<p>Want to add: if 60% of the students were in the top 25% of their hs class- and the avg scores run 450-550- well, imagine a hs where you can get a 500 and be in the top quarter. </p>
<p>And, if he wants to be a financial planner, will this school on his resume suit potential employers? EVen if he is valedictorian, will they feel he got the math, business, econ, whatever classes at the level they expect? Will he even get into a decent MBA program? It’s this long view that would scare me. Does DU or some other source track where their kids get into grad school? What jobs they go off to?</p>
<p>I agree with you lookingforward. I still have had no response from admissions about the stats for the business program only. I also asked about the 41.6% transfer rate and instead of answering that he emailed back (to my son) asking what website we got that information from! I did sent him that website and then asked him to answer the other questions. It’s been 3 days and nothing. Our S2 is now going to go on two more official visits (Linfield, OR and Sewanee - U. of the South) and wait for his acceptance/merit back from U. of Puget Sound and then decide. We’d be thrilled with any of these choices. I am pretty offended by how we have been treated by the DU admissions staff. I was hoping our visit (posted visit) was just a fluke but now there is a pattern.</p>
<p>Out of curiosity, have you also considered whether a combined undergrad-MBA program is necessarily a good idea, especially from a lower-ranked school? </p>
<p>From what I’ve heard from nearly everyone who works in the business/corporate world, an MBA without a few years of post-college work experience is worth very little to most potential employers. </p>
<p>The ideal based on their educational/career paths is to get into the best academic school with the least cost/most aid, work hard to get best possible grades, work 2+ years, and then apply and attend the most reputable MBA program they can get into.</p>
<p>On March 18/19 is Wabash College’s Honor-Scholarship Weekend (a game-changer for many undecided/accepted stdts). Son’s reluctantly going (I’m Mom, tagging along, for Parent Mtgs), but he’s not wanting to go to college other than to local LAC 10 minutes away from our home (OH). He isn’t enthused about college-future nor rah-rah team (which is why Wabash doesn’t appeal to him). I’m afraid son’s setting himself up for failure at local LAC if he’s not enthused. Scholarship $$$ is equal at both local LAC vs. Wabash, so cost isn’t factor. Are boys typically not enthused about college in general? Son’s not sports-oriented nor being recruited. Is being scared of this next big change-in-life (college?) typical of teen boys more than girls?</p>
<p>banjolady, my S did not want to go to college a long way from home. He was more comfortable applying to schools that his friends were applying to.</p>
<p>Within the geographical area, with his choice of major, and what we could afford were also limiting factors. He would not consider any schools with any type of religious affiliation.</p>
<p>So we worked within his constraints, which limited the school selection quite a bit, but it worked out in the end, and he is happy where he is.</p>
<p>I think you need to listen to your S and try to find something that he is comfortable with and you think is ok too - maybe not what your ideal, or ‘dream’ school would be for him, but someplace he will embrace and thrive at. You can lead a horse to water, and all that.</p>
<p>One comment someone made (I think Cobrat) and that your son might want to think of not doing the joint MBA program. I realize that it looks great, to be able to finish grad and undergrad in 5 years, and in some cases that might make sense (my wife did that when she went back to school and did a joint ba-mba program in accounting). </p>
<p>But I agree with Cobra, it may be better not to do it, for several reasons:</p>
<p>1)If the program is not highly competitive, the MBA may not mean much. I am not saying that the only MBA that matters is Harvard or Yale, I am saying some MBA’s may not give a very good background. There are plenty of solid MBA programs or managemnt programs at non top 10 schools that he might do well at. </p>
<p>2)More importantly, from personal experience (and that is all it is, personal experience) going back to school after working tends to give students a lot more perspective on things, about what it is they actually are studying. In some ways, MBA programs are very theoretical, you are using case studies and such to examine how things are done; coming as a student, where you haven’t been ‘out there’, it is just that, but when you have worked, you see it through different eyes. I went through my masters with adults who mostly were working, not direct grad students, and the difference was palapable in how things were discussed, and the kids who hadn’t worked were amazed when we piped up and told them what they are teaching isn’t always the truth, or that ‘scientific management’ is often an oxymoron <em>smile</em>.
3)If he separates it, he could then work on getting good grades UG, then later on apply to a better quality MBA program,. or maybe even get his employer to agree to an executive MBA (company pays part or full for the MBA, and usually allows 1 or 2 Fridays a month to attend classes). </p>
<p>I wish him luck, hopefully he finds what is best for him in the long run:)</p>
<p>Update! Sewanee off the list - no merit.<br>
Trinity/TX invited him for an official visit the weekend he was to go to Sewanee and he is very excited.
