<p>Some of the merit money at some schools superscore ACT. Do you know her top scores for each section? Do they get her over a 28?</p>
<p>^ No, but will find out. Another great suggestion.</p>
<p>If she want to earn and not pay for a degree, I’ve heard great things about this college!</p>
<p>[Berea</a> College](<a href=“http://www.berea.edu/]Berea”>http://www.berea.edu/)</p>
<p>An update - because we all like those, and I need to vent.</p>
<p>Niece did retake test several times but didn’t put a lot (any) work into prep. She never did increase her score. She decided last fall she wanted to attend Marquette (close to boyfriend who will attend MSOE, easy drive from home, etc). Of course, come May when it’s time to deposit, there is NO MONEY for Marquette. There is no $ for college at all, really (gee, surprise - NOT). </p>
<p>Her new plan is to attend the local CC and then transfer to Marquette. This will never happen - because there will be no $. She can’t possibly borrow what she will need on her own and her parents won’t help her (because the have the financial responsibility of kindergarteners - but at least they have their boat, camper, motorcycle, etc…)</p>
<p>I have tried talking to my niece and have her take a gap year and then attend a school that had given her a full ride (which she turned down - because she “was going to Marquette”). Words fall on deaf ears. She would be so better off taking a gap year, doing some sort of nursing program overseas or something useful (heck, I’d even throw in some $ to make it happen) but you can’t tell an 18 year old anything.</p>
<p>I keep thinking maybe I can find some program she could do and then go to a “free” college… So - last ditch effort here, which will likely be ignored by her (great motivation, right?) - any suggestions for a reasonable program in which she’d gain some good experience that might get her thinking? </p>
<p>PS Marquette told her as a transfer she’d “only” have to pay $30k per year and it would take her 2 - 3 years to graduate.</p>
<p>You can lead a horse to water…well, you know. </p>
<p>It sounds like what you want for your niece and what she wants are completely different. I am always frustrated listening to people asking for advice who claim that they can’t do things, when in reality, the problem is just that they won’t do things or don’t really want to. Either way, you have done your best to educate her and open her eyes to what is possible and she is not buying into it for whatever her reasons are. </p>
<p>I get that you are frustrated, but I am not sure that you can fix this.</p>
<p>Merit aid for transfer students is much harder to obtain. If your niece wants to stay in the area and is interested in nursing she could get an RN at Harper College while commuting from home. Harper is $108 per credit hour and would be a great deal cheaper than the other options you are considering.</p>
<p>Here’s the link.</p>
<p>[Nursing</a> Degree (RN): Harper College](<a href=“http://goforward.harpercollege.edu/academics/areas/health/nursing/rn.php]Nursing”>http://goforward.harpercollege.edu/academics/areas/health/nursing/rn.php)</p>
<p>Foolish girl! How heartbreaking that she turned down a full ride. Why doesn’t she see that there will be no money for Marquette on 2 years just like there wasn’t any for this year. And really, after she was told the cost?</p>
<p>Perhaps it’s time to bow out and focus on helping your own son transition to college.
