<p>Youngest is starting to express some interest in college. Soph in HS. She is a B+ student. Mix of Gate and College prep classes. She is not going to end up with tons of AP's. Her SAT scores will probably be average. She is a bad test taker. She is also at this point not interested in breaking into a sweat over her academics. She does what she needs to do but doesn't go the extra mile.
Her interests- Equestrian team (english)
Her dream job is to breed horses and to live in the country.For those of you who have seen Flicka that is her drive home. Doubt that is happening unless she marries someone really wealthy. She is not at this point interested in putting in the hard work for vet school. Plus she knows it is extremely competitive.
She also has expressed a strong interest in becoming a MFT. Marriage and Family Therapist in Ca which is a masters degree plus state license to do private therapy. No interest in clinical psychology.
New Mexico State has come up in our search. They have a Div 1 Equestrian team. There appears to be lots of outdoor activities in the region. Would probably be a safety school for her. They are part of Wiche so tuition would be reasonable.
Anyone know anything about New Mexico State or Las Cruces?</p>
<p>I can tell you a bit about NMSU and Las Cruces. (But nothing at all about the equestrian team.)</p>
<p>What would like to know?</p>
<p>UNM and NMSU are the top destinations for most of the high achieving kids in ABQ. NMSU has a more rural and ranching orientation than UNM. (Mostly because NMSU is the only ag college in the state. Also UNM is located smack dab in the middle of New Mexico’s only “big” city, making it a very urban campus. Because of both of those facts, NMSU tends to be more conservative and UNM more liberal politically.)</p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry about not having tons of APs (or even any)–it’s generally not going to be an issue at any NM school. </p>
<p>The daughter of a good friend graduated from NMSU in marriage and family therapy and was quite pleased with the program–although she not now working as therapist. (She owns her own insurance agency.) I could ask Aimee if you have specific questions–both about Las Cruces and the MFT program. </p>
<p>I haven’t spent time in Las Cruces in a good two decades, but I did do a pass through on my way to Tucson, AZ about 3 years ago. </p>
<p>Las Cruces is not tiny rural, but it’s far from a big city. For excitement, kids will do a road trip to El Paso or (more commonly) Juarez. </p>
<p>Lots to do in southern NM for those who likes the outdoors. Not too far from Gila National Forest (Silver City is nice place to hang), or White Sands Nat. Monument, or even skiing in Ruidoso. However, most of southern NM is very dry and desert-y and summers are definitely hot. And ranching is still the largest employer in that part of the state.</p>
<p>Completely useless but I’ve met DeWayne Walker, now head football coach at New Mexico State, and he’s a terrific human being.</p>
<p>As I said…completely useless, especially to someone of the female persuasion.</p>
<p>She is not an urban kid. Her preferred company is animals. Her Ca choices are both ag schools. Cal Poly and Davis.
Can you expand on the more conservative politics?
It looks like New Mexico State has a Horse Management minor.</p>
<p>She should look into Fresno State (CSU Fresno). They have an NCAA Div. I equestrian program, and have fairly solid academics. They also have an honors college which she may qualify for. Although it has a dodgy reputation, Fresno is really just a fine suburban community which has entertainment options, is a short drive to Yosemite, San Francisco or LA, and can be a good place for a kid who isn’t the most stellar of academic performers, but who wants to learn and likes ag/animals/etc.</p>
<p>calgirl77- Fresno State was the first college she expressed interest in. She knows 2 girls who have rode for them. Fresno does have a reputation as not being the prettiest city. I was surprised the last two falls driving through Fresno when going to Yosemite and Sequoia how much it has grown.</p>
<p>Fresno and New Mexico compete against each other. Unfortunately we missed the fall meeting which was in Fresno. The spring meeting is in New Mexico which is not close enough to easily drive for a horse show. But hopefully we can work out that trip next fall.</p>
<p>You’re in-state for California correct?</p>
<p>Are you willing to pay out-of-state costs (plus room and board) for her to go elsewhere?</p>
<p>Yes instate for Ca. New Mexico State is part of Wiche. Wiche is 1.5 times instate tuition. New Mexico would probably fall cost wise in between a CSU and a UC. Many of the western states have instate tuition that is reasonable for a Ca kid if it takes Wiche. Wiche does not work at Boulder or Univ of Washington. I think at U of Arizona it only applies to 1 major.New Mexico also offers a OOS scholarship that awards the student instate tuition. Also I would think that cost of living off campus in New Mexico, Montana or Flagstaff beats the prices we would be paying for rent in many of the towns that the Cal States and UC’s are in.
