<p>Honey, this whole thread-- on a public forum, we are what we write. We all have slips. But go back and read your posts. It is all about blame. Excuses. Except for the parts about how it’s all going to work out, somehow. You may leave wherever it is you now live, but you will be you for the rest of your life. Think about how change comes from within. That’s growing up.</p>
<p>Please don’t think that we are ganging up on you or are not empathetic to your plight. If we did not care about you, we would not be giving so much time to your thread. There are plenty of us who have gone through this process (me, I go through it every year). We have kids who have gone through the grad, professional school process.</p>
<p>The reason, that everyone is telling you the same thing over and over again is the train is barreling down the tracks and you do not want to seem to get off of the tracks. This is not going to end well. The answer is not going to china, amsterdam or wherever else you are looking to escape. </p>
<p>The answer is to work and change your landscape. You state that you are struggling in math. This is one of the main reasons why you should consider CC. You will be able to take remediation (which is probably needed). You will be in a smaller environment, with the supports in place to put you on the right track.</p>
<p>As you see from Bunheadmom, stuff happens to everyone; you can either curse the darkness (which you have chosen to do but placing blame on everyone else) or you can light a candle (which is what Bunheadmom’s D did).</p>
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<p>It looks like your trusted adults are ill informed on the current college process. It is great that your dad and your uncle went to fordham/NYU. But make no mistake; Fordham/NYU in the 60/70’s was not what it is today (in fact both schools just started climbing up the ranks within the last 15-20 years; NYU by purchasing all of the greenwich village real estate and using it as leverage to poach professors from Columbia (NYU law with in the last 15 years). Many people them attended fordham/nyu becaue they had money or money was available, but they did not have the grades to get into Hunter, Queens, Baruch, Brooklyn or City College of NY</p>
<p>If you want to succeed, you need a realistic plan TO succeed. You do not need a wing and a prayer plan, which is what you have now. You, yourself, say that math was a struggle. It is highly likely that you will need a remedial math class just to be able to take the basic required math at your college…never-mind the higher level math required, and the sciences with math embedded in them. </p>
<p>Community colleges are designed to help students overcome obstacles…if the student really WANTS to do so. They offer inexpensive ways to take remedial courses if needed, plus core required courses that are essential for all degrees. </p>
<p>You may have received advice from trusted adults, but where was your high school counselor when you were choosing courses and picking colleges to which to apply? Did they offer advice that you and your family discounted, or did you not seek their advice to begin with.</p>
<p>I agree with Sybbie. Taking a gap year…and no it is NOT too late to do so…with a retake of the ACT with some prep, and perhaps some employment and maybe meaningful volunteer work would be a good idea. If you could increase that ACT score, it might open some doors for you.</p>
<p>A gap year does not have to be trips abroad at great expense. A gap year can be filled with meaningful experiences almost anywhere with little to no cost to you.</p>
<p>And again…I would very strongly urge you to look at the MANY instate public universities in VA where even your current stats would have gotten you an acceptance. The cost point is much more approachable than the one you have now.</p>
<p>My dad says he is paying for some it while I pay the rest. i am supposed to take pre calculus in the spring. So whether everyone thinks I fail on here is besides the point. I think I will be fine. Yes, I am young an naive. But if my sister had a lower high school GPA and standardized test scores than I did and managed to get a 3.5 at her private university her first year, than so can I.</p>
<p>Paintgirl417, I just looked up Thomas Nelson Community College, it actually looked a lot better than the cc’s we have around here in Western Mass. They have an honors program, but you need a 3.25 to qualify. I read professor bios, which listed impressive schools, M.S, M.D., PhD’s, etc. It looks like it’s a school committed to providing a rich experience, and they work toward preparing students. For 2007-2008, nearly 40% of grads transferred to 4 year colleges. That’s actually a lot for a cc, considering that many students may need to work after instead, and don’t have the money to go to school right away. That is why they have so many students who study a trade for a career without college too. It’s funny how at first in your posts, you were saying others told you the community colleges weren’t that good. Then, you changed your argument, saying that your family would basically disown you if you attended a community college. I think you arguments are full of hooey, and you just don’t want to go and for some reason you think you are above such a school. Since you don’t qualify for Thomas Nelson’s honors program, which other students do, I guess that isn’t really the case…
And, just because your sister was able to overcome a low GPA and make it at her school, doesn’t automatically mean you will. Did she attend the same school? Did she struggle with math, taking Alg 2 twice, but then pass pre-Calculus with A’s or B’s? Did she plan to go pre-med? You have said yourself her college is costing less than yours, so where did she go? Why don’t you go there? Did you apply?</p>
<p>I am telling you both. My family doesnt like them. I also heard that the one in my area is bad. Nearly 40%. You said nearly. Meaning a good majority do not. My family would kick me out the house at 18 if i went to cc. I would need to find a full time job to support myself. Meaning I would not have a good amount of time to go to class.</p>
<p>My sister failed algebra 2. She took it two times. Went to the same high school I went to. She even took Algebra 1 twice. She plans on getting Ph.D in Psychology and work as a psych prof. Yes she did consider psychiatry and becoming a medical doctor but instead chose a more educational route to therapy.</p>
<p>Perhaps you should have applied to the college your sister is attending. Was that on your list?</p>
