Rising senior's parent here

[Anonymous]

My son is a decent kid, Okay student, the rest. How likely is it that he will get into college?

Here is the thing. His freshman year he had a really bad transition. He went to a charter from2ed to 8th grade, and then (at his insistence) we transferred him to Wilson. He found himself in a new environment, and he got strait Cs with a few Ds thrown in for his freshman year, made no friends, and came out of it with a 2.05384615385 for the year. After that, we enrolled him in a summer-school esque camp thing, and talked to him about the importance of grades, and over his sophomore and Junior year he made quite a few improvement, and he now has a cumulative 2.7 GPA. He is convinced that no university that is worth going to will accept him and that applying is a waste of time and money. I was wondering whether any of you had any advice? Is it really too low a GPA to get into any college that is worth going to (We mean that it's not just a party school, that it is well known enough/has a good enough reputation that a degree from there will actually get him a job after, and is academically solid)? His SAT score is 1650, BTW, we will be having him take it again in Septemberish.

[Anonymous]

Would he consider going to community college for a year or two, prove himself serious and changed and then apply to transfer to any school "worth going to"? Virginia has a guaranteed admissions program to the state schools from NVCC depending on NVCC GPA. Don't know how it works elsewhere. But generally, it's much easier to transfer into a college than it is to be accepted as a freshman. GL.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps he can take some classes at a nearby college through their "extended education" or "adult education" program, or whatever the college is calling the classes they make available to people who aren't enrolled but want to take a course or two in politics or math or music. He would also look good if he held a job while doing this. If he takes some classes for credit so he gets the grades, and he gets good grades, then maybe he could convince that college to let him in.

[Anonymous]

If he only wants to go to "name" schools, then, yeah, he's not going anywhere. On the other hand, there are many many many many wonderful colleges in this country that may not have the name recognition of Harvard or UVa or Duke, but will provide a quality education that will prepare your soon for his first job or law school or graduate school.

Also important is that your son explain in his essay the great strides he's made since in freshman year. Make sure the recommendations he gets highlight the work he's done to improve his grades and his commitment to his education.

[Anonymous]

What does he want to do with his life? Maybe college isn't the answer.

[Anonymous]

Do you think your son even likes school? Maybe have him take a gap year that will include a part-time job or internship and then attend community college after that. It sounds like he needs a reality call.

[Anonymous]

Gap, schmap. There is a school for everyone, and he will find one. He just needs to put some effort into visiting the many VA, MD, and even WV and PA schools within 300 miles of here. He sounds like a good kid that just has some worries about self confidence. If he doesn't put forth the effort to figure this out and find a school that works for him, then he can have a permanent gap year(s).

[Anonymous]

I've taught at two schools that would most likely accept your son and I've had students who have gone on to have good careers. Don't assume your kid will get a bad education or have no career prospects if he doesn't go to a "name" school.

What really matters is whether he is willing to put the work in. At schools like these, faculty love students who are dedicated to their work and shower more attention on them because they really stand out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would he consider going to community college for a year or two, prove himself serious and changed and then apply to transfer to any school "worth going to"? Virginia has a guaranteed admissions program to the state schools from NVCC depending on NVCC GPA. Don't know how it works elsewhere. But generally, it's much easier to transfer into a college than it is to be accepted as a freshman. GL.

Richard Bland College, in VA, is a community college owned and operated by William & Mary. Bland doesn't have its own trustees/visitors; it's part of W&M proper. Certain classes of Bland students -- IF they make moderately decent grades (like above a B average) -- are automatically entitled to transfer into William & Mary at the two-year point. I'd look at this if your son is truly, highly motivated, and can and will really do well. This is important, because if he isn't/doesn't, you and he have wated the whole two years, so there is a real risk on this.

[Anonymous]

Frostburg?

[Anonymous]

He will get in somewhere. I like 22:17's idea to start w/ the CC that can likely lead into W+M. Good luck. Do you happen to be a member of an unrepresented minority?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would he consider going to community college for a year or two, prove himself serious and changed and then apply to transfer to any school "worth going to"? Virginia has a guaranteed admissions program to the state schools from NVCC depending on NVCC GPA. Don't know how it works elsewhere. But generally, it's much easier to transfer into a college than it is to be accepted as a freshman. GL.

Richard Bland College, in VA, is a community college owned and operated by William & Mary. Bland doesn't have its own trustees/visitors; it's part of W&M proper. Certain classes of Bland students -- IF they make moderately decent grades (like above a B average) -- are automatically entitled to transfer into William & Mary at the two-year point. I'd look at this if your son is truly, highly motivated, and can and will really do well. This is important, because if he isn't/doesn't, you and he have wated the whole two years, so there is a real risk on this.

This is so offensive on so many levels - it's as if everything rises or falls depending upon whether the kid eventually ends up at W&M.

News flash - W&M has a lot of graduates who are now waiting tables.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Richard Bland College, in VA, is a community college owned and operated by William & Mary. Bland doesn't have its own trustees/visitors; it's part of W&M proper. Certain classes of Bland students -- IF they make moderately decent grades (like above a B average) -- are automatically entitled to transfer into William & Mary at the two-year point. I'd look at this if your son is truly, highly motivated, and can and will really do well. This is important, because if he isn't/doesn't, you and he have wated the whole two years, so there is a real risk on this.

This is so offensive on so many levels - it's as if everything rises or falls depending upon whether the kid eventually ends up at W&M.

News flash - W&M has a lot of graduates who are now waiting tables.

Not that PP, but this seems like a total overreaction. The 1st PP's point was not that W&M is the be all and end all of college admissions. The point was: here's a community college program that feeds into a 4-year college (happens to be W&M, but could have been another college).

[Anonymous]

Exactly pp.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

This is so offensive on so many levels - it's as if everything rises or falls depending upon whether the kid eventually ends up at W&M.

News flash - W&M has a lot of graduates who are now waiting tables.

Not that PP, but this seems like a total overreaction. The 1st PP's point was not that W&M is the be all and end all of college admissions. The point was: here's a community college program that feeds into a 4-year college (happens to be W&M, but could have been another college).

Bullshit. The poster said attending the CC would be a "total waste" if the kid didn't get into W&M after two years.