Whoa, OP back--thanks all. Got my preschooler down to bed and I'm ready to do a bit more research. Going to revise my list and send it out to the kid tonight.

Sounds like he's missed some financial aid deadlines--is he basically SOL? What should he be doing over the next, like, two weeks? I want to help as much as I can, but I know he's missed the boat on some stuff.

His mom means well but it sounds like they have not been very organized. Talked to another family member tonight--sounds like he's only applied so far to VCU, ODU, and Norfolk State (I definitely think he can get into a better school than the latter). He also apparently wants to apply to GMU and possibly Marymount.

I'll post my revised list in a bit. Thanks for help--it's been about 20 years since I thought about college applications myself!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd have him go NVCC, keep his grades up and do the in-state transfer to another state school then.

Why do people assume that a kid who's pulling a 3.1 in high school is going to magically do much better at NVCC? Doesn't always happen that way.

It's not about magic. It's about big differences between high school and college - the way classes are taught, the timing of classes, the way you can set up your schedule, when you can study, among many, many other things. I was a 3.0 high school student (mix of As, Bs, and Cs) and was 4.0 at NVCC. I transferred to W&M and did very well there. I just did much better with college learning vs. high school.

Yes, it can happen. And if it's a kid's only choice, because of finances or because of grades, it's worth trying.

But acting like it's an easy thing, or that it works for every kid, or that you can ensure your kid a place at W&M, is ridiculous.

If this kid can get into a 4 year school, and his family can afford it, and he wants a 4 year school, then going to one is a good choice. If it turns out that college works wonderfully from him, he can earn a 4.0 at ODU or VCU or Mary Washington, and transfer from there. And if it turns out that he stays a B student, or slides to a C student, he'll end up with a degree.

Anonymous wrote:Roanoke College, W&L, Richmond

Have you read the thread?

Roanoke College, W&L, Richmond

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd have him go NVCC, keep his grades up and do the in-state transfer to another state school then.

Why do people assume that a kid who's pulling a 3.1 in high school is going to magically do much better at NVCC? Doesn't always happen that way.

It's not about magic. It's about big differences between high school and college - the way classes are taught, the timing of classes, the way you can set up your schedule, when you can study, among many, many other things. I was a 3.0 high school student (mix of As, Bs, and Cs) and was 4.0 at NVCC. I transferred to W&M and did very well there. I just did much better with college learning vs. high school.

I agree, UMD is not an easy school to get in to these days.

Longwood isn't a bad school. He should check it out.

And sit down and help this family fill out the FAFSA - and do it NOW - or none of this discussion re: this or that college matters either

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd have him go NVCC, keep his grades up and do the in-state transfer to another state school then.

As a parent of a kid with similar schools, if it was as easy as telling your kid "keep your grades up", don't you think we'd have tried that strategy in middle school or high school?

The reality is that some kids find academics challenging. My kid can work twice as hard as your A student, and still end up with a B or even a C. Expecting a kid who has received average grades in HS, where there's lots of support, to suddenly receive significantly above average grades at community college, is not realistic.

Unless there's some special circumstance, I wouldn't go into community college with the idea that it's an easy path to in state 4 year schools.

It might not be easier, but it's far cheaper, especially for a fair-to-middling student.

Apply NOW to 6 -10 Va colleges if he can find schools still accepting applications. Valuable time is being wasted deciding which ones.

Only matters who is still accepting applications.

Anonymous wrote:I'd have him go NVCC, keep his grades up and do the in-state transfer to another state school then.

As a parent of a kid with similar schools, if it was as easy as telling your kid "keep your grades up", don't you think we'd have tried that strategy in middle school or high school?

The reality is that some kids find academics challenging. My kid can work twice as hard as your A student, and still end up with a B or even a C. Expecting a kid who has received average grades in HS, where there's lots of support, to suddenly receive significantly above average grades at community college, is not realistic.

Unless there's some special circumstance, I wouldn't go into community college with the idea that it's an easy path to in state 4 year schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd have him go NVCC, keep his grades up and do the in-state transfer to another state school then.

Why do people assume that a kid who's pulling a 3.1 in high school is going to magically do much better at NVCC? Doesn't always happen that way.

No, but one can get an AA with less-than-amazing GPA and transfer.

The problem with many of the OOS schools is that the applications for merit-aid programs were due Oct 15. Most people have their financial aid stuff already done and in.

Consider Ohio U. in Athens, Ohio. They have a lot of great programs and give a lot of merit aid to OOS applicants.