She will also look at small private schools if she can get some merit aid. We are willing to pay what it would cost us for her to go to a UC including living expenses.</p>
<p>Well, there are lots of horses in and around Las Cruces, lots of trails and rodeoing is big. </p>
<p>And depending upon what Cali schools are charging, attending NMSU may be <em>less</em> expensive than in the in-state California. </p>
<p>NMSU WUE tuition & fees is $7137/year; room & board $7526/year.</p>
<p>I don’t know if rodeo would appeal to her. But she likes trail riding. She is willing to consider a school that doesn’t have a riding team if she can afford to ride nearby.
She rode her bike through Flagstaff last year and saw some great cross country riding areas. She has already approached us about taking cross country lessons if she goes to NAU. We are willing to consider funding riding if the school falls in the cheap range.</p>
<p>WayOutWWestMom’s post got me interested in looking up costs.</p>
<p>From the CSU website cost of attendance instate students 09-10</p>
<p>Cal Poly SLO- 21,582
Bakersfield-17,000 on campus/19,500 off
Sonoma-21,000 on campus/23000 off
Chico-20,160
CSU Channel Islands-21,360</p>
<p>edit adding a few UC’s that she might get in:
UC Santa Cruz 28,093 on campus/ 25400 off
UC Santa Barbara 27842 university owned dorms/25,684 off campus
Those numbers include travel, books and misc. Even adding that in New Mexico is less expensive.</p>
<p>The Gila area hosts both mountain bike races and road racing. Lance Armstrong came for the Tour of the Gila last March and will probably be back this year.</p>
<p>And tons of trail riding in and around Las Cruces. Organ Mtns. aren’t far away.</p>
<p>NMSU has a well respected rodeo team and gives rodeo scholarships. I’ve never been a horse person, but barrel racing is great fun to watch. (NM State Fair is held in ABQ every year so I’ve been----a lot. Love the sheep dog competition too. And the Sheep-to-Shawl.)</p>
<p>About cost of living: Las Cruces will be much less expensive both on and off campus than either SLO or Davis. Flagstaff will be more expensive than Las Cruces and as for Montana–are you talking about Bozeman (Montana State) or Missoula (Montana)? I spent some time in Bozeman this summer (thought about buying a second house there) and have a friend who goes to Missoula every summer. (She has family there.) I also looked closely at Missoula since I had applied for a job w/ U Montana. Las Cruces will be less expensive than Bozeman and Missoula.</p>
<p>Las Cruces itself is no great shakes (not bad) but…the Cloudcroft/Ruidoso area and the Gila Wilderness and nearby White mountains of Arizona are wonderful. Truly outstanding country. Lots of horse-y things to do. (Lots of motorcycle things to do, too. ;)) </p>
<p>Off-Topic-ish: As far as Juarez goes, I’m a big fan of Mexico and Mexican adventures but even I am not going to go back to Juarez right now and I’m pretty close to bullet-proof. ;)</p>
<p>Mom60 - You should also consider that it is getting harder and harder to graduate in 4 years at CA schools. With all the cutbacks students are having a hard time getting their classes. May end up paying for a fifth year in CA.</p>
<p>Wayoutwest- we haven’t looked into Montana yet. It has just been suggested to us as an alternative.</p>
<p>Hello! I’m a freshman (in my 2nd semester right now) at NMSU, from Los Angeles myself, and for what it’s worth, I absolutely love it here- when I went back to LA for Christmas, I really missed NMSU and caught myself thinking of it as ‘home’ already, which I think is what you really hope to see happen.</p>
<p>My roomie is from San Diego, and she’s a huge horse person. She’s an equine science major, but I believe she’s minoring in horse management, actually, and I know she loves the program, and feels very satisifed with what she’s getting out of it. She tried out for the equestrian team, was beat out by another girl, but I know she really likes the coach, said she’s very friendly and approachable. She’d really like to ride for her and it’s why she said she’ll definitely try out again when she can.</p>
