<p>The CC for language is an excellent idea! Thanks ucbalumnus! We’ll check into that! There is a CC where we are relocating to…so I will check it out!</p>
<p>If she really wants to study engineering, Case is a far and away a much better choice. Very few students actually follow through with 3/2 programs. And transfer students don’t usually get much financial aid or merit scholarships.</p>
<p>The FA package at Case sounds quite good. True there is some debt, but the opportunity is so much better. The way you describe WJC doesn’t make it sound like a very good fit for your D.</p>
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<p>I don’t blame that Prof at all. Learning a language…especially one with complex writing systems requires a commitment to full attendance barring severe illness or emergencies. Sometimes, missing even a couple of lecture sessions means you’ve fallen way behind the rest of the class. </p>
<p>Taking language courses is not like taking a regular course where one can make up some/most of the material through self-study/office hours…unless a given student is in the minority who’s a gifted polyglot. </p>
<p>Even engineering…it’s possible to skip most/all lectures and self-study the material if you have some knack for it and you’re able to buckle down to do it. </p>
<p>Knew dozens of Engineering/CS majors who did so…including an uncle who graduated Columbia SEAS back in the ‘50s and recalled that he managed to pass several engineering courses by just showing up to take the midterm/final though studying friends’ notes and helping them in courses they chose to skip out on. He’s now a happily retired engineer after a 50 year career. </p>
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<p>While Mandarin Chinese and other East Asian languages have been growing in popularity, there’s still many 4-year colleges which don’t offer them…much less community colleges. Moreover…when budget cuts come down the pipeline…there’s a tendency to cut those languages first IME. </p>
<p>Moreover, there’s a wide variance in the intensity and depth of coverage…even among schools with topflight East Asian language programs. Knew several classmates who took summer Chinese/Japanese language courses at some notable Ivies who then had to repeat the same course they took that summer because they failed the mandatory language placement exam or struggled to barely pass it…and then struggled in the higher level course at our college. Heard similar accounts from classmates who took such language courses at two different Ivies or elite peer schools. </p>
<p>This gap in depth of material coverage could be greater with local-state/community colleges. </p>
<p>A college classmate who took summer Mandarin refresher courses at his local state university after graduation noticed the amount of material Oberlin or similar schools would cover in one year would take his local state U two full years because they’ve diluted it to accommodate the local student population. </p>
<p>If he tried using those courses to advance higher to the next-level course at Oberlin…that plan would be a nonstarter.</p>
<p>I checked CC summer courses. No selection of languages at all, except for Spanish. Oh well, it was an idea. I think DD will be fine. She will have to figure out schedule as she goes. If it extends her stay at college, then she will just have to do that. </p>
<p>I appreciate everyone’s thoughts and advise. Still seems like CWRU is going to be her best option. It may take her 5 years, then we will deal with it. Just glad she has some options and that she is thinking things through. She is very mature for her age (I notice it especially when I see her among her peers) and very driven. I am happy for her to have the opportunity.</p>
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<p>If your D plans to take summer language courses at another university, make sure she compares the depth of coverage of those courses so she won’t end up wasting her time retaking the same course at CWRU because the courses were too diluted to prepare her for the next-level in the language sequence. </p>
<p>She also needs to keep in mind that summer courses can be much more intensive/faster paced than equivalent courses during the school year so she isn’t surprised at the juggling act that may be required to balance the course(s) with a summer internship/job.</p>
<p>There are summer language programs a t numerous colleges. Beloit, Middlebury, and the University of Pittsburgh all have summer language and there may be scholarship money available. The programs are fast-paced. There are many more, but those are ones we have explored.</p>
<p>My daughter did ten credits of Japanese between freshman and sophomore years. It would not have been possible for her to do anything else except maybe mindless summer job with minimal hours.</p>
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<p>Before making this part of the plan, check to see if the college will provide you FA for a 5th year. Usually, unless a student is specifically in a 5 year program, institutional financial aid usually in 4 years (whether or not kid has graduated). Student would still be eligible for federal aid (Pell/FWS/Loans)</p>
<p>DD and I just returned from campus visit at CWRU and DD loved it. She did an overnight in the dorms with a current Freshman. Case did a wonderful job with information and making students and family feel welcomed. I was impressed with campus, school and even Cleveland. I must say I was surprised at how much I liked the area of Cleveland where campus is located. DD seems happy with choice and will be committing to CWRU. Thank you everyone for your help. It feels good to have decision finalized.</p>
<p>Congratulations on the decision! It’s a great place. I would like to add that a ton of students at Case can fit in classes outside of their majors…even quadruple majors are not unheard of, so a minor is possible. I met many students with two majors and two minors, though obviously an engineering major might have some more difficulty.</p>
<p>Thanks i<3art! Your right, double majors and even double minors seemed to be the norm there (even among the engineers). So I am not worried about it, I think she will fit in very well. I feel more at peace about it than I have through out this whole process! >sigh of relief <</p>