Still loves Linfield and if Trinity doesn’t offer him a roster spot or he doesn’t like it as much as Linfield, then Linfield it is!<br>
There’s a light at the end of this long tunnel!</p>
<p>Shrinkrap: Your PM box is full but I wanted to say that I know people who went to the schools your child is visiting and they loved them. Both very happy. Of course… they were from Western Washington so to them, Spokane was as sunny as it gets.</p>
<p>did you say that the school was Div. 2? A lot of atletes go to D 2 schools and then transfer to Div. 1 schools after a couple of years. That might account for the high transfer rate (Also for the vacancy in the starting line-up).</p>
<p>Just tell him not to get his heart set on any one school until he has all the responses and knows all of his options. Also tell him that if he is really interested in internships, he may very well have much more attractive options at one of the higher academic schools.</p>
<p>I now have a better sense of the worry you were feeling before your S started reconsidering his choice. My nephew just signed a letter of intent with a junior college for baseball – two years full ride, but 99% of students are in-state (looking at the rosters, the athletes are mostly OOS), and 99% live off-campus (except the athlete). The school seems to specialize in kids playing in his position and getting them into mid-major D-Is. Turned down two MUCH better schools (in terms of academics, but would not get an athletic scholarship) to pursue this dream. I am holding my breath. He’s an excellent student and I don’t know how the academics are going to work out for him. This is a total turn-around from when we talked to him in December, when he seemed happily set on a state school an hour from home where he was already accepted.</p>
<p>My sister and BIL are thrilled silly, as they have spent years hoping the sports would pay off in college $$ (and spending every summer for the past ten years with travel teams, going to showcases, etc.). I’m just finding the academic price a little steep.</p>
<p>Here’s latest on my son & Wabash vs. options (he was also accepted to Bowling Green State/OH & also local Catholic LAC, Mt. St. Joseph/OH); now he says “none of these 3 schools” are “good enuff for him,” & now wants to apply/attend local Bible College (Cinti Christian) where he hears/influenced by older friends that this is way to go. But CCU takes 90% of applicants, with as low as 14 ACT score, & low GPA (if you have a pulse & pay, you’re admitted). Not exactly what this Mom (Miami Univ/OH grad) wants for son, & even no football team at CCU (mostly Bible studies). I told son that if he wants a Masters in Divinity (after getting Bachelor’s somewhere else), I’m fine with that for CCU, but not for undergrad-choice. CCU has retention rate (from fresh to sopho year) of
62%, and grad-rate of only 36% in 4 years (not good)! Obviously CCU isn’t a Phi Beta Kappa institution; we’re also not “Church of Christ” (where CCU is), but Presby (my son looked at Hanover/IN & said “no” - too far away). During last weekend-Wabash 2-nite visit, he stayed in a fraternity house (weekend was for accepted students & scholarships), but he didn’t give me any feedback (he was completely mute on drive home). This was his 5th visit to Wabash in 2 years (2 tours/2 on-campus activity visits), plus he has a $30,000 scholarship (Boys’ State delegate) to attend! I don’t want to drop $15,000 per year/tuition for CCU vs. son’s opportunity to attend Wabash, BGSU or Mt. St. Joe (also scholarships to all 3 schools). Son also didn’t apply to my Alma Mater (Miami/OH) nor husband’s (Univ of Cinti), but never too late (???).</p>
<p>SDiegoMom–Thanks for updating the thread. I am glad things are looking up. </p>
<p>I had a thought toward the beginning that I’ll post even if it no longer applies to you because it might help for the future: I find it odd that his club coach would urge him to go to the college you liked least on the basis of weather being a “huge factor” for goalkeepers, with the idea that he would see more action that way. First, half the team’s games would be away games. Second, a goalkeeper would see more action if the defenders are terrible as well, but surely a goalkeeper doesn’t choose to attend a college merely because it has the worst defenders. Third, my children have been goalkeepers, so I understand that weather makes a difference in the game (the balls are more slippery and unpredictable in the rain, for example); however, I’ve never heard weather as a “huge factor” for choosing a team.</p>
<p>Again, I’m glad that things seem to be working out for you and your son. I would encourage others in similar situations to question the basis for making such a decision when so many other aspects of the decision seem so wrong.</p>
<p>*Here’s latest on my son & Wabash vs. options (he was also accepted to Bowling Green State/OH & also local Catholic LAC, Mt. St. Joseph/OH); now he says “none of these 3 schools” are “good enuff for him,” & now wants to apply/attend local Bible College (Cinti Christian) where he hears/influenced by older friends that this is way to go. But CCU takes 90% of applicants, with as low as 14 ACT score, & low GPA (if you have a pulse & pay, you’re admitted). *</p>
<p>??? </p>
<p>Your son doesn’t think those other schools are “good enough” but he thinks this bible school is? ??? </p>
<p>Of the 3 other schools, which do you think is better and why. Is one more affordable than the other? (I don’t blame you for being concerned about CCU…unlikely to have decent academics)</p>
<p>My son (in OH) who wants to attend Cinti Christian Univ (instead of Wabash, Bowling Green or College of Mt. St. Joseph) has been influenced by a CCU graduate who tells him what to do (& my son blindly follows this “Christian guru” as if he’s THE MAN rather than listening to me), & this guy is about 26 years old & graduated from CCU a few years ago. Of course, his parents wouldn’t have been able to afford a school like Wheaton (IL) where Billy Graham graduated (but my son doesn’t want to leave home/Cinti). My greatest concern is that CCU isn’t the “best that there is” for undergraduate Bible Studies
