Radford- go or no go

[Anonymous]

It's important to think about how Radford ended up as your DS's only option for college. Is he just not that into school? Does he try and still struggle academically? Is he happy with average grades?

I know people who went to Radford because it was a good fit, and their lives are just fine now. I also know kids who just weren't academically inclined, and they didn't last long at Radford. People who say college is what you make of it are right -- but if college is going to be four more years of a miserable slog through classes your kid doesn't enjoy with no particular goal in mind, maybe a year off to figure things out (and work at the sort of job a high-school graduate can get) would be better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If there is an exception to the notion that any diploma is better than none at all, Radford would be it.

No. Liberty. You must have confused the two.

Now, back when I was in College, we would do the Radford run (from Tech) to pick up girls from Radford. So there is that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If there is an exception to the notion that any diploma is better than none at all, Radford would be it.

No. Liberty. You must have confused the two.

Now, back when I was in College, we would do the Radford run (from Tech) to pick up girls from Radford. So there is that.

Yes; the college that teaches creationism as science.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS was admitted to Radford. Waitlisted at ODU. And rejections from JMU, VCU, etc. We are thinking that not attending college is better than a degree from Radford, but maybe its reputation has improved since we went to college 30 years ago. Thoughts?

I know someone who graduated from Radford. She is now in her early 40's and makes $130,00 (no graduate degree). So I think it's better than not going to college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course not going to college is worse than a degree from Radford. Radford has wonderful teaching and nursing programs.

Op here- that's nice, but DS isn't going to be nurse or teacher. We don't want to at for what we are concerned is in fact a scarlet letter, a badge of underachievement.

I'm the same age you are and I really don't have the same kind of view as Radford. I know it's not a "name" school, but I wouldn't regard it as a scarlet letter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course not going to college is worse than a degree from Radford. Radford has wonderful teaching and nursing programs.

Op here- that's nice, but DS isn't going to be nurse or teacher. We don't want to at for what we are concerned is in fact a scarlet letter, a badge of underachievement.

I'm the same age you are and I really don't have the same kind of view as Radford. I know it's not a "name" school, but I wouldn't regard it as a scarlet letter.

ETA I see it as a school that people who didn't get into the VA Big four and don't want to go to a commuter college (GMU, VCU, ODU) go to. Radford does at least have a traditional college vibe.

[Anonymous]

Radford was recruiting for a business honors program when my kid was applying. According to the literature, it would have included generous merit aid, small classes and pipelines to good internships. It was also limited to a very small group, I'm thinking 20-30 tops. Compare that to GMU's honors program, which filled two auditoriums at the accept student event.

Yes, comparing Radford and GMU and really any other state school is apples to orangoutangs. I think Redford sounds like a great fit for your son. He may absolutely thrive there and find his tribe. I wouldn't send him with the intention of transferring to a "better" school in 2 years. It is great for the late blooming kids to find their footing and get to know their school and stick it out. They also don't want to view their school as a consolation prize.

For what it's worth, I can't see a kid who thrives in Radford's small, rural setting automatically loving urban VCU or big-10-esque JMU. I can't speak to ODU. They're very different environments. We are lucky in VA to have many different types of learning spaces for different kids.

[Anonymous]

I would view the options as Radford vs. community college with guaranteed admissions to another (mostly state, but there are some private) school.

If my son struggled in high school, the community college option might work if there were additional efforts at home to keep him organized, focused, and well-scheduled. A community college environment will not be well-supported at the school level, so additional supports will need to come from home.

Going to Radford, there would be some (limited) school supports. I would contact the Learning Assistance and Resource Center http://www.radford.edu/content/LARC/home.html to find out what specific assistance might be provided.

My concern about sending my son to Radford would be the ability to keep him focused so he doesn't "throw away" a semester (or year) of college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Proud RU graduate, class of 1994. Female, by the way.

I was much like your DS, rejected from JMU and Tech. RU was my safe school and I packed up and started my freshman year with the idea that I'd transfer to JMU ASAP.

Guess what? I got very involved with student government, my residence hall and intramurals. I fell in love with the beautiful campus, the friendly students and also became a student ambassador and tour guide.

Have you gone on a tour? Has DS? You must. The campus is walkable, small and lovely - new academic buildings and updated residence halls in harmony with gorgeous, stately buildings.

