Couple quick bits of info to add to the conversation. This info is probably in other threads here, so excuse me for repeating myself, but there are some newer posters here 
My own D is in her 2nd year but is a junior at Rowan. She is in the Degree in Three Year program.
She transferred 29 credits in (they were credits from Advanced Placement (AP), but the result is the same, 29 college credits!). She was awarded $6,000 in merit aid, which was increased after Henry Rowan died in January 2016 to $11,500. Several others in real life and on CC had this increase occur in 2016, and only in 2016ās class.
I donāt think the credits from a community college will really matter to the award if you are applying as a freshman, but I would be interested if someone has specific details and experience.
I had brunch with my friend and her S today, and they are following up with Rowan in January, so Iāll let College Confidential know what happens in their case.
RE: Honors Program
My S was a member of the program from his freshman year, my daughter applied and failed to be accepted but re-applied after taking an Acing an Honors Comp II course her first semester. She was accepted and will graduate in 3 years with an Honors Concentration. If you canāt get in through application the first go round, I recommend your student taking and doing well (obviously!) in an Honors Course, then re-applying.
RE: Life and Changes in Command
Remember this is your kidās education and they should be driving decisions and getting things done. You should NOT be running the show, and if you are āco-drivingā, you need to start letting them have more control and moving yourself to the proverbial backseat. It is hard to let go, but it is in everyoneās best interests. They should be doing their own laundry now, getting themselves up in the morning, cooking basic meals, running a checking account of their own etc. Donāt keep doing it all for them.
RE: Money Matters
Once they are at college (Rowan or other), make sure they clearly understand what GPA they need to maintain in order to maintain merit scholarships. Donāt let that come as a shock.
Suggest they look for an on campus job immediately. These arenāt ultra demanding, hours are flexible, and they understand when finals loom and you need to reduce your work hours. Good way to earn pocket money.
All I can think of for now!
@NJRoadie Thank you for all the advice and for the reminder that she can always apply to honors, if she cares to, at a later time.
I do have some concerns about the gpa requirement for engineeringā¦and I really prefer when colleges are satisfied with making satisfactory progress for keeping scholarships.
Meanwhile, being from the Philly suburbs, so many people still see Rowan as the old Glassboro State College and are telling her she can do better. Then she gets suggestions for schools that would cost many time. Itās sad really.
I would really be happy if D would get excited about any of the colleges on her list and look forward to going somewhere, but it seems they are all the same to her, with maybe Mount St. Maryās standing out the most of the schools she visited and Grove City College of the ones we havenāt. And unless a competitive scholarship comes through, both would be about $10,000 more a year than Rowan.
We have a friend who doesnāt think Rowan engineering is as good as Stevens or Rutgers. This is someone currently working in the field (middle age) and Iām not sure how much experience they have with recent grads. Itās disheartening, because we really like Rowan and think it has a lot to offer. Stevens is not appealing or affordable, and Rutgers is a little overwhelming for my son. heās waiting on some other schools, but he has a great safety that we can afford.
My son is an education major, so I donāt have first hand knowledge. But my good friendās husband is an executive at a NJ engineering firm. When we were discussing colleges, he said Rowan is one of the schools they recruit from heavily for engineers. I know many people on this site donāt think Rowan is a great choice, but I think for the younger generation, it has a good rep and is a wise financial decision. I also think if a kid is a go-getter and motivated, they will do just as well at Rowan as Stevens.
@mom2cats Is your friend a hiring manager? Several hiring managers have posted about this on other CC forums and this is not the message I have heard.
Rowan has an excellent and growing reputation. The students are getting internships all over the place.
If you read the Financial Aid and Scholarship boards here at CC youāll hear a lot about what matters in an Engineering School, and Rowan has all of that. I honestly wouldnāt worry about it.
Let the people who think the name matters graduate with $100,000 in debt from their Big Name school. Then will they be able to live on their own, with flexibility to move for a job? Long view my friend, long view. I know it is heavy pressure on a lot of kids and parents to have that Big Name on their college sweatshirt in the high school right now, but think about the 10 year class reunion 
The school my son attends has them do their senior year of HS at Kean University, also earning then 24 college credits. I wrote to Rowan this morning to ask about it (whether heād be a freshman or transfer) and here was their response:
"Thank you for contacting us with your question on behalf of your son. A student who applies for admission prior to graduating from high school, should always submit a freshman application, using the Common App. This will ensure that the student receives the appropriate consideration for scholarships, housing assignments and orientation. Once he completes his college level coursework, your son should send his official college transcript to the Admissions Office for transfer credit processing. His transfer credit will then be processed as part of his academic record. "
@NJRoadie we know heāll get a good education at Rowan, if thatās where he ends up. The students at the engineering open house in October all seemed happy and confident, and the professors we spoke to were helpful.
Iām not sure if this person is a hiring manager, but works with young engineers. One thing mentioned was the internship opportunities available at Stevens. Rowan students may have to hustle a little more to get good summer jobs, but my son is aware of the need to create his own opportunities.
Thanks again for your insights!
@Schadret It may only be me but it seems to me like their response was a nonanswer. A very politician way of avoiding the question and having us apply without having the question answered. The last sentence left the conversation very vague and in the clouds.
Everyone knows that his transfer credits will be processed as part of his academic record, that was never the question; what you wanted to know was wether heād be considered a transfer student or a freshman. I may be a little frustrated by the answer they gave to you and itās because Iāve been through this before. With my oldest sonās college we needed to know something before applying to know whether that school would be right for him and their response was similar; they need us to apply before answering the question. This was not true since it was a general question much like yours, they could have answered the question. I believe they avoid answering important questions like this in order to keep their
- applications high (acceptance rate low)
- yield low
- application fees flowing
Now that my junior son is looking at colleges to put on his list, this transfer credit issue is detrimental. It hass a highly negative impact on acceptance to certain colleges as well as the financial aid status for the 4 years. This is a very important issue.
@reformedman I didnāt see it that way, but Iāll write back to them for more clarification.
āA student who applies for admission prior to graduating from high school, should always submit a freshman application, using the Common App. This will ensure that the student receives the appropriate consideration for scholarships, housing assignments and orientation.ā
That seem to me like itās saying that a senior in HS applying would be considered a freshman.
Also, my sonās school system has been doing the senior year at Kean for a while now, and they assured us that the students are considered freshman when going to college and that nobody has ever been told otherwise, denied freshman scholarships or housing, or been considered a transfer student.
Ahh well if the highschool offered confirmation then thatās great. But with regard to Rowanās response, no I personally would not have accepted that reply as clear cut enough to accept because after all is said and done, they could always cover themselves by saying they never said he wouldnāt be considered a transfer student. Glad itās clear though, Iāll keep Rowan on our list. Thank you.