, would still send to a four year college. The odds of a less motivated person making it through college are higher there than a community college.

CCs are good for motivated students who don't have much money, or a very specific career goal.

+1 At a 4-year there is more of a culture to keep you on track and good investment in academic supports. It's just too easy for a CC student to get distracted by life outside of college and not fully engage. My brother's kids are both doing the CC track. One has been investing too much time in work to the detriment of his classes and has taken longer than expected but is finally transferring. The other is taking classes but seems pretty aimless and not involved in anything on campus, seems pretty isolated. Finances were definitely a factor for them but also the younger had a lot of anxiety about leaving home so he didn't even apply to any 4-yrs.

I'd encourage Mason and live on campus. And if he hasn't been assessed for learning disabilities, at least rule that out.

[Anonymous]

Agree with sentiment that if you can afford a 4 year, get him into a decent 4 year somewhere. It will be a boost to his confidence and the degree will stand out more. This is one area where money does bring an advantage in getting your kid established for adulthood.

You'd be surprised by the number of kids who go to these less ranked schools and find an aptitude for data management, low level IT/programming, cybersecurity, and end up with solid six fig incomes in their late 20s/early 30s.

[Anonymous]

In terms of Math, he's taking geometry currently, I don't see him taking math beyond what's required to graduate.

No matter where he goes, if he doesn't want to take additional math beyond what's required, engineering is going to be not the right fit. I would take that out of the equation - not because he couldn't get into some fine school that offers it, or do courses at community college, but because if he doesn't like and want to do math, he's not going to stick with engineering.