<p>check out kansas state. they have an equine program. their website mentions their equine study tour (abroad). google kansas state equine program. also mentioned are plans for a state of the art equine education and activities center.</p>
<p>I have a seriously rocket-science cousin who hated testing and school in high school and refused all standardized tests. Imagine his surprise when he ended up getting a PhD in Ancient languages and teaching for a living? Life has the oddest twists and turns. I sometimes think that is the saddest part about the level of competition and stress kids feel today in school. The great student in 6th grade isn’t necessarily the great innovator in the sciences or the arts or even math! It all takes time to shake out. I wish we could give our kids breathing space around this in more substantial way, without fear that they would somehow be left behind. I do love the American education system, in that community colleges and continuing education really do allow for second and third acts. We’re really fortunate that way!</p>
<p>compmom-as an adult I know plans change. What I want for her is to have options if her plans do change. Decisions she makes today will have an impact on her choices. For example she wants to quit her foreign language after 10th grade. She will have had 3 yrs of Spanish which in our district will be the equivalent of 2 yrs of high school Spanish. This will meet the minimum requirement for our state college system. But only 2 yrs of a Spanish will limit her choices down the road. She had an option of taking AP Euro History. She declined. She has already taken World History and see’s no benefit to taking the Euro. It doesn’t count for anything that you need to graduate. I could have insisted on the Euro but I didn’t. I will insist she continue at least a third yr of a language.
Riding is her passion. She see’s the community college option as a way to continue riding for 2 extra years on my dime. She feels the money saved on tuition will enable her to train for 2 more yrs. She made her high school choice based on the school that would let her get out earlier in the day. She signed up for zero period which starts at 7am so she can get out at 1:30 to get to the barn.
There is anxiety about the new school. She will not be going alone. Her present school ends at grade 9 so everyone is going to be off to a new school. We gave her an option of a smaller Catholic high school. She refused to look. She feels she is done with private school.</p>
<p>Middle College is as Cardinal Fang stated. It is only open to high school students. The student takes some classes within the Middle College and others with the general community college population.Middle College has only a limited number of slots so acceptance to the program is not a given. At the end you graduate with your high school class and have a high school diploma plus some college credit. I am not sure if the diploma is from your home high school or the alternative high school. From the website the ideal candidate is someone who does not want to go to a 4 yr college right out of high school. The programs goal is that you should be ready to transfer as a junior after one additional year at the community college. I have known a couple of kids who started the program but don’t personally know anyone who has finished it. I know a few kids who have taken the Ca high school profiency exam and started the community college at 16 and transferred to a UC after 2 yrs. I think that option limits you to colleges that take the exam as the equivalent of a high school diploma.</p>
<p>mom60 I personally know two students who went the Middle College route at the CC near you. Both finished it. I have to say that both of them were highly intelligent, highly motivated students who were almost too mature for the social aspects of high school. One of them finished the Middle College and entered college right away as a Junior. She has since gone on to medical school. I lost track of the other student after she finished the Middle College.<br>
One other option might be the homeschool/instructor route. A dear friend of mine teaches for one of these programs. It is homeschooling with a weekly meeting with a certificated teacher. The student graduates with a regular HS diploma, not a GED.<br>
There is a program near you. PM me if you like and I can put you in touch with my friend who teaches there.</p>
<p>Ebeeee-I think I know the program you are talking about.
I grew up in a time where you went to the school nearest your house and you made it work. Part of me feels like high school is her job and she needs to just go and do the best she can. It isn’t like she is in an unsafe enviroment. She is well liked by her peers and her teachers.
She doesn’t have to love it.
I have concerns how colleges will view an applicant from one of these non-traditional programs. Once again it comes down to my concerns about limiting options.
