<p>Community College feels like a huge punishment, ok? So, please, don't tell me to go to one.</p>
<p>I am looking for a college with:</p>
<p>*English + Environmental Science as majors
*Student housing for freshies
*Quidditch!!!!!!!!!
*Outdoor activities (hiking, biking, kayaking)
*A nice campus
*Things to do
*And most importantly, one that will let me in without having taken Algebra 2, because I can't take it and still get in as a freshman, and I'm not waiting 3.5 years to go to a university...</p>
<p>I've checked on a lot of the websites (cappex, petersen's), but I can't seem to put in a lot of the criteria I am looking for.</p>
<p>What year are you in HS? Most HS I know of expect Algebra 2 of college bound students and usually at least one year beyond. What state are you in and how much can you afford? I think there are a lot of schools that would meet your criteria but without grades/test scores and how much you can afford it’s going to hard for anyone to help you out.</p>
<p>Algebra 2 is a roadblock. Most colleges require it for admissions. With so many online options, you should not have to wait to take it. If you need help with online, you could get a tutor to work with you.</p>
<p>Community college is good because you can get your gen ed credits cheaper than paying for 60,000k per year. I’m currently attending a cc and I love it and I never thought I would like it. </p>
<p>Those online options tend to cost around $800, though. </p>
<p>If there were a way to zoom through my gen ed and then spend 4 years at a university, that would be nice. That’s why I want to start as a freshman. More social experiences, more help, more enjoyable experience. But spending four years in a place I hate, to get my gen ed, for just the POSSIBILITY of going to my dream school for two years? No, not really really worth it. If I detest the school I’m at, I’m not going to be successful. It would take literally all the fun out of college for me. </p>
<p>At this point, I’m honestly thinking of forgetting about school. I’ve made enough money to put a down on a house, I’m nearly finished with my novel, and I have a pretty good idea of what I want to do with my life. Trying to get into/ dealing with college has been way more of a hindrance than it’s worth. Less student debt, anyway.</p>
<p>I just looked at the requirements for admission to Evergreen State College. They have open admissions, but require 3 years of high school math (Algebra I and higher). They would seem like a perfect college for you. Warren Wilson also requires Algebra II. Maybe your strategy makes short-term sense, and you can take the Algebra II CLEP or get a GED. Can you graduate from your H.S. without Algebra II.</p>
<p>Why would you spend 4 years working on gen eds? You need to explain your current status more fully. If you are HS senior and you only lack in math, you might could make up for it during one summer at a CC - not 4 years. Again, without stats/grades it’s hard to recommend colleges, but I suggest you find a few you can talk to directly about your specific situation.</p>
<p>I graduated from high school in the spring of 2013. I have been told that one class taken in college will make me a college student, and therefore a transfer. And the CC system in California (at least in the Bay Area) makes it VERY difficult to get the classes needed to earn enough credits for transfer.</p>
<p>Well if you graduated HS with diploma, I think there would be some college that would accept you at the place you are…you just might have to complete some remedial math. I wonder the same thing as Penny - if you were planning on college, why didn’t you take college prep curriculum? You need to contact some colleges that you can afford and talk to them in person. Almost every school will have a major in English. Look at science offerings…even if don’t have major, you might find enough courses to do minor.</p>
<p>I did. I took two years’ worth of courses in my senior year, for this express purpose. I dealt with some extenuating circumstances in junior year; it prevented me from taking Geometry on time, which also held me back on Algebra 2, as I was unable to take them simultaneously.</p>
<p>What you are asking about is how to circumvent the system that is already in place for post high school students who have not completed the general classes required for college admission- which is the community college. I understand that you feel this is less than ideal for you- but this is exactly what community colleges are designed to do- put people on the path to college by bridging the gap between high school and college, or offer other career programs that do not require a 4 year degree. They are also one of the most economical options, as you have seen, private online classes can be costly. </p>
<p>It is understandable that it was not your fault that difficulties disrupted your education in high school, but if you want to be ready for the next step- college- then you need to take the entrance requirements- like every student- so that you are prepared to take math in college. Just about every college has a math requirement, and math classes build on other ones. A student who has not taken Algebra 2 may struggle in a college math class. </p>
<p>CC is not a punishment. It’s an opportunity for many students to achieve their goals. The reasons for attending CC are many: financial, gaps in high school records. From the perspective of people who expect to attend a four year college, students and CC’s may appear to be “less than” what they want but it may not be true. Consider that some students in CC’s may have had obstacles- but they are not letting them stop them.</p>
<p>One way to enter college after a gap in high school is to apply as a non-traditional student. However, I don’t know of any colleges that accept a student without some proof that they have met the requirements either by a transcript or testing. If you think you can do this- then you will need to contact the colleges about this. The other way is to take the classes you have missed in high school at CC and apply as a transfer- and some colleges- maybe not the California state ones- may have more flexible requirements for transfer so it might not take a long time to meet them. It may take you longer than four years to get a degree since you have to make up some classes that you missed in high school.</p>
<p>Although what happened to you in high school was not your fault, you can still proceed with your education if you are willing to take one of the choices available to you. Or you can decide- as you mentioned- not to- at least for now. </p>
<p>It’s been an uphill battle for two years for me. College just isn’t going to be worth it for me. Besides, English degrees are useless in the novel- writing world (they won’t write the novel for you). I’m already doing what I want with my life, college just seemed like something I had to do. But I really don’t. </p>
<p>Thanks for helping me reach this point of clarity.</p>
<p>College is something one chooses to do. One reason many people your age go to college is because it is somewhat easier to do so before taking on other responsibilities such as raising a family. However, this isn’t necessarily the right course for everybody. For some, college is not something they want to do, others may be undecided. An older student returning to college might find it challenging to balance family and school, but they may have more of a focus than they did when they were younger. Some adults change careers midlife and go back to school. </p>
<p>I would say that if someone feels strongly that college isn’t worth it, then this isn’t the time to go, maybe in the future, or not, but not now. I hope you are successful pursuing what interests you. </p>
<p>An easy way to deal with this is to take Algebra 2 through a virtual school (NOT a community college). There’s FLVS but there are others. You deal with it and can go to most 4-year colleges, residential or commuter, your choice. Since not taking Algebra2 is not a choice, but imposed by circumstances, it shouldn’t be a problem to take it and get it done. With FLVS if you work several hours a day, you can get done in about a month. You can supplement this with Khan Academy videos for extra help.</p>
<p>If you really, really don’t want to spend time taking Algebra2 online:
Evergreen would be a good choice but there are lots of other possibilities - Doane, Mitchell, Millikin, Lesley…
At Southern Oregon University (in Ashland, where the Shakespeare festival takes place), students who are missing one requirement (such as Algebra II) can instead submit a writing sample and/or a resume. I think it’d be ideal for you since you’re a writer - essentially, you get to show your writing skills to offset your lack of math class, and that shouldn’t be a problem!
At Lycoming College you can offset the missing math class with extra classes in other subjects and/or a writing sample and/or an interview.
Eckerd, a writer’s paradise right on the beach, with seminars/workshops conducted by current writers (such as Dennis Lehane), does not require Algebra II provided you have proof of your ability to do college-level work.</p>