SDSU has poli sci. I think every college in the country has poli sci
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oh someone beat me.
I think he needs - just objective advice based on what iāve read - to move away form Loyola. Itās near home - right? Weekends at home? Mom dinners? College is about growing and yes there are pains but itās part of the process.
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USD will not reconsider merit aid. Not sure about need based aid if there are changes in circumstances. It is religious, and there are not only crosses but a great big cathedral right in the middle of campus. My niece attended and liked it a lot. She had a group of about 10 friends who went to the same (catholic) high school, but to them the religious part was just āthereā and they accepted it. If your son isnāt religious but doesnāt mind if others are, heāll be fine. Since he applied to about 5 catholic schools, Iād guess he doesnāt care.
Pepperdine and SMU are different. They DO care that you care, and want you to care.
My niece studied IR and the school had some good political science options.
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Clear information here:
https://politicalscience.sdsu.edu/undergraduate/docs/brochure_undergrad.pdf
To get into the major, the students must take 4 pre-reqs and pass + have a minimum overall GPA.
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Ha there are no mom dinners! I am a terrible cook!!!
He has anxiety due to a loss of a friend a few years ago. Iām wondering if that, plus covid, is making him want to stay close.
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YES - you are all correct! I went through my screenshots - it is the CERTIFICATE of PUBLIC LAW!!! Not Poli Sci! WHEW.
Bad news. No Honors at SDSU. He applied very late. He was qualified but we were unaware of the program and process.
We actually got the most money from USD. We just dont know much about it.
I think you are correct - it depends where you are coming from. If you have been to catholic schools growing up, it may be no big deal. Coming from Public School, it may be a shock.
My husband went to catholic schools all this life and got bad flashbacks on USD campus! I think if we saw people on campus, it would have been a way different feel. I hear you and also know people who LOVE it!!!
Big blow up here last night. Everyone on edgeā¦
He feels like a failure bc he didnāt get into SDSU honors. Why did we let him apply to public schools if we couldnāt afford themā¦blah blah.
Sorry if this is turning into a therapy session. I have always thought he has ADD (I have it and wasnāt diagnosed until I had kids) but doctors keep seeing it as anxiety. I can tell by the way his mind works & his study skills (hyper focus v. no interest/no focus.) Does the smaller environment really help? Less distractions? Teachers that know him and can see where his mind is going? People that know him think he is ridiculously smart but his grades (when there is lack of interest) show otherwise. Iām thinking through all thisā¦
On the flip side, I was given every opportunity- SMU undergrad & Northwestern grad school, with no loans, and I still was unable to function consistently due to ADD. But I was undiagnosed.
I can see you all rolling to your eyes!!! Thanks for the session. The check is in the mail.
I think the answer is SDSD and a good ADHD therapist;)
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Stats are āonlyā 3.9 weighted. Works for congressman, the DA office and has raised a bunch of $ for suicide prevention. Started mental health club at school and also for the equality of funding for public schools.
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Most honors colleges are busy work and a notation on a degree no one cares about. ASU and Oregon State are exceptions to the rule, but he shouldnāt sweat not getting in.
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Sorry this is so stressful for your family. Can he join an accepted students Insta or other group chat?
I think the biggest benefit at SDSU honors is living with a like-minded cohort. I would call and see if there is room or a wait list. Also, existing students can apply to join ā maybe for next semester?
Alternatively, look into the Living Learning Communities through the housing office - there are ones for young leaders, pre-law, media. It helps people find a group.
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Agreed. Itās the cohort that makes the difference. I second your suggestion of getting in touch re. Honors and also checking in to other groups. Getting the best chance of surrounding yourself with fitting peers from the start is key. SDSU is a solid school but also has plenty of distractions, socially.
On another note, when time & energy allows, might want to look into some of the emotional issues & challenges āgiftedā people can face (which sometimes results in a misdiagnosis of ADHD). A balance of environment & intellectual curiosity that fits is important. So, again, love the suggestion of finding groups that work (sooner than later), perhaps even moreso up front when contemplating a big public school.
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One thing for sure is the people in this forum are NOT rolling their eyes, myself included. My only regret is just discovering this place in March and not a couple of years ago. I could have had so much less stress and anxiety because in the short time I have been here the people have been so incredibly warm, kind, and helpful. The knowledge here is unparalleled.
