<p>Just so you know, typically students don’t take many classes in their major until junior year. Before that, they are getting distribution requirements out of the way, and for most, that includes taking courses in some areas that they may not have much interest in. For instance, many colleges require students to take courses in English, a foreign language, a lab science, humanities and social sciences. Students also may have to take a math class.</p>
<p>Mentioning this just in case you’re one of the many students who does very well in subjects they love, but doesn’t study the ones that you don’t like. If so, it will be important to develop the sense of responsibility that will allow you to do your best in all of your classes.</p>
<p>Grad school is where most of your courses would be in the field that interests you.</p>
<p>Typically, one may get to take a couple of classes – maybe 3- 4 in one’s major (which would mean about one class in one’s major per semester) during one’s first two years of college, but most of the classes you take then will be to fulfill distribution requirements. Given that you have a hard time studying when you’re not interested in a subject, it probably would be best if you spent your first two years in a college environment where there are small courses so the professor would get to know you, and you wouldn’t be as tempted to skip class, something that’s easy to do in college.</p>
<p>If you go to community college, you’d also need to fulfill those distribution requirements to get your associates degree. Putting off distribution requirements also would mean that as a junior and senior, you’d be taking classes with freshmen, something that most upperclassmembers wouldn’t enjoy. It’s amazing how much people mature over the 4 years of college.</p>
<p>My friend had a 23 on his ACT and a 2.7 GPA and got rejected from St. Cloud State (in-state), so it’s no guarantee you’ll get in. In terms of reputation amongst Minnesota state schools - UMN-TC is obviously the strongest, followed by UM-Duluth and UM-Morris. After that, I would say that St. Cloud State is probably the best. So it’s not a bad school in terms of in-state reputation. But anyone living more than two or three states away will not know a single thing about it.</p>
<p>@ Northstarmom: I don’t think I’d be skipping classes at CC…especially since im paying for it…will hopefully have my act all together…I will try and cram all of my 30 credits (15/16 each semester) in my freshman year :)</p>
<p>@ Drought: I didn’t know that!!! Thanks for the info i was thinking about UMD…but it’d be a reach & i think i’d hate everyone that went there/wouldnt get along w/ them (just bc i know the type of ppl that go there,haha)</p>
<p>eastaftrobeauty - have you looked into UW River Falls? Somewhere I read that you got an F in a class. Are you taking summer school classes. If so, it would be a good time to put your nose to the grindstone and show your colleges what you are capable of.</p>
<p>@ Kajon: yupp, I’m taking classes (after school everyday) to make up the classes…</p>
<p>and I’m probably going to summer school too (or i could retake it afterschool 1st quarter next year)…
And yes, I’ve heard of all the UW schools out ther, river falls, lacrosse (teacher’s son goes there), eau claire (friend going there)…(thanks to tshirts/hoodies i see around school LOL).</p>
<p>just wanted to add that as far as where to live and which CC to attend, that may also depend on both transportation needs and finances. Edina is certainly more accessible than Eagan to downtown Mpls and there would be more public transportation options if that is a consideration (not sure if MCTC provides student parking but you definitely don’t want to pay parking fees downtown; a large number of people (myself included) who work in downtown Mpls use public transportation esp since we got the lightrail)</p>
<p>Also something you should be aware of if you are interested in transferring to UMN-TC, there is a program called the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum that guarantees admission to UMN-TC from any of 7 local CCs (including both Normandale and MCTC) if you complete the program requirements. Here are a few links about this program. The CCs would also have more information.</p>
<p>At either St. Cloud State or at Normandale Community College, you could plan a program that would, if you complete the courses successfully, put you on track to transfer to the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. (If you have good grades in your first program, you will have no trouble getting into Minnesota Twin Cities.) Look at each college, and make sure each one has enough courses that will transfer to Twin Cities (as I expect they both have). Then, think about yourself and what motivates you and keeps you focused, and figure out which campus environment is mostly likely to help you get the good grades you will need to have more chances down the road. </p>
<p>Good luck with your decision. I too know plenty of St. Cloud State alumni. I also know a variety of U of MN alumni who did their first two years of college study at some community college or some other state college before transferring to Minnesota.</p>
<p>^ The UMN-TC will definitely be one of my choices to transfer to, but at the same time I have other schools in mind like Howard (#1 choice, don’t ask why i want to go there so bad, haha) then George Washington or Gtown [maybe even Uva]…</p>
<ul>
<li>I was also planning on transferring after one year…</li>
</ul>
<p>You need to take things one step at a time instead of plotting out transfers at this point. </p>
<p>And again, the comment about the “kind of people who go there” and “you won’t like any of them” (re UMD) is not the type of maturity you are looking to demonstrate.</p>
<p>If your goal really is academic performance, then you need to chill on the social aspect of college, especially as it tends to be a distraction for you.</p>
<p>I notice a lot of good advice from posters on this thread. Pay attention to all of it. There are many paths. Has your aunt asked you if you want to live with her? Would the commute be easy from her place? I would avoid trying to live in an apt and start college all in the same year. PS- of course I’ve heard of St Cloud- babysat eons ago here (in WI) for a teacher who went there.</p>
<p>Sorry eastafrobeauty, but I have to hijack your thread for a moment.</p>
<p>scansmom and tokenadult - I am very thankful for your comments on transferring from a Com College to the U of Minnesota. We are sending S1 off to a lower tier private college and because of his stats and lack of organization skills I am somewhat nervous. Having seen the links you posted, I now feel as though I have a plan B just in case things don’t work out.</p>
<p>^^ @ wis75: I TOTALLY agree with your post. No, she hasn’t asked me…i havent asked/told anyone about my idea yet…but we’ll see…who knows what could happen between now and next year, right? (haha i could even die tomorrow so the future is uncertain :P). And i also think living on my own right ou of hs & going to school at the same time would put too much stress on myself…</p>
<p>I’d like to thank everyone that’s posted in this thread…the advice & helps means so much to me :)</p>
<p>I will try to figure out by this week where my family stands financially…and still try to raise my stats up & apply to schools just so i have options to choose from ( that’s what my G.C. recommended me to do–not just opt for a CC & not apply anywhere).</p>
<p>@ Kajon: ohh, it’s fine!!! i do that all the time anyway so its all good :] ppl are here to answr ur qs…haha</p>
<p>I believe they have been working hard to get past this, but St. Cloud State does not have a good reputation as a school that is accepting of minorities. It is in an extremely conservative part of the state (Michele Bachmann is the current representative to the US House if that means anything to you), although the city of St. Cloud is slightly less conservative than the surrounding counties.</p>
i was thinking about UMD…but it’d be a reach & i think i’d hate everyone that went there/wouldnt get along w/ them (just bc i know the type of ppl that go there,haha)</p>
everyday) to make up the classes…</p>