<p>You need help with reading comprehension too. Yes, just below 40% transferred to a 4 year. The rest probably NEEDED TO WORK AND CAN’T AFFORD TO CONTINUE COLLEGE AT THIS TIME. Do you understand now? It doesn’t mean the school is not preparing students to go on, it means many can’t or put off continuing school until they can afford it. Pretty smart and financially wise, wouldn’t you say? So, it’s actually a very strong number that nearly 40% were accepted to 4 year schools and able to transfer. Maybe those people also got awesome scholarships for doing so well at the community college. My D wanted to attend William and Mary. She couldn’t - there was no way we could have afforded it. One of the top notch schools in the country, and a gift if you are in-state. Wish we had schools of that quality for public schools here in Mass. Sure, we have Harvard, Smith, Amherst, etc, but they aren’t public, and certainly aren’t affordable for many very, very bright students. And, aren’t a given in a matriculation agreement like William and Mary has with community colleges. I’m surprised you don’t realize what a gem you have in your backyard that tons of kids would die to attend for the prestige of the name and quality of the education!</p>
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It seems to me that this is your main problem. I am normally the first one to say that that family is first. When I was trying to choose which college to attend, my family was a big part of my decision despite everyone else telling me, “it’s your life.” But the willingness of your family to kick you out for something as insignificant as academic prestige along with their lack of knowledge in this area makes for a very bad combination. Is there anyone at all in your family that you can talk to about this or who would think CC is just fine? Where would your sister be in all this? She’s currently a college student, she might know more about the situation nowadays. Would she see that a CC is an acceptable option?</p>
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I’m not sure why the 40% statistic matters to you. The point is, you can transfer. Not everyone goes to CC to transfer, some just want 2 year degrees, so of course not everyone transfers. But the ones who do want to and have worked hard do transfer. Statistic-wise, your HS record shows that you won’t do well in college, but you keep saying that your sister did, so you can too. Why is it when it comes to CC your “I can” turns into “I can’t”?</p>
<p>TBH OP, I am just worried that you’ll look back in four years and think “if only.”</p>
<p>I dont care about prestige. Sure it is nice on a med school app or even for job placement. A good percent of the population that go there are uppity and do not know how to talk to people as well as the surrounding people who have lived there their entire lives. I want a 4 year college where I am not overwhelmed by thousands of students, i can be an actual leader in student government and not have to worry about making it to my class with a 15 minute walking distance when I can cross the lawn and be in my seat within 5 minutes.</p>
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<p>However, you have no problem attending a 4 year college where only 40% of the students complete a degree in 4 years. Hypocritical much?</p>
<p>Again, you don’t seem to realize that you don’t have the luxury to take your preferences into account. Your situation has placed practical limits on you. Whether you want to go to a four year college or not is irrelevant.</p>
<p>My sister has seen everything that everyone has said on here and even she disagrees with the cc option. We both had to grow up quickly living in a bad area and enduring a lot. She thinks it would be better for me to know how it feels to struggle being on my own an worrying about every nickel and dime that crosses my way. She thinks that going to school this fall will help with that and motivate me to get the highest GPA i can in order to get more scholarship money.</p>
<p>But what I don’t understand is why is there such a rush for you to head off to a 4 year school right now. Why would 2 years make such a huge difference?</p>
<p>We can all see that it would be better for you to go to the four year school. But finances come first.</p>
<p>I honestly think that you should not be disappointed because of the fact that you cannot attend the private school. If you strive enough and work hard, you can always transfer. In the long term you will still get a job regardless of what school you attend.</p>
<p>Btw, teachandmom, Richard Bland cc in Petersburg- look at it. 90% of grads transfer up. </p>
<p>Self-esteem comes from tackling challenges. Being able to look back and see what your hard work did accomplish. Not hanging on lofty goals and ignoring the footprints. Going to cc takes maturity and facing facts, the ability to step back from “But I want” and “But my sister got.” </p>
<p>If sis thinks a huge college bill will teach you about struggle and counting pennies- I don’t even know what to say about this. Do you get along with her? Despite your family problems, were you sheltered or indulged? You don’t know struggle? Not enough that you need a huge college bill to teach you? And with the risk of disrupting your college experience?</p>
<p>I do think we are indulging your great sense of entitlement by continuing this thread.</p>
<p>I’m going to go ahead and say it: why are you even here?</p>
<p>CLEARLY you are just arguing with all of the advice that these wise, educated people have given you, and CLEARLY you don’t understand what it means to get and go through med school. </p>
<p>I don’t care if you’re African American, white, Native American, Hispanic, or Asian: your grades don’t match up for a 4 year university, and they ESPECIALLY don’t promote a promising med school journey. You know how “hard” high school was? Multiply that by 10. (maybe even just 5 for a tier 3 school). You CAN’T work 32 hours a week there. You probably can’t even manage 20 even if you were a top student!! </p>
<p>To me, this post is all about a kid trying to get some kind of validation and comfort from complete strangers. </p>
<p>Well… Try again. These people have been sticking through with your ridiculous post and are really trying to help you. They’ve been helping me for a long time, and it’s truly insulting how you’re careless tossing aside their advice because of your family. </p>
<p>If your family was truly wise enough, you wouldn’t even be here. </p>
<p>Please just take their advice: GO TO CC. It’s what you need to do. Otherwise you’ll end up in debt you can’t pay back with a future that you can’t get back.</p>
<p>I have spoken with about 5 college students in the past hour. All of which are close friends. They all say they pay 7-11,000 on average out of pocket every year. I am not understanding how some of you can say I need to go to cc when some of these people had better stats than me and are still paying substantially finances out of pocket.</p>