Would you send your child to Nova (community college)

[Anonymous]

Why or why not? Any experiences?

[Anonymous]

Yes, I would. Particularly for the guaranteed admissions program to a 4-year school. A very cost-effective way to obtain higher ed.

[Anonymous]

If that's the best he/she can do, sure.

[Anonymous]

My dh did it! (He had done 1 year in another state, then went to nova for 1 year + a summer). Transferred with an associates to GMU and did very well there. Made 105k/yr right out of college.

Not promising that outcome..... but people can do very well. Nova doesn’t really come up much since he was there for a short time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My dh did it! (He had done 1 year in another state, then went to nova for 1 year + a summer). Transferred with an associates to GMU and did very well there. Made 105k/yr right out of college.

Not promising that outcome..... but people can do very well. Nova doesn’t really come up much since he was there for a short time.

Cyber Security?

[Anonymous]

I would but my kid has no interest and we are able to do state school tuition.

[Anonymous]

We’ve saved so they can do 4 years at UVA/WM or VT, and have a full four year college experience.

But if they would have to take on debt to attend for four years, or were only accepted the the 3rd tier VA state colleges, sure. I think a four year college experience is ideal. But sometimes ideal isn’t an option. If it doesn’t work out, I would rather them NOVA to direct admit and get a UVA degree, rather than a 4 year Longwood degree. And rather then do 2 years of UVA or WM debt free than than 4 years with a lot of debt.

I think we will see more and more kids go this route, rather as even top students are getting shut out of UVA/VT/WM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’ve saved so they can do 4 years at UVA/WM or VT, and have a full four year college experience.

But if they would have to take on debt to attend for four years, or were only accepted the the 3rd tier VA state colleges, sure. I think a four year college experience is ideal. But sometimes ideal isn’t an option. If it doesn’t work out, I would rather them NOVA to direct admit and get a UVA degree, rather than a 4 year Longwood degree. And rather then do 2 years of UVA or WM debt free than than 4 years with a lot of debt.

I think we will see more and more kids go this route, rather as even top students are getting shut out of UVA/VT/WM.

+1

[Anonymous]

No I would not OP. CC is for first gen folks and poor high school performers and low SES people.

[Anonymous]

Only if there was an extremely high likelihood of making the cut on a 2-to-4 direct admission program. Unfortunately, like it or not, having a community college on one's record can slam doors closed, hard and fast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No I would not OP. CC is for first gen folks and poor high school performers and low SES people.

This is false. For a lot of reasons. Starting with—low SES and first gen kids qualify for extensive need based aid. UMC kid do not. You either do not live in this area, with a high COL and very strong competition to CA state schools, or you live in a super affluent bubble within the NOVA bubble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Only if there was an extremely high likelihood of making the cut on a 2-to-4 direct admission program. Unfortunately, like it or not, having a community college on one's record can slam doors closed, hard and fast.

This is so old fashioned thinking. If one goes to a community college and then transfers to a four year university how will the cc hurt my kid's job prospects? They only ask where you graduated not where you went!

But, keep thinking like that because the smart people know how to get a good education and save lots of money!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Only if there was an extremely high likelihood of making the cut on a 2-to-4 direct admission program. Unfortunately, like it or not, having a community college on one's record can slam doors closed, hard and fast.

What are you talking about? You go to NOVa. You complete the equivalent of two years of work (less if you have a lot of APs). You carry a 3.4. You are guaranteed admission to UVA.

https://admission.virginia.edu/sites/admission2016.virginia.edu/files/VCCS%20UVA%20Transfer%20Agreement%20Arts%20and%20Sciences.pdf

Your diploma says you graduated from UVA (not UVA plus NOVA). Your resume says you graduated from UVA. What doors are slamming shut?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No I would not OP. CC is for first gen folks and poor high school performers and low SES people.

This is false. For a lot of reasons. Starting with—low SES and first gen kids qualify for extensive need based aid. UMC kid do not. You either do not live in this area, with a high COL and very strong competition to CA state schools, or you live in a super affluent bubble within the NOVA bubble.

Should say VA state schools...

[Anonymous]

I absolutely would. I think it's super smart to do two years at a CC and transfer. None of my kids went that route. They received really great merit scholarships. But had they not, I would have encouraged it.