<p>Las Cruces is a nice city, in my opinion. It’s not super tiny, I’ve personally never felt bored here, but it is true that there’s not a ton going on (the entire mall can pretty much fit into half of one floor of the average CA mall), no real nightlife, and most students here do go to El Paso if they’re looking for that. (If it’s reassuring, even the most party hardy people around here seem to know to avoid Juarez these days, lol). One positive for me is that Las Cruces is a pretty beautiful place- the sunsets and night skies in particular are absolutely gorgeous. The people are also very friendly in my experience (I can’t remember how many times my group of friends have gone out to Buffalo Wild Wings during a football game and practically become best buddies with half the other tables, haha), and I’ve never felt unsafe in the city.</p>
<p>There are definitely a lot of outdoor activities available in Cruces or nearby; White Sands, hiking at Dripping Springs, a few different places I know of where my roomie and some friends like to go rock climbing, etc.</p>
<p>Also in my experience, since you asked to expand on the conservative politics comment, I actually haven’t seen politics as a big issue here, and don’t particularly feel like the school (or even the city in general) strongly sways one way or another, to be honest. I lean pretty strongly to the left, and it’s true that more people I’ve met here go to the right, but it’s never been an issue for any of us.</p>
<p>The scholarship that reduces tutition to in-state isn’t too hard to get (IIRC, you only need a 3.5 and around 1620 if you take SAT, 23 if ACT), and cost of living is very affordable here- a heck of a lot cheaper than I’m used to from Cali.</p>
<p>I love our campus; I think it’s a very pretty, well-kept place, and I don’t mind walking all across it to get to classes because it’s just so nice. I’m an HRTM major, so I can’t vouch for all departments, of course, but I’ve been extremely happy with my classes; I feel like I’ve learned a lot. And in my experience, the professors here are very involved and accessible. They’re very easy to get in contact with, encourage you to come by their office or even call them if you need to talk, hang around after class for any students who may need them, etc. I’ve yet to have a professor I didn’t like, both on a teaching and personal level, and most of my friends say the same, no matter what major they’re in.</p>
<p>Don’t know if she’s into sports, but if so, athletic games are a blast here, pretty rowdy and exciting and fun. Our men’s basketball team and volleyball team in particular are great to watch. Students also get in free to every single athletic event, which is very nice.</p>
<p>The school is pretty good at getting students involved and having activities for us, IMO. They have free movie nights in the auditorium, host game nights at the student center, bring in acts like musicians, comedians and magicians a lot, have big events in the school cafeteria at every holiday, etc (oh, and BTW, the food on campus is surprisingly good). Community advisors in each dorm are required to have a certain number of programs each semester, which makes it really easy to meet people and get to know your floor. And speaking of, the housing here is nice too. Pinon Hall is fantastic, we call it the Beverly Hills of NMSU, but living in Garcia as a freshmen is what I recommend, I’ve loved my time here. It’s a very social hall; I’m a shy person by nature, but I met the most amazing group of people in my first few weeks here just through our floor going to dinner and doing activities together, and we’ve all stuck together since August, and I have no doubt that we’ll be lifelong friends- I love these people, and I’m so glad NMSU brought us together.</p>
<p>Because we’re not a really huge school, it’s also very easy to find opportunities and get hands-on experience. 3 of my friends in various science majors have already been offered internships, I’m an intern for the athletic marketing department even though I don’t even start my sports marketing minor until sophmore year, my roommate and I are already vice president and secretary of one of the clubs on campus, etc. And it seems like you can jump into your major right away instead of having to focus on GE and easing your way into it like a lot of schools do. First year HRTM students get to help a run a restaurant on campus, my roomie is already sticking her hand in cows and training horses, I know a wildlife science major who got to go out with a crew to tag animals, etc.</p>
<p>Hope I didn’t ramble too much and that some of that helps! If you have any questions, feel free to ask, I’d love to try to lend a hand and answer as best I can.</p>
<p>What a great post, LightSparks. Good job and I’m sure the OP will be grateful.</p>
<p>What a great first post on CC, Light Sparks. </p>
<p>Thank you, thank you, thank you.</p>