Can't help thinking NOVA Guaranteed Admission is less than

[Anonymous]

I know in my heart that going to NOVA for two years is the best path for our DD (Class of '26), given her personality and the fact that she really doesn't know what she wants to do as far as college goes. I'm pretty sure dropping her off at a four-year university will not go well. But I can't help thinking it's "second best", that community college can be a black hole, from which few escape to eventually get a bachelor's degree, despite the best of intentions.

Any success stories out there that will alleviate my concerns?

[Anonymous]

For NOVA - no one around here says they went to NOVA; they usually say they graduated from ...

As per success stories - I know exceptionally bright kids like 1500 SAT and 4.x GPA that went to CC in CA. They also have guaranteed admission and they managed to get to their dream UC school like UCLA.

Not sure why you call it a black hole? The best teachers teach at NOVA - the bigger schools are either taught be noob grad students or disinterested professors trying to make their min. NOVA teachers do not have research pressures their pressure is to teach a class - even grading they have people to do that.

The only downside to CC is having to explain why DD is going to CC for 2 years.

[Anonymous]

There are probably many success stories out there. You could look at NoVa’s transfer rates to the VA public college for an idea. But your DD has one more year of HS.

CC is seen as 2nd best b/c in the US going away to college is viewed as the launchpad to adulthood. From an academic standpoint, CC to knock out gen ed requirements or to find what you’re interested in is great. The academics are similar to what you’d find at many 4yr schools. It’s the independence and social aspect that is lacking.

What are your concerns for her success? Can you use senior yr to shore up the skills she would need? Or find colleges that support her areas of deficiency?

There’s nothing wrong with going to CC. A 4yr school is not for everyone. But everyone needs to eventually launch. In 3 yrs, do you think whatever your concerns are will be alleviated?

[Anonymous]

If I had a premed looking child, NOVA to UVA would be the path that I would pray that they took.

[Anonymous]

My friend’s son had a rough high school experience. Square peg in a round hole in many ways and appeared unmotivated and aimless with the grades to “prove” it. It was especially frustrating/painful/difficult for her given the family’s high academic nature (she and her sibling have PhDs, father is a well-known MD etc.)

Her son did two years of local community college, and things started falling into place. Transferred to a southern flagship and absolutely excelled. As a senior there, he got into a T-14 law school. He’s doing well there, though again, a bit of a square peg compared to his peers. But this time around, he’s comfortable enough in his skin to do it his way and has landed a great summer associate position.

Some kids really do grow into themselves later than their peers. Others are just not well-served by the traditional high school learning/testing environment and bloom once they’ve moved on. And for many, the definition of “bloom” looks different than you may have expected.

Life is long. What matters is that you love and support your kids andhelp them stick with their education and development until they find their footing on a path that works for them. It’s hard, especially when everyone is posting all the conventional markers of “success” senior year. But keep loving and supporting your DC, and give them the gift of taking life at their own pace.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are probably many success stories out there. You could look at NoVa’s transfer rates to the VA public college for an idea. But your DD has one more year of HS.

CC is seen as 2nd best b/c in the US going away to college is viewed as the launchpad to adulthood. From an academic standpoint, CC to knock out gen ed requirements or to find what you’re interested in is great. The academics are similar to what you’d find at many 4yr schools. It’s the independence and social aspect that is lacking.

What are your concerns for her success? Can you use senior yr to shore up the skills she would need? Or find colleges that support her areas of deficiency?

There’s nothing wrong with going to CC. A 4yr school is not for everyone. But everyone needs to eventually launch. In 3 yrs, do you think whatever your concerns are will be alleviated?

OP. Someone asked what I meant by "black hole". As an example, my nephew intended to go to a state university in NY after two years at CC. He never made it. I know that's just one example, and it may have to do more with him and his motivation (or lack of it) than anything else.

As for our DD, she's very shy, socially awkward and a bit of a late bloomer. Academically, she's doing fine but not a superstar. She's working a part time job which she could continue if she goes to NOVA, and she likes earning her own money. I know she would benefit from the slow launch into adulthood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are probably many success stories out there. You could look at NoVa’s transfer rates to the VA public college for an idea. But your DD has one more year of HS.