There’s no reason why you should be doing college research for her. If she was really interested in attending a 4 year college, she would have put in the work to research colleges, scholarships, studied for the ACT/SAT tests, etc. Obviously, she currently has no interest in anything other than her own thoughts. Move on and let her figure out her own direction. Sad, but sometimes it’s best to leave things alone.</p>
<p>If she comes to you in the future and asks for some advice regarding college, give her advice. Until then, let it go.</p>
<p>Thanks. I really am just venting (and answering a really old PM asking me whatever happened). </p>
<p>I should be clear - she never came to me for advice in the first place. I offered when she was a HS junior and her parents were doing nothing about college (and knew from talking to her it was her plan to go to a 4 year school). </p>
<p>Why doesn’t she see that there will no money is a great question. Probably because her parents say things will be different in two years and they can help her then. When you are barely 18 you still tend to believe your parents. I have known her parents for 30 years. They are not going to be able to help her. </p>
<p>nysmile, my own son is older, just finished his 1st year with a stellar GPA in engineering. He’s all set - but thanks for your concern. </p>
<p>AlbionGirl - Harper may be a great idea. Thanks. I will send her another email.</p>
<p>She’s really a very sweet girl. She’s polite, respectful, hard working - the kind of student that you root for to succeed. It’s like she’s in a horror film and being chased by an evil man - you so want her to run but she won’t realize she should run until it’s too late.</p>
<p>Congrats on your son’s awesome first year!</p>
<p>It’s difficult to sit back knowing she’s making mistakes in her choices. It’s hard to watch. When she isn’t asking for your advice and doesn’t want to take your advice it’s time to let things play out according to her own script. </p>
<p>Your niece really has to want this dream(college) for herself in order for it to work out.</p>
<p>Just want to throw out there Trevecca University in Nashville. Its a private university affiliated with the nazarene church, and many local kids go there, but also from all over. i have friends and an aunt who went there (not nazarenes, just liked it). They offer the same aid for transfer students that a freshman would get, merit, need based and sports. Tey will stack scholarships. if she’s interested in nursing, they share many professors and classes with Vanderbilt. They also have an incredible music scene there. Maybe a change of scenery would be nice?</p>
<p>I know you are trying to help. That is wonderful of you. However, the reality is that if her parents won’t pay she needs to figure out a way to pay for herself. That probably means she will not go to a residential college. That is not a tragedy. She can still get a college education. </p>
<p>What public universities are closest to her home? I would check out those schools to see what merit based aid is available. Her best bet is going to be a commuter college close to her home (or yours if you are willing to let her live with you).</p>
<p>Some people just need to feel the reality of the situation before their minds open up. Once she has two years of CC done her eyes should be a little more open. At this point you’ve done all you can and anything more will be seen as being pushy.</p>
<p>OK, she’s listening more now. She says she doesn’t want to take a year off because becoming a PA (not nursing now) is going to take her 5 to 6 years. She knows Marquette is not realistic and is considering other college choices after CC. She thinks her family’s financial situation will be much improved next year. She’s 18, as Judge Judy would say “not fully cooked”. </p>
<p>Maybe I should start a new thread to post this question, but as long as she’s listening, I thinking perhaps I could write out a few scenarios for her. </p>
<p>What would you wise CC people suggest for her? CC route and then transfer? Gap year? Or ???</p>
<p>Added to answer Proudpatriot’s question. She lives in far north IL. There are no 4 years schools she can commute to in IL.</p>
<p>Remind her that she will NOT get merit awards if she transfers rather than taking gap year. Any chance tht she could call the U where she got full tuition to see if its still on the table, IF she wants to attend? Can she afford to attend? So many things for her to think about and try to plan for FOUR years (or longer). She sure is lucky to have you in her corner.</p>
<p>Could she afford CC & 2 or more years full-pay at local U? If that is something that she is interested in, then it might make sense to consider it rather than going for merit money as an entering freshman.</p>
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<p>Really? I thought IL had a whole bunch of state Us.</p>
<p>^ The closest 4 year state U is about a two-hour drive one way. She’s much closer to WI schools but of course those are not in-state and no reciprocity agreement.</p>
<p>Check out this site: [MHEC</a> : Student Access: Midwest Student Exchange Program (1)](<a href=“http://msep.mhec.org/index.asp]MHEC”>http://msep.mhec.org/index.asp) for a list of schools that have reciprocity agreements with illinois and see if there is a 4 year college in the mix to which she can commute. Otherwise, she should see get a certificate from the local college that can open some doors for higher paying jobs and look to getting a career started. She can then go to college later, on a part time basis and get that degree. That is how a lot of people get their degrees. Or perhaps through an online program, perhaps a combination.</p>
<p>Some CCs have good transfer agreements and scholarship opportunities to specific schools. I would have her go talk to someone at the CC who can give her an idea of how she needs to perform to get some money as a transfer student.</p>
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<p>IL is a state whose universities have poor financial aid for in-state students. So the in-state net price of an IL public university may not be affordable to a student with little financial means.</p>