<p>Our DD is applying to Boston University , Boston College (her reach) Pepperdine, Santa Clara University, Clark University, Azusa Pacific, Loyola Marymount, Seattle University, and Northeastern. She began the search process thinking she was interested in marketing, but has discovered that she is really terrific and passionate about working with kids. </p>
<p>Would any posters have opinions about which of these schools would best prepare her for a job where she could either teach elementary OR use marketing and education together to benefit kids? The schools are pretty diverse - she is strongly considering applying to BU early decision. Santa Clara University is her second choice, with the others all in the running. </p>
<p>Thanks for any help!</p>
<p>Is money an issue? How much can you spend each year on her education? I wouldn’t recommend taking on a lot of debt for a degree in education since there are less expensive options.</p>
<p>There are so many good education depts at various schools. Is she going to apply to any UCs or Cal States? (I’m guessing you’re in Calif)</p>
<p>If money is an issue, which schools would be her financial safety schools (schools that you know will be affordable because of either lowish cost that you can pay for or because of assured scholarships.</p>
<p>What are your D’s stats? There may be some schools that would offer her scholarships.</p>
<p>*our daughter’s statistics are not especially outstanding, we do not expect to get any financial aid, so in a sense I feel like we are simply filling out the form for merit aide qualification. *</p>
<p>I just saw that you’re interested in merit scholarships. If so, then you need to have schools on your list that will consider your D’s stats to be high. Merit scholarships are typically given to kids whose stats are very high for a particular school.</p>
<p>What are your D’s stats?</p>
<p>Since she has developed an interest in elementary school age children, she should spend some time with elementary school teachers and find out where they would recommend that she study. If her goal is to become a classroom teacher, she needs to know which colleges/universities have the strongest ties with the school districts where she’d like to work.</p>
<p>*she needs to know which colleges/universities have the strongest ties with the school districts where she’d like to work. *</p>
<p>Good point.</p>
<p>And also what the requirements are for teaching in various states. Some, like Washington, want teachers to have a degree in something (like English or Math or History) as well as the teaching certificate. I know a number of people who have gotten their BA and then gone on to a Masters in Teaching as well as BA/certificate & masters in something else related to elementary education. </p>
<p>She can also look online at the districts she’s most interested in for the wage scales. If loans will be needed to pay for her BA, the cost might be too high given the pay for the first 10 years.</p>
<p>*If loans will be needed to pay for her BA, the cost might be too high given the pay for the first 10 years. *</p>
<p>I agree. I wouldn’t unnecessarily take out loans for a teaching degree. Most newish teachers barely make enough to support themselves, much less pay back loans. </p>
<p>If there are good schools that can be paid for without loans (either thru family funds or scholarships), I would go that route.</p>
<p>Wow, I love this board! Thank you so much for your insights! </p>
<p>I will send her to speak with her teachers right away, and will definitely discuss this with her further. I myself am an educator, and I must admit when I look at it from that lens that the coursework at my small liberal arts school in education vs. the coursework in my large university graduate program were quite comparable. In general, as an educator, I honestly was not impressed with the quality of the coursework in either school. Therefore, the alternative of majoring in a topic that she is passionate about (she does love history) and then getting a credential is very appealing to me. Thanks for the idea! </p>
<p>I think it is too late for her to change the schools she is applying to, unless she adds some UC or Cal State schools to the mix. I am still trying to convince her to investigate speech pathology/communicative disorders which is what I am. I honestly love my career, even after 25 years, and there is a constant shortage. Graduate school is essential however, and can be extremely difficult to get into as the program is expensive and not a lot of schools offer it.</p>