I think I also have a bias that those programs are for kids who don’t do well in regular school or who have had substance problems. For all outwardly appearances my D is the ideal student to her teachers. She comes to class ontime, she had all her materials, she does her homework, participates in class discussions. She is outwardly tolerant of her peers. The staff looks at her as a role model for other students. They have no clue how much she dislikes school.</p>
<p>Mom60. I agree. I think there is a bias there. It sounds like she is able to “fake” it enough that it isn’t that terrible. She just prefers the barn to school. I can relate, I prefer the barn, the golf course, puttering around the house to work!</p>
<p>“I have concerns how colleges will view an applicant from one of these non-traditional programs”</p>
<p>mom60–Often non-tranditional students and homeschoolers go straight to the proverbial horse’s mouth to get a feel for these things by calling admissions offices directly. This is possible at our large State U’s, as well as all of the smaller colleges we’ve interacted with. Check the university’s website for general entrance requirements, and check out the specific requirements for homeschoolers. Although admissions departments are doubtless swamped with sorting out next year’s enrollment, perhaps you could make an appointment during the summer to speak to them about requirements for non-traditional students. I also think the idea of making contact with a local homeschool group is not a bad idea, even if you have no intention of being a homeschooler. There are actually many homeschoolers who are not doing any schooling at home for high school, but rather pursuing alternative paths such as those you are considerinng. Homeschoolers in your area are likely to have a sense for how successful educational variations are at college admissions time.</p>
<p>Your daughter may find that she loves her new high school or at least find that it is workable, but you will have done your homework to provide an alternative path if she doesn’t.</p>
<p>I would just like to chime in and say no one HAS to go to college. Not even to be successful.</p>
<p>With a grade point like the one OP lists, D would be a candidate to most Cal States. That is a good option, so I don’t really see this situation as a really bad one. (Though I understand how frustrating having an underachiever can be.)</p>
<p>Don’t underestimate the change kids go through between 9th grade and graduation, and beyond. I know plenty people who disliked high school, graduated with Cs – and “grew up” in college, going onto successful and lucrative careers. Nowhere in the world is that more possible in than in California with its excellent community colleges, state and university system. Chin up, OP. Your daughter should be fine, especially if you make sure her grades/scores are good enough at least for Cal state system.</p>
<p>mom60 - You may find that she does end up liking the new school in the end, but it is good to think about options if it does not turn out well for her there. I agree with having her complete the third year of language so that she does not limit herself. As far as the APs go I think these classes should only be taken by the students that really are motivated and want to do them. </p>
<p>My hs freshman DD also is most passionate about riding and her friends at the barn. She understands how fortunate she is to have a lovely new horse she can compete in the highest levels of junior hunter/jumper riding on. She also knows that in return for us providing her with this wonderful EC that she has to work hard in school as it is her primary job. Although DD is getting all A’s this year, I would not say that she really loves school. She has always had to work harder than her older sister to get the good grades and this really bothers her at times.</p>
<p>DD does not want to limit her college choices to ones with riding programs. She knows 3 girls from our barn that are at Fresno State and she in not interested in that school. There is also a girl from our barn that is finishing her freshman year at Texas A&M on a good scholarship for riding. This girl was not a very good student, but was a very good rider and was recruited by the school. She has done fine in school there with all the additional help provided to NCAA atheletes.</p>
<p>My DD knows that when she starts college she will no longer have the horse. She is quite mature about this even at 14 as she knows that college will be a very busy time for her and that she would not be able to do all she can now with her horse.</p>
<p>showmom858, those are wise words. As you guys know, my 18 year old just gave up her horse for the same reasons. It was a hard decision but it was a step toward being an adult and understanding the time and energy the horse needs.</p>
<p>I know college is not for everyone. I am not pushing college on her. She wants to go to college. She also wants to ride. It has always been very clear that riding depends on doing well in school.</p>
<p>ebeeeee - I have told my DD that when she goes to college I am going to take up riding! There is a lovely group of ladies that ride with our trainer that are ages 40 - 60 + that all ride and some even show. I would still have to sell DDs horse and get me something that is a much lower level than this guy though.</p>