As parents we will all be doing something for the first time until the day we die. For us right now itās experiencing our first college application season. Itās not possible for us to know how to navigate it effortlessly. No amount of prior research can really prepare you. Iāve learned a lot and I plan on paying it forward. Iām also glad when it is time for my next two kids Iāll be more calm and measured about the process.
My daughter was just accepted into SDSU honors college yesterday but she is going to turn down that spot, so my hope is that it will get passed along to someone else.
Hang in there, things will be getting better!
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The LLC at Cal Poly was much better than the honors program. I canāt speak for SDSU, but Iād look into it.
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I have been perusing the SDSU insta sites for students and there are PLENTY who are not in the honors college but are saying they value their studies and take them seriously and want a balance. It is clear that kids can find other like minded kids even if you arenāt in the honors college.
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You say that āthe doctors keep seeing it as anxiety.ā Is he under treatment? Is he receiving therapy or regular consultations? That might be a good reason for him to stay close to home so that he can continue with the professionals who already know him. LMU, which is the school closest to home (?), says on the Services for Students page of its website that āMental well-being is a key part of oneās overall health.ā They then describe the Student Psychological Services that are available.
https://studentaffairs.lmu.edu/wellness/studentpsychologicalservices/servicesforstudents/
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Hi cela what do u mean by his grades say he not smart? He got into usd and sdsu? Uuh what? I also think that the smarter ppl have more menta health issues when it comes to studying. He is bored simply ebcause his mind can understand the concepts and hw assignments so easily. He feels as if he should already have a phd. Just tell him and remind him everyday the power of hard work and how u have to earn each degree. Its not given. The longs hours = your achievement. Thatll ease his mind as he does his studies.
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Sdsu is the way to go; a pretty big college 35k+ mostly undergraduates. I think he will flourish here because its so diverse and so fun. It has a beach nice weather and awesome ppl. I think that he can fun fun and party (opprotunity) as well as study. The distractions can outweigh his stresses and hell his studies in the end. With socializing networking with young peers and loving life.
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My niece really liked USD. It has the Kroc (McDonaldās) center and a lot of political āthingsā going on. My niece was in a sorority but did have a little cohort from high school. They were involved in student government, she played on a club sports team. Her roommate and best friend (from high school, through college, and now in Washington DC in different grad schools/careers) was Phi Beta Kappa. Just a lot to do academically and for fun. EVERYONE does a semester/year abroad as juniors and they all meet up all the time. Niece was in France but friends were in Germany, Ireland, England. They traveled to Spain, Africa, all over Europe.
My niece also considered LMU but just preferred USD and it worked out for her. She lived on campus for 2 years and then at the beach for 2 years (less the time in France). Niece is a pretty shy person (for a former cheerleader, sports player) but was able to shine at the mid-sized school. Her friend got her into student government (and she received a pretty nice grant for that work) and she was involved in planning the graduation, the speakers, the ceremony.
I think any of the schools you listed will work for your son. If one is significantly cheaper, go with that one.
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Weāre not rolling our eyes. We hear your pain and his. Itās horrible because SDSU is his only choice right now, and his grades and achievements wouldnāt have predicted that. On top of it he is worried about leaving home and he didnāt get into Honors. He must be gutted.
Part of it may be that due to lack of guidance, his list didnāt allow him to show what a strong student he can be. I bet heād have done very, very well at colleges from the CTCL group (Colleges that Change Lives: student-focused colleges that offer serious academics). Thereās only one in California, St Maryās of California, and after UCs returned their acceptances and denials they re-opened admissions.
(There are a few on the West Coast: Whitman, Willamette, U Puget Sound, all three very good).
Run the NPC, see whether itād be more affordable than LMU. He may get more merit than at LMU thanks to his stats (merit is higher if stats are higher compared to a particular collegeās average).
Itād include smaller classes than at SDSU and theyād value all his extra curriculars. You can even try to book a tour, either in-person (few and far between, only 1 family per tour) or ādrive throughā.
Can you get a real diagnostic for ADD? He does sound ADD Inattentive and thatās often āmissedā, plus since you have it and thereās a genetic componentā¦ Would he be open to that? (Not right now, but before he starts college).
How does he feel about UCSC? If heād be interested in attending (rather than SDSU), perhaps email UCSC and ask if he can be be put back on the WL. Iām quite sure thereāll be a lot of movement on WLs this year because of the covid uncertainty.
What about a gap year? Would he like that better than attending SDSU? He could continue his extra curricular activities and due to covid, no one would bat an eye to his choosing to help others rather than go straight to college.
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