How did you structure paying for college if you are middle class or child with mediocre grades?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Community college for the first two years and a part-time job? So you can see how he handles the workload before committing, and if he does well in community college he can transfer to a good state school and finish the degree there.

(Not OP) I would sort of like to do this but my kid goes to a Big 3 and no one goes to CC. It just isn't done. He wouldst be humiliated (as would I)

My son is at a Big 3, too, and I know just how you feel. How noticeable would it be if he took a gap year? There have been years at St Albans where I noticed boys taking a year to pursue music or some other interest before attending. There's no longer a list of where each boy is matriculating. I would encourage the CC route. Each year, I hear about a few Big 3 alum, who burnt out and dropped out of college by the end of sophomore year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Community college for the first two years and a part-time job? So you can see how he handles the workload before committing, and if he does well in community college he can transfer to a good state school and finish the degree there.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Community college for the first two years and a part-time job? So you can see how he handles the workload before committing, and if he does well in community college he can transfer to a good state school and finish the degree there.

(Not OP) I would sort of like to do this but my kid goes to a Big 3 and no one goes to CC. It just isn't done. He wouldst be humiliated (as would I)

So, don't tell them.

[Anonymous]

My son is a Big 3 grad. In high school, he was a solid middle of the class performer with pretty high SATs and tough courses. He (and we) wanted a college where he had a good chance to be an academic high performer. It was understood that a higher GPA (3.3+) was expected and that a less than stellar performance would force us to rethink the college as a long term investment. That perform or bust approach has worked well so far. He is very happy at his Southern SLAC and seems to be on track for a solid college experience. I think there is a mix of maturity that comes with graduation from HS and getting into a new environment where the student can recast his/her image.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Community college for the first two years and a part-time job? So you can see how he handles the workload before committing, and if he does well in community college he can transfer to a good state school and finish the degree there.

(Not OP) I would sort of like to do this but my kid goes to a Big 3 and no one goes to CC. It just isn't done. He wouldst be humiliated (as would I)

NVCC is on the list of colleges for Foxcroft, which is much more expensive and fancy than your school. You'll be starting a trend. It makes sense; more people should do it. Nothing embarrassing about being realistic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Community college for the first two years and a part-time job? So you can see how he handles the workload before committing, and if he does well in community college he can transfer to a good state school and finish the degree there.

(Not OP) I would sort of like to do this but my kid goes to a Big 3 and no one goes to CC. It just isn't done. He wouldst be humiliated (as would I)

Social pressure is not a good basis for making the wrong choice for your child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Community college for the first two years and a part-time job? So you can see how he handles the workload before committing, and if he does well in community college he can transfer to a good state school and finish the degree there.

(Not OP) I would sort of like to do this but my kid goes to a Big 3 and no one goes to CC. It just isn't done. He wouldst be humiliated (as would I)

I understand completely, OP. My daughter went to a run of the mill public school and even *we* didn't want her to go the community college route. We are paying for it now indeed! She's at an OOS college and we're paying $20k a year out of pocket (not including $8k in student loans). No assistance from the school. It's tough as hell and we're contemplating an in-state move for her next year.

But I sympathize with not going the community college route. You have to know your child to know if they would be able to handle that sort of set-back well. My daughter is not, so we had to bite the bullet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Community college for the first two years and a part-time job? So you can see how he handles the workload before committing, and if he does well in community college he can transfer to a good state school and finish the degree there.

(Not OP) I would sort of like to do this but my kid goes to a Big 3 and no one goes to CC. It just isn't done. He wouldst be humiliated (as would I)

I understand completely, OP. My daughter went to a run of the mill public school and even *we* didn't want her to go the community college route. We are paying for it now indeed! She's at an OOS college and we're paying $20k a year out of pocket (not including $8k in student loans). No assistance from the school. It's tough as hell and we're contemplating an in-state move for her next year.

But I sympathize with not going the community college route. You have to know your child to know if they would be able to handle that sort of set-back well. My daughter is not, so we had to bite the bullet.

You get small class sizes (between 25 and 30) and passionate TEACHERS at a community college. A lot of the faculty are adjunct who get paid very little and are there mostly because they love teaching. It is good value for money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

But I sympathize with not going the community college route. You have to know your child to know if they would be able to handle that sort of set-back well. My daughter is not, so we had to bite the bullet.

How is community college a set-back? Because it might humiliate the parents?

[Anonymous]

State school. Pay what you think is reasonable; loans for the rest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Community college for the first two years and a part-time job? So you can see how he handles the workload before committing, and if he does well in community college he can transfer to a good state school and finish the degree there.

(Not OP) I would sort of like to do this but my kid goes to a Big 3 and no one goes to CC. It just isn't done. He wouldst be humiliated (as would I)

Social pressure is not a good basis for making the wrong choice for your child.

I agree with that's but for many, many jobs, attending a CC would be a strike against you. I would probably encourage my child to take a little time off to hopefully mature a but and then go to a state school.

[Anonymous]

OP, when dc gets to college, pay nothing for a C, 80% for a B, and 100% for an A.
Pay full room and board. If dc srews up first year badly, take DC out or have DC get loans.