If you can't get A's in high school you're not going to get them in college. College is hard ... but you can get a lot of easy A's at community college. But yes, it's a miserable experience.

Why do you think you will get the As in college that you aren't getting right now? It is only October. Step it up and walk the walk.

Anonymous wrote:Just curious, what is your parents' input regarding college?

+1, no way I'd pay for another year of high school if you screwed it up (baring special needs). Community college or a state college then transfer or get a job and move out.

I thought your bigger issue is ACT scores? A year of postgrad isn't going to do much there assuming you'd already done prep. I am also not sure a selective college will view a postgrad year very positively.

Just curious, what is your parents' input regarding college?

Can you get into JMU or GMU? Your best bet is cc. If you wanted to go to a better college, you should have studied harder in high school.

Not OP, but how much would something like this count toward admissions? I would think they are only interested in grades and credits transferred from other colleges and universities. Would you get college credits from one of these "finishing schools"? If not, you are shooting yourself in the foot. If you enroll in another year of schooling, why not enroll in an actual college or university? If you are too embarrassed to go to community college, then enroll in a different county and rent an apartment nearby. It will still be cheaper that what you are considering and you'll have transferrable credits when all is said and done.

If you absolutely refuse to go to a community college, then enroll in any school that will accept you and transfer to UVa after a year or two. It's going to cost far more than community college and the results will be the same.

PaleoConPrep wrote:This is something I'm starting to think about. None of the colleges that are currently on my list are all that great. I'd really like to go to UVA because of the strong academics and connections I'd be able to make, but I don't have the grades to get in this year. There's no way I'm doing CC. Are there any good academic postgrad programs for students who want to boost their stats before applying to college? I see several boarding schools ( Northfield Mount Hermon, Avon Old Farms, Exeter) have postgrad programs. How hard is it to get into one of these boarding school postgrad programs? I'm looking for a 1-2 year program where I can boost my stats before applying to college. Thoughts?

Adjust your attitude first.

Community college is your best option

UVa? I thought you wanted to attend a far-right college?

that's so great you came to a parenting site to ask this question.

The boarding school options will not necessarily increase your chances of admission. However, 1-2 years at CC with excellent grades practically guarantee your chances of admission.

The boarding school's PG programs are for 1 year. They also are in the $50,000 range. Typical student in these programs are athletes.

This is something I'm starting to think about. None of the colleges that are currently on my list are all that great. I'd really like to go to UVA because of the strong academics and connections I'd be able to make, but I don't have the grades to get in this year. There's no way I'm doing CC. Are there any good academic postgrad programs for students who want to boost their stats before applying to college? I see several boarding schools ( Northfield Mount Hermon, Avon Old Farms, Exeter) have postgrad programs. How hard is it to get into one of these boarding school postgrad programs? I'm looking for a 1-2 year program where I can boost my stats before applying to college. Thoughts?