(I’d take Princeton Theological Seminary vs. CCU any day)! You’re right about CCU not offering a rigorous academic curriculum (it’s over 90% acceptance rate, but only about 36% graduate in 4 years). I have a really good son who is walking the straight-&-narrow (good morals), but now he thinks that a State College nor a school like OH Wesleyan or Hanover (IN) isn’t “pure enough” for him. And Son’s not getting these ideas (about not being “pure enough”) from me! I’m Presbyterian/USA & “not good enuff” ?? (I’m his Mom for last 18 years)!</p>
<p>banjolady, I think you have a case of teenage rebellion on your hands. Possibly partly because it sounds like you’ve been pushing him hard to go to Wabash.</p>
<p>If you do not want him to go to CCU, tell him you will not pay for him to attend there–period. I would keep the discussion entirely about academics, not religion. </p>
<p>If he sincerely is not ready to leave home to attend Bowling Green, and not interested in attending the local LAC, (I’d say he’s been very clear he doesn’t like Wabash) I personally would tell him him that he can take a year to think about what he wants, and get a job & pay rent while he figures it out.</p>
<p>How weird is that, that wanting to follow a “Christian Guru” is a “rebellion”, but I SO get it! I have paid for a Christian education for both my kids for 14 years and I am ready for something else. </p>
<p>Son has good choices (that happen to be Jesuit and Catholic …like me! Perish the thought!), but his best friends are liking Biola,and it’s NAIC soccer team.</p>
<p>banjolady, I am a great advocate for Wabash, but if he didn’t walk away loving it after Honors Scholar weekend, I don’t think he will ever love it. That is the single event that most admitted students say that clinched the deal. As for the college of choice, I would ask my son that if he wants to stay close to home, that he take his “non’religious” classes at the local community college and transfer to the college of his choice. Hopefully, by the time that he experiences new experiences at college, his “guru” will have less influence. You may be able to easily afford this school, but there is no reason to throw your money away at an institution that does not meet your requirements. I can appreciate that he wants to stay close to home, but that doesn’t mean that you should be forced to pay for a school that does not meet your own requirements.</p>
<p>Back to Banjolady’s Son (Class of 2011/h.s.) & Wabash applc’tn/acceptance: Two years ago Wabash was S’s favorite college/choice; then the “religious guru” (not from our Presby-USA church) told him not to go to Wabash becos (shudder the thought) of greater percentage of “gay men” attending Wabash vs. super-straight students at his non-competitive Bible College. I’m more upset that my son isn’t choosing Wabash as his best academic-rigor choice & instead listening to someone who considers an all-male school as a “bad thing”. I’m old enuff to remember when many schools in late 1960’s became co-ed (Harvard/Yale/Princeton, etc) primarily becos of financial picture (needing more women in college). Look how many colleges today are 60/40% women/men proportion; Wabash doesn’t want to be co-ed & I want single-sex schools to thrive. Look how many all-women colleges (over 80 in USA?) are still in business, yet no one says that these schools “produce” or cater to gay women!
My concern is how much my son’s opinion about Wabash has changed in 6-8 months because a guy, who attended this ultra-conservative Bible College (& who wouldn’t have been admitted academically to Wabash), is telling my S not to go to Wabash! This no-expert “guru” wants my son to attend his Alma Mater for no other reason than to “convert” my son to his own religious persuasion! I know that my son (being age 18) can choose his own religious denomination within reason (I wouldn’t want him to become a Moonie - remember them?), but this religious transformation (last 2 years) makes me uncomfortable. Also it plays upon my son’s grief since my late husband died 2 years ago, so he’s vulnerable to “guru’s” influence. My late husband would have advocated for son to attend his Alma Mater (which was large State Univ) but now son says “no”.
It makes me want to send son to City’s State Univ for sake of academic diversity, if for no other reason! Isn’t this what going to college is: widening one’s horizons? I’m not talking about encouraging my son to attend Super Liberal Univ on coasts (we’re midwest Republicans), but I think that son is currently living in an unreality coccoon. Also my son was told by his “religious guru” from Bible College that “gay people” are able to change (vs. being genet-
ically wired to be gay), & "God will change the gay person to be be “straight” if only he would renounce sin (but this “gay” vs. “straight” issue is a whole another story). I’m not a “gay-basher”, but my son is beginning to sound like one since this “doctrine” is what he would continue to learn (i.e., bashing/not tolerating) at the Bible College. So I think that my hopes for my son (to get an academically-sound education) vs. his recent change of opinion about Wabash (which are unfounded opinions by local gay-bashers) are timely, right before my son needs to make a decision to attend any of his 3 schools (local Catholic LAC; larger State Univ; or Wabash) which the Bible College-graduate (religious “guru-mentor”) is advocating against all 3 (except for his Bible College to be the Only Good Choice for my son). I hope that readers will understand where I’m coming from — academic rigor is the most important college-choice quality that I appreciate, other than “fit” for a student; but now my son says his “only fit” is the Bible College without the academic rigor (i.e., if a student says “yes” to the B.C.'s doctrine, he/she gets "A