<p>SBmom, the school D is at wants them to complete 18 months in their program and toward the end they help them with colleges. She would not finish her 18 months until Dec. 06. Once the kids graduate HS they have college courses through a local college taught on campus. I kind of wish she would stay and complete the 18 mos but the school is very restrictive i.e. boys and girls cannot even have eye contact and off campus visits are few and far between. So I can't imagine her wanting to stay. I thought about Christian Schools but she is currently rediscovering her Jewish roots (dad is Jewish) so that would not appeal to her. She did enjoy the wilderness program suprisingly enough so I'm looking into community service programs that include roughing it. Husband and I will be visiting colleges ourselves. We will do the NC round and then stop by Denver. I just feel like she should be allowed to be more a part of this.</p>
<p>University of Denver is not the same as University of Colorado at Denver. DU is private. But you could visit both.
I think SB Mom idea of a service program is worth looking into. Look at Where there be dragons. They have summer trips and also semester long programs. The staff are kind caring people. The trips are rough but allow for much mental growth and maturity. It would also buy your D a year of growing up and another year of staying clean before being thrown into a stressful enviroment where lots of experimentation is going on.
Also it gives her some time back out in the real world. It will also give all of you more time to research and find schools that are good for her and for her to decide if she wants to work on increasing her test scores.
It also is up to your D what path she wants to go down. Once she is 18 it is much more difficult to force her to do anything that she doesn't want to do. Some kids refuse to even consider sub-free housing.</p>
<p>Kyedor, you're not alone, there are a few of us on this board who have been there, done that with teenage kids. My D went to wilderness (twice), and attended five different high schools (including three different EG schools) until something clicked. She graduated her EG school in December 2002 and is now a junior at Evergreen State College. This is an unusual choice for a kid with substance abuse/behavior issues, but it seems to be the right one for her. </p>
<p>All the EG schools with which I'm familiar recommend smaller colleges for their graduates. One graduate I know attended Augsburg College in Minnesota, which has strong recovery support. He decided he wanted to major in outdoor adventure studies so he transferred to Prescott College in Prescott, Arizona, a small private college, very unusual curriculum. Prescott has no dorms. Many EG graduates wind up there, perhaps because many have gone to wilderness and found they liked the experience! I'm not sure if Prescott is on Loren Pope's list; I know Evergreen is one of the "Colleges That Change Lives." But that's too far from your home, which I assume is North Carolina.</p>
<p>Good luck on your search. PM me if you'd like.</p>
<p>Kyedor-
I think my previous post might have gotten lost in the other conversations. But question first and foremost- does the facility she currently attends think she is ready to handle the demands of a 4 yr college? Conversely, how do they think she'll do in the "real world" for a year before returning to academics? I'd trust their opinion before you make yourself crazy looking at gap years vs. post-secondary school. Kids who have done well in structured programs usualy need to continue to have the external structure/support to stay clean and sober. I had a client who tried to return to a top tier college somewhat prematurely after problems with substance abuse and mental health issues--unfortunately crashed and burned both times. They were advised (I thought required, but apparently not) after the second round of difficulties, to take a year off, attend a local college and work, while remaining in treatment. They are now planning to return to their original University in Jan, rather than next fall, and fulfilled only 2/3 of the recommended interventions (worked and had treatment, but didn't go to school). While I hope the best for them, I am, needless to say, concerned about the risks.</p>
<p>Thank you for the recommendations Kinshasa! I'm glad your D is doing well at Evergreen. One of my D's friends went as a freshman there this year and really likes it. I will check out Prescott. We actually live in CA but have family in NC and D likes it there. jym, I hear what you are saying and this is really a concern for me. The school feels it's important to finish the entire 18 month program and they recommended that she stay for her first year of college there. Courses are offered on her campus through Texas Tech. I agree with that. However, she will be 18 in a few weeks and has to make her own decision to stay after June. After I see her next weekend and have a heart to heart with her I will hopefully have a better idea of what to do. It's a catch 22 because if we don't get applications in now then she could leave in June and have nowhere to go.</p>
<p>Synchronicity is at work here! I checked out the Prescott website and there is an information meeting for prospective students/parents about the school at a private home in our city next week.</p>
<p>Teenage boys need to have some passion in their lives or they risk coming off the rails. The testosterone rush overloads their reason if they don't have some ambition to hang onto--be it sports, history, arts, whatever. </p>
<p>Teenage girls are better at putting up with the tedium of high school and adolescence. However, for a teenage girl who has come off the rails but has returned to health, my advice would be to find the subject she can take an interest and then find the place where she can develop her ambition. Health is not a strong enough line to hang onto when you are 18. You need another force to pull you into mainstream life--a force of interest.</p>
<p>If it's fashion, Savannah College of Art might be a good fit. <a href="http://www.scad.edu/%5B/url%5D">http://www.scad.edu/</a> </p>
<p>Good luck--and a thousand cyber hugs to you and your D. There, but for the grace of God, go all of us.</p>
<p>Hi jym, I used the calculator at <a href="http://www.collegedata.com%5B/url%5D">www.collegedata.com</a>. It's helpful but I notice that they don't have many of the smaller schools in their database. Oops, I noticed I posted this in the wrong place. I have to learn how to use this board LOL.</p>
<p>Kyedor-
If she is rediscovering her heritage, do you think she'd be interested in Brandeis? I feel for you. It's a catch 22. If you do your homework to find out what support systems/resources schols offer, do you inadvertently tip your hat and disclose too much information about your daughter that might affect her chances of admission? I am also a little confused. She will finish her 18 mos at this school in Dec, when she turns 18. Will she stay and graduate in June? If she chooses not to return to do her freshman yr @ Texas Tech, will the school not help with the college application/admissions process elsewhere? That seems a bit restrictive. </p>