CC is seen as 2nd best b/c in the US going away to college is viewed as the launchpad to adulthood. From an academic standpoint, CC to knock out gen ed requirements or to find what you’re interested in is great. The academics are similar to what you’d find at many 4yr schools. It’s the independence and social aspect that is lacking.

What are your concerns for her success? Can you use senior yr to shore up the skills she would need? Or find colleges that support her areas of deficiency?

There’s nothing wrong with going to CC. A 4yr school is not for everyone. But everyone needs to eventually launch. In 3 yrs, do you think whatever your concerns are will be alleviated?

OP. Someone asked what I meant by "black hole". As an example, my nephew intended to go to a state university in NY after two years at CC. He never made it. I know that's just one example, and it may have to do more with him and his motivation (or lack of it) than anything else.

As for our DD, she's very shy, socially awkward and a bit of a late bloomer. Academically, she's doing fine but not a superstar. She's working a part time job which she could continue if she goes to NOVA, and she likes earning her own money. I know she would benefit from the slow launch into adulthood.

OK. that part of not returning to complete your degree - that happens even in big prestigious colleges. I know one who made it into VA Tech Engineering and decided that the college - work for someone life was meaningless. I've worked with another that made it into BU's joint BS/MD program and then drop out - he hated medicine. Going to CC has nothing to do with succeeding to an advanced degrees.

Ask your DD to look into GMU - I think it would be a good fit for both of you; GMU is a commuter school, most people attending have a part-time job, a lot of students live at home, and you have a path-way to a BS, MS, or PHD. The socially awkward part is normal for a lot of schools. Get a good GPA for undergrad and you'll have a good chance at a T10 grad school. Ok I'm done selling.

CC, GMU, or anywhere else will be a good choice as long as you find an environment for DD to grow.

[Anonymous]

Know two of my kid's friends going from NOVA to UVA this fall. They will end up with the exact same diploma. It can be great for some kids.

[Anonymous]

She can grow a lot in a year. I think you are ight about cc being a black hole. That’s why they offer the program not many actually do transfer to uva or whatever and if they do, they’ve already missed out on the college experience.

[Anonymous]

It's a different state system, but my cousin-in-law did the two-years-at-a-community-college-then-transfer-to-Berkeley path. He's now the director of a national org focused on education strategy, and is a huge proponent of the CC→4-year model.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like she would benefit socially from lviing in dorms as a freshman

[Anonymous]

CC can be a good path but I would definitely look for other options as well. I suggest looking at Richard Bland College, which is a CC owned/affiliated with W&M. It is one of the Few CCs with dorms and is a feeder to W&M. I would imagine that many classmates would matriculate from Richard Bland to W&M, which could help mitigate lack of a social group when transferring as a junior. disadvantage of CC. I’m a CC graduate and huge supporter, but as others have mentioned there are downsides as well.

[Anonymous]

What are the issues? Why do you think she can't do college?

My younger DS had no idea what he wanted to do and is a little immature for his age. But college is great for him - its a good transition from parents to adult living, he attends a small and warm LAC, spent two years trying out a bunch of stuff, lived in the dorms and made friends and just now declared a major. That's what college is for many kids.

[Anonymous]

California is a different beast and can’t be compared to NOVA. It just can’t. It’s much more socially accepted and the quality of students is higher. The black hole OP is worried about is real. It’s hard to stay motivated and graduate when the student body is less oriented to that, like in CA. And the magical “transfer to UVA” dream is also hard because transferring is not easy and finding friends and a community as a junior is a giant undertaking not everyone is up for.
Cost is the only reason to take what is ultimately the harder path, IMO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:California is a different beast and can’t be compared to NOVA. It just can’t. It’s much more socially accepted and the quality of students is higher. The black hole OP is worried about is real. It’s hard to stay motivated and graduate when the student body is less oriented to that, like in CA. And the magical “transfer to UVA” dream is also hard because transferring is not easy and finding friends and a community as a junior is a giant undertaking not everyone is up for.
Cost is the only reason to take what is ultimately the harder path, IMO.

(CA poster from earlier here.) Ah, thank you for that context. I appreciate that.