<p>My niece and nephew went to Mankato for about a year each. Neither of them settled in very well but to tell the truth, they didn’t try very hard. Neither joined any activities and they went home to the cities each weekend. I think with Mankato, you will get out of it what you put into it. What will make the difference is having the right attitude and willingness to extend yourself socially and academically.</p>
<p>Personally, I think you would be better off staying in the University of Minn system such as Duluth or Morris. It will be much easier to transfer to the Twin Cities from them. If you are looking to transfer out of state, my opinion is that the U of MN before your campus name will carry more weight than MSU before the campus name. Also, find out from the U’s website or your guidance counsellor which CC have articulation agreements with the different campus. Normandale is not the only one.</p>
<p>Right now you need to apply to a whole variety of places so that you have a range of options both academically and financially. Don’t shut any doors yet.</p>
<p>Have you looked at Augsburg? St Ben’s? St Scholastica? St Kate’s? I know you are not Catholic but that doesn’t usually make a difference. </p>
<p>Try to come up with a list of 7-8 colleges to apply to.</p>
<p>If you are interested in leaving Minnesota, you might consider Clark University in Worcester.</p>
<p>It would be a reach for you but I do think they look at the whole student and might admit you. My sense that financial aid is pretty good there.</p>
<p>Many people who are not from Massachusetts think of Worcester as being “in the greater Boston area” but it really is not within easy commuting distance of Boston. Middlesex Community College is probably about an hour’s drive from Worcester.</p>
<p>On your question about Middlesex Community College: my daughter goes there. They have two campuses in Bedford and Lowell. I’d say that their Lowell campus is about 40 minutes away from Worcester. The Bedford campus is about 45 to 50 minutes away. The community colleges in MA are generally good but they shouldn’t be a consideration if you live outside of New England. The MA community college system is under a fair amount of stress right now. MA has had budget problems for several years and the community college system has taken its budget cut lumps. The CCs are generally quite full and there is a lot of competition for courses.</p>
<p>@twomules: so i suppose that mankato would be a bad choice? i havnt heard the best things about that school…and it’s obviously not the best fit for me but i definitely would make the most out of it academically if i went there…so i suppose going to a CC is better than going to Mankato? btw, UMN-TC is a huge reach atm for me…but ill complete my app and send my materials anyway…</p>
<p>fendrock: i know that one of my friends goes to ClarkU! however, it seems like a reach for me 
but i will consider applying there…</p>
<p>@BCEagle91: thank you for giving me that helpful info…I didn’t know that those CCs would be so far way to commute to + CCs in MA are under stress…</p>
<p>I agree with twomules. Look at a wide range of colleges and apply to as many of these as you can so you can look at a variety of options. Call these schools and ask questions, get some answers, then ask some more! You can’t be the first potential student that has had some issues to work out. All these schools are competing for students like you. If they want you, they will help you to make it happen. </p>
<p>Normandale is a great CC. I know many kids who have gone away to the “dream school”, and after one semester found themselves back home at Normandale (for a variety of reasons ranging from finances, to a “bad fit” at their chosen school). Most ended up staying for two years and report a great experience. Its a great option for the student who might not have utilized their full potential in HS, but is now ready to move on. This does not make you a “bad student” and unable to succeed in college. Just someone who is taking a different path - not better or worse - just different.</p>
<p>I also agree with the suggestion of Augsburg.</p>
<p>eastafrobeauty, students from our “plain vanilla” Massachusetts suburban high school have gotten in with a less than 3.0 GPA (unweighted).</p>
<p>So I would say you should DEFINITELY apply.</p>
<p>@fendrock: thank you so much for recommending me that school! im liking it so far…i’m already in the process of completing my application for that school…i wkill try to write really good essays…and get my teacher + counselor recommendations put together…im not going to get my hopes too high though but i’m keeping my fingers crossed [I’m a URM + Muslim +MN too! could that help out a little?]</p>
<p>im retaking the ACT again next saturday…and if i dont get my scores before the deadline can you still send them? what about transcripts b/c we go by quarters and not semesters…? b/c clark’s admission deadline : jan 15 and our 2nd quarter ends on jan 27…</p>
<p>According to the ACT web site, “score reports are usually mailed within 3 to 8 weeks after each test date. If you took the Writing Test, your score report will be mailed only after all your scores are available, including Writing, within 5 to 8 weeks after the test date.”</p>
<p>The Clark University web site says, “It is most important that we receive your personal part of the application (Common Application, $55 application fee and essay) by the deadline. Your other credentials may arrive after the deadline.”</p>
<p>So you should be set – you may want to check and see if Clark superscores test scores, ie, will take the best of multiple scores submitted. In this case, you could go ahead and submit the scores you have on hand and also have your upcoming scores submitted immediately (ie, not wait until you see what the scores are before sending them).</p>
<p>Re Middlesex CC, I don’t think finding public transportation from the Worcester area would be viable, you’d need a car. And even with a car it would be at least an hour each way. I think you’d find much better options closer to Worcester.</p>
<p>You mentioned St. Cloud State several posts ago. I would think twice, given your cc user name. If you are a minority student, they have chronic problems there (regularly in the Twin Cities newspapers) with racism incidents. </p>
<p>Mankato State could be a good place to start out. My co-worker’s son goes there. He also comes home a lot on the weekends, as someone else mentioned. If I were you, I would NOT do that. It is hard to build relationships if you do. </p>
<p>If you can get financial aid, Augsburg might be a really good choice. And run the FAFSA calculator for sure, you might be surprised at the result.</p>
<p>You haven’t really answered the question of whether your sister has room for you, and whether you really would have the money to cover food and transportation (cuz even public transportation isn’t free, even if it is better in Boston). And, of course, you still need to pay for school and books. And… honestly, you need to confirm whether your sister wants you to come live with her. She has a life, and it may not include having a younger sib live with her for a variety of reasons. You have to respect that if it is the case…</p>