<p>Thanks for your reply about the "chances" calculator site. I'd seen that one, but it seems to want a lot of personal information when you register-- that always makes me nervous. I don't want this stuff tracked when I am just playing with numbers!</p>
<p>As for Cheers' reccomendation of SCAD, it is a rapidly growing school. The main (Savannah) campus is probably a bit more protective of an environment than the Atlanta campus (though the Atlanta campus is growing by leaps and bounds). And Cheers, would those passions you refer to include women and religion? ;)</p>
<p>The school is restrictive jym. They feel that they know best what the kids need and they're probably right. There are some kids there in their second year of college because they admit they need more emotional growth help and I think they like mentoring the younger kids and are possibly afraid of entering "the real world". And no, they will not help with the college process unless she stays the entire 18 mos but they will allow her to fill out applications, complete essays, etc. So I'm on my own here doing the research. Although she turns 18 in a few weeks, she does want to stay there and graduate HS in June. Considering that any prospective school will see that she took her Junior and Senior year concurrently, it will be hard to hide her issues. She's knows this and wants to use it to her advantage with a great essay. She certainly has enough material to work with LOL.</p>
<p>jym- the 18 months is over in December '06, not this December. So-she would be at the EG school 6 months after high school graduation.</p>
<p>I'm checking out Prescott right now and it looks like so much fun that I want to go there. I will have to be careful that I don't seem overly excited about it (reverse psychology and all). I think the fact that are 60% men there may appeal to her :) If worse comes to worse and she has problems when she goes to college then she could always return to the school she's currently at. One of the reasons I chose it even though it was so restrictive is that there is a large percentage of post high school kids there. ::off to check out SCAD::</p>
<p>Kyedor,
I don't really have anyhting to add to the thread except that I hope and pray that you and your daughter find a path that is healthy and positive for you both. I can tell how much you love your daughter and I wish you the best of luck.</p>
<p>Kyedor, I second sarah_mc in that I don't have anything specific to add. But welcome to the CC community! Congratulations on doing the hard work of finding the right place for your D to finish high school. I'm certain that your efforts will be similarly rewarded with a great college placement. :)</p>
<p>awww, I'm going to cry with happiness. You guys are so welcoming and I'm thrilled to find this site. As soon as I get my daughter squared away then it will be time to do the college search with my son, so I will be here awhile! Thank you everyone for your kind words and thoughtful posts. You've made my day!</p>
<p>KYEDOR - I have been somewhat lurking over this posting - and I know this may sound strange - but..... since your DD has done well in an adventure program - would she consider incorporating that into a part of her college education - just a thought.</p>
<p>I mention this as there is a school in NC that may tweek your interest -
<a href="http://www.warren-wilson.edu/main/%5B/url%5D">http://www.warren-wilson.edu/main/</a> - it is not a big school - has a wonderful outdoor program major - is in a beautiful area - tho not that far out in the boonies. My own DD is an outdoor recreation management at another NC school - and absolutely loves it - started her college career in another major - and ended up very lost and confused until we discovered her passion and where she was meant to be.</p>
<p>Just something to consider.....</p>
<p>Big Cyber welcome...I like Jeep Mom's thoughts on Warren Wilson from the point of view of it being a gorgeous part of the world. I have a friend who got a grad degree there and know a teacher there. Asheville area mountains are unique...something spiritual about that Pisgah Forest and it is culturally fun. You are a long way from having to pick schools with her, but physical beauty and students who are outdoorsy and grounded are things to consider as she recenters. My son has a skilled rock climber for a college roommate and I could have kissed the ground when I saw him. He exudes balance between academics and his physical self. I sympathize with the weight loss stressor that was a stress point for your daughter..I have a dear relative who is a dancer and the pressure to be tiny is relentless. Your daughter must have a strong physical self, so perhaps she is trying Yoga or something where self acceptance is more part of the creed for her ongoing physical being? Anyway...welcome and may this 18 months help her find her inner strength for her young adult years.</p>
<p>Kyedor
Congrats to your D for staying with her program. I'm not surprised she wants to check out at 18. I do think meth is unbelievably addictive and can cause damage. It sounds like you are receiving many good suggestions for small supportive colleges far away from home. Fortunately, you can also apply to the UC system. Hard to predict if she'll be prepared to succeed for away from home next fall. If she begins college locally, she'll be able to remain with her individual therapist, the family therapist, and her N.A. group and sponsor. Goals about careers can change in a few years. For the next few years, she'll need a lot of support.
anyway, just my 2c</p>
<p>"since your DD has done well in an adventure program - would she consider incorporating that into a part of her college education - just a thought."</p>
<p>Excellent thought! I will definitely check out that school. Prescott starts out each Freshman class with a three week backpacking trek to get the class to bond which I thought was a great idea. I'm thinking she may be interested in North Carolina soley because she met a boy at wilderness from there. Great reason to choose the State huh? Ah, the workings of a teen girl's mind...</p>
<p>Bookworm, the sad part is that I think meth did cause damage although I don't know if it's lasting yet. I attribute the drop from the excellent PSAT to a bad SAT to the drug. "you can also apply to the UC system." Well we live in California and it's very competitive here. I don't think she'd get in without going to community college first. Also, as much as I'd like her to be close to home, this is not a good town to be in for her. Too many negative influences and peer culture. Unfortunately for teens NA meetings here are hotbeds for dealers. I appreciate hearing your opinion and really wish it was an option.</p>