<p>My Grandson told me last year he wanted to go to a small highly respected college in Georgia that was highly rated in movie productions such as Toy Store and other new moves with cartoon caracters? Now, as a Junior he dropped out of Drama and started taking Ceramics and now wants to teach ceramics in High School. As his Granddad I paid for two years of college on my own, got married had kids but because of luck/hard work and determination I have done pretty well for myself.</p>
<p>I need to get my Grandson back on track, and his Mom (my daughter did not fall far from the tree) she drinks heavily, has the hook-up on her car to brerath in before the car will start. </p>
<p>I need someone to tell me what I should do. I just sent him a text asking if he had taken the SAT test and he said no. And then asked "why am I asking?". It appears that his Mom had sort of brain washed him and he is just wanting to take the easy way out going to a junior college taking some courses and doing only minimum courses.</p>
<p>Being my first time to send something, I do not know what to do?</p>
<p>You are not obliged to support him in anything you don’t feel like paying for. Your grandson is young, wants to try a lot of things and it may take him time to find his way. When he settles into something that looks like he has truly found a niche, you can help him out then. Don’t let him use up your money on hare brained ideas. It’s fine that he has them and tries to make a go of them—some such ideas do truly turn out to be solid, but using up funds on every trial and error is not a good idea. </p>
<p>Let him sow some wild oats, and when he has a good plan on the table, then consider helping him. Otherwise, just smile and nod. If you want to help out, make sure he has health insurance and encourage him to get counseling and maybe pay directly for that. There are enough things that come up in life when you feel you absolutely have to pay–emergencies, medical issues, so hold on there for those things and things that have a good chance of leading somewhere.</p>
<p>So he’s still in HS? Exploring is natural and good. But dropping $$ on a college that is only selected because of a single major/interest that he might change his mind about is not a good idea. Most kids change their majors at least once. It is not reasonable to expect kids to have a major selected and a career mapped out before entering college. For one thing, most of the things they can study and the careers they can pursue haven’t even appeared on their radar yet. (I doubt very much that there are many HS teachers who make a living teaching ONLY ceramics, and not art in general.) SOunds like he may have an overall direction: he likes the arts, he may like teaching. That’s a reasonable place to start.</p>
<p>Sounds like sitting down with him and having a talk about things would be a good idea. Counseling may well be in order, too, especially if he has grown up in an alcoholic household. (I’m wondering if his father is in the picture…)</p>
<p>I think you need to tread a fine line between support and enabling, and between using the power of the purse to be unduly controlling and providing some “reality therapy,” as they say. Maybe he’ll need a gap year to come to terms with some of this stuff. Does he have the grades to get into a decent college? He definitely needs to take either the SAT or the ACT.</p>
<p>Lastly, I don’t know how close your username is to your real name, but if it is, I suggest asking the mods to let you come back under something more anonymous. :)</p>
<p>I’d suggest taking him on some campus tours to see college life (and opportunities) in person. Each college has very specific information on their website (admissions section) regarding their campus visit opportunities. Schools often allow visiting students to visit classrooms, eat in cafeteria, and get a long student-led tour. Pick state schools as well as a couple private colleges. (Do you know his GPA so that you can target appropriate colleges?)</p>
<p>To become a HS teacher, he still needs a BA plus teaching certification.</p>
<p>Sounds like you did need to serve as de-facto parent for your grandson, in lieu of his mother, and later your grandson will appreciate your intervention. Some students are very anxious and avoidant about college matters, because it seems so daunting, and sometimes perhaps because it seems so unlikely that they can actually attend. Have you discussed HOW he would pay for college? Are you willing to financially help him? I’d get some college selection handbooks (Fiskes, Princeton Review, Barrons, etc) and sit him down (over food?) and start talking in earnest.</p>
<p>From a money and growing up standpoint starting in a JC might not be a bad idea but I like the idea if you are willing to take him on college visits where he can see and hear what students are able to do with that kind of education. </p>
<p>The major that is involved in making graphics for movies and video games is called Digital Media. There are colleges and direct trade type schools that teach this. You can search Digital media programs by state.</p>
<p>The parents here will help you with anything you need to create a list of options if you want so feel free to ask.</p>
<p>And yes, as a Jr. he should be getting ready to take the SAT which has their last test in May. Otherwise he can take it Sr. year starting in Sept.</p>
<p>If he is the creative type, he may not be the best test-taker. Find out what you can about his standardized exam scores so far - maybe pay a visit with him to his HS guidance counselor. Also, if he is committed to an art/design major, his portfolio will be more important in the admissions process than his exam scores - possibly even more important than his grades (but don’t tell him that just yet). Most Junior Colleges and Community Colleges offer their own placement exams for students who haven’t taken the SAT or ACT. If that is where you grandson wants to start out, and it is affordable for him then he should check their exam policy. All of this is to say that he many never need to take an SAT or ACT at all.</p>