Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For NOVA - no one around here says they went to NOVA; they usually say they graduated from ...

As per success stories - I know exceptionally bright kids like 1500 SAT and 4.x GPA that went to CC in CA. They also have guaranteed admission and they managed to get to their dream UC school like UCLA.

Not sure why you call it a black hole? The best teachers teach at NOVA - the bigger schools are either taught be noob grad students or disinterested professors trying to make their min. NOVA teachers do not have research pressures their pressure is to teach a class - even grading they have people to do that.

The only downside to CC is having to explain why DD is going to CC for 2 years.

That’s only if you are a snob

Plenty of very successful kids go on from NVCC to 4 year schools. But maybe you don’t like their demographics because they are often newer to the US and first to a US college.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are probably many success stories out there. You could look at NoVa’s transfer rates to the VA public college for an idea. But your DD has one more year of HS.

CC is seen as 2nd best b/c in the US going away to college is viewed as the launchpad to adulthood. From an academic standpoint, CC to knock out gen ed requirements or to find what you’re interested in is great. The academics are similar to what you’d find at many 4yr schools. It’s the independence and social aspect that is lacking.

What are your concerns for her success? Can you use senior yr to shore up the skills she would need? Or find colleges that support her areas of deficiency?

There’s nothing wrong with going to CC. A 4yr school is not for everyone. But everyone needs to eventually launch. In 3 yrs, do you think whatever your concerns are will be alleviated?

OP. Someone asked what I meant by "black hole". As an example, my nephew intended to go to a state university in NY after two years at CC. He never made it. I know that's just one example, and it may have to do more with him and his motivation (or lack of it) than anything else.

As for our DD, she's very shy, socially awkward and a bit of a late bloomer. Academically, she's doing fine but not a superstar. She's working a part time job which she could continue if she goes to NOVA, and she likes earning her own money. I know she would benefit from the slow launch into adulthood.

OK. that part of not returning to complete your degree - that happens even in big prestigious colleges. I know one who made it into VA Tech Engineering and decided that the college - work for someone life was meaningless. I've worked with another that made it into BU's joint BS/MD program and then drop out - he hated medicine. Going to CC has nothing to do with succeeding to an advanced degrees.

Ask your DD to look into GMU - I think it would be a good fit for both of you; GMU is a commuter school, most people attending have a part-time job, a lot of students live at home, and you have a path-way to a BS, MS, or PHD. The socially awkward part is normal for a lot of schools. Get a good GPA for undergrad and you'll have a good chance at a T10 grad school. Ok I'm done selling.

CC, GMU, or anywhere else will be a good choice as long as you find an environment for DD to grow.

Your idea of GMU as a commuter school is outdated by about a decade. Have you seen all the dorms and new construction?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are probably many success stories out there. You could look at NoVa’s transfer rates to the VA public college for an idea. But your DD has one more year of HS.

CC is seen as 2nd best b/c in the US going away to college is viewed as the launchpad to adulthood. From an academic standpoint, CC to knock out gen ed requirements or to find what you’re interested in is great. The academics are similar to what you’d find at many 4yr schools. It’s the independence and social aspect that is lacking.

What are your concerns for her success? Can you use senior yr to shore up the skills she would need? Or find colleges that support her areas of deficiency?

There’s nothing wrong with going to CC. A 4yr school is not for everyone. But everyone needs to eventually launch. In 3 yrs, do you think whatever your concerns are will be alleviated?

OP. Someone asked what I meant by "black hole". As an example, my nephew intended to go to a state university in NY after two years at CC. He never made it. I know that's just one example, and it may have to do more with him and his motivation (or lack of it) than anything else.

As for our DD, she's very shy, socially awkward and a bit of a late bloomer. Academically, she's doing fine but not a superstar. She's working a part time job which she could continue if she goes to NOVA, and she likes earning her own money. I know she would benefit from the slow launch into adulthood.

OK. that part of not returning to complete your degree - that happens even in big prestigious colleges. I know one who made it into VA Tech Engineering and decided that the college - work for someone life was meaningless. I've worked with another that made it into BU's joint BS/MD program and then drop out - he hated medicine. Going to CC has nothing to do with succeeding to an advanced degrees.