Likely due to my experiences at RU, I had the self-confidence, drive and yes, solid academic skills that garnered me a solid job offer *before* graduation.

Don't discount RU. I am tremendously proud of my undergraduate degree in English.

RU is a place where underachievers can mature and thrive in a supportive, smaller college community. I was a far better, more serious college student than I was a high school student.

I've stayed involved in RU recruiting and admissions and have been back to campus often.

RU has excellent humanities, communication and speech disorders, teaching, nursing and business departments.

A word of caution: RU might be a "safe" school with generous admissions standards, but once accepted, it's tough for some to stay out of academic probation and even honor code violations. In my day, freshman were tripled in dorms in August but promised that by Fall Break that this would not be the case. And, it was! Tremendous attrition.

Great post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People have got to stop ranking the VA schools from best to worst. I'm glad the Radford alum PP sounded in in defense of a school that sounds like a great fit for kids whose HS records aren't pristine. While I haven't toured the campus I did drive through it and I thought it was lovely. Looks like a nice environment for learning.

+1
My son and I are looking forward to touring Radford when we go down to Tech. I've heard it has a beautiful campus and very friendly students.

[Anonymous]

I would assume that Radford keeps company with the hundreds or thousands of other perfectly fine regional colleges/universities that I haven't heard of. (I hadn't heard of Radford until this thread.) Only people familiar with VA's state university system would know that Radford means you didn't get into UVA or William & Mary or Virginia Tech--this Marylander had no clue.

The smaller, lesser-well-known colleges that I am familiar with all have lovely campuses, profs who are usually interested in the students, and are perfect for some kids.

That's what I'd assume.

My two cents. I went to an undergrad you have heard of and an Ivy grad school.

[Anonymous]

In most fields, nobody cares what college you graduate from. A smart, hard-working kid will do well. A lazy kid will not. The name of the school is irrelevant.

[Anonymous]

The only person I knew that failed the praxis went to radford

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Proud RU graduate, class of 1994. Female, by the way.

I was much like your DS, rejected from JMU and Tech. RU was my safe school and I packed up and started my freshman year with the idea that I'd transfer to JMU ASAP.

Guess what? I got very involved with student government, my residence hall and intramurals. I fell in love with the beautiful campus, the friendly students and also became a student ambassador and tour guide.

Have you gone on a tour? Has DS? You must. The campus is walkable, small and lovely - new academic buildings and updated residence halls in harmony with gorgeous, stately buildings.

Likely due to my experiences at RU, I had the self-confidence, drive and yes, solid academic skills that garnered me a solid job offer *before* graduation.

Don't discount RU. I am tremendously proud of my undergraduate degree in English.

RU is a place where underachievers can mature and thrive in a supportive, smaller college community. I was a far better, more serious college student than I was a high school student.

I've stayed involved in RU recruiting and admissions and have been back to campus often.

RU has excellent humanities, communication and speech disorders, teaching, nursing and business departments.

A word of caution: RU might be a "safe" school with generous admissions standards, but once accepted, it's tough for some to stay out of academic probation and even honor code violations. In my day, freshman were tripled in dorms in August but promised that by Fall Break that this would not be the case. And, it was! Tremendous attrition.

Great post.

Spectacular post. I am not a Radford alum, but OP, pls bear in mind that over the last 30 years, -ALL- VA publics have become MUCH more selective. This is a permanent shift, I think; the appeal of middle- and lower-tier private colleges and universities has basically been lost. We know several Radford alums who are doing well, especially the younger alums. It could be a big mistake to not consider Radford seriously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's important to think about how Radford ended up as your DS's only option for college. Is he just not that into school? Does he try and still struggle academically? Is he happy with average grades?

I know people who went to Radford because it was a good fit, and their lives are just fine now. I also know kids who just weren't academically inclined, and they didn't last long at Radford. People who say college is what you make of it are right -- but if college is going to be four more years of a miserable slog through classes your kid doesn't enjoy with no particular goal in mind, maybe a year off to figure things out (and work at the sort of job a high-school graduate can get) would be better.

+1. I am a higher ed administrator and this is wise advice. The first year of college is chockful of challenges and if your child is meh about learning, the odds they won't succeed their first year is quite high.