Ask your DD to look into GMU - I think it would be a good fit for both of you; GMU is a commuter school, most people attending have a part-time job, a lot of students live at home, and you have a path-way to a BS, MS, or PHD. The socially awkward part is normal for a lot of schools. Get a good GPA for undergrad and you'll have a good chance at a T10 grad school. Ok I'm done selling.

CC, GMU, or anywhere else will be a good choice as long as you find an environment for DD to grow.

Anonymous wrote:CC can be a good path but I would definitely look for other options as well. I suggest looking at Richard Bland College, which is a CC owned/affiliated with W&M. It is one of the Few CCs with dorms and is a feeder to W&M. I would imagine that many classmates would matriculate from Richard Bland to W&M, which could help mitigate lack of a social group when transferring as a junior. disadvantage of CC. I’m a CC graduate and huge supporter, but as others have mentioned there are downsides as well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are probably many success stories out there. You could look at NoVa’s transfer rates to the VA public college for an idea. But your DD has one more year of HS.

CC is seen as 2nd best b/c in the US going away to college is viewed as the launchpad to adulthood. From an academic standpoint, CC to knock out gen ed requirements or to find what you’re interested in is great. The academics are similar to what you’d find at many 4yr schools. It’s the independence and social aspect that is lacking.

What are your concerns for her success? Can you use senior yr to shore up the skills she would need? Or find colleges that support her areas of deficiency?

There’s nothing wrong with going to CC. A 4yr school is not for everyone. But everyone needs to eventually launch. In 3 yrs, do you think whatever your concerns are will be alleviated?

OP. Someone asked what I meant by "black hole". As an example, my nephew intended to go to a state university in NY after two years at CC. He never made it. I know that's just one example, and it may have to do more with him and his motivation (or lack of it) than anything else.

As for our DD, she's very shy, socially awkward and a bit of a late bloomer. Academically, she's doing fine but not a superstar. She's working a part time job which she could continue if she goes to NOVA, and she likes earning her own money. I know she would benefit from the slow launch into adulthood.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For NOVA - no one around here says they went to NOVA; they usually say they graduated from ...

As per success stories - I know exceptionally bright kids like 1500 SAT and 4.x GPA that went to CC in CA. They also have guaranteed admission and they managed to get to their dream UC school like UCLA.

Not sure why you call it a black hole? The best teachers teach at NOVA - the bigger schools are either taught be noob grad students or disinterested professors trying to make their min. NOVA teachers do not have research pressures their pressure is to teach a class - even grading they have people to do that.

The only downside to CC is having to explain why DD is going to CC for 2 years.

That’s only if you are a snob

Plenty of very successful kids go on from NVCC to 4 year schools. But maybe you don’t like their demographics because they are often newer to the US and first to a US college.

Anonymous wrote:My friend’s son had a rough high school experience. Square peg in a round hole in many ways and appeared unmotivated and aimless with the grades to “prove” it. It was especially frustrating/painful/difficult for her given the family’s high academic nature (she and her sibling have PhDs, father is a well-known MD etc.)

Her son did two years of local community college, and things started falling into place. Transferred to a southern flagship and absolutely excelled. As a senior there, he got into a T-14 law school. He’s doing well there, though again, a bit of a square peg compared to his peers. But this time around, he’s comfortable enough in his skin to do it his way and has landed a great summer associate position.

Some kids really do grow into themselves later than their peers. Others are just not well-served by the traditional high school learning/testing environment and bloom once they’ve moved on. And for many, the definition of “bloom” looks different than you may have expected.

Life is long. What matters is that you love and support your kids andhelp them stick with their education and development until they find their footing on a path that works for them. It’s hard, especially when everyone is posting all the conventional markers of “success” senior year. But keep loving and supporting your DC, and give them the gift of taking life at their own pace.

Anonymous wrote:For NOVA - no one around here says they went to NOVA; they usually say they graduated from ...

As per success stories - I know exceptionally bright kids like 1500 SAT and 4.x GPA that went to CC in CA. They also have guaranteed admission and they managed to get to their dream UC school like UCLA.

Not sure why you call it a black hole? The best teachers teach at NOVA - the bigger schools are either taught be noob grad students or disinterested professors trying to make their min. NOVA teachers do not have research pressures their pressure is to teach a class - even grading they have people to do that.

The only downside to CC is having to explain why DD is going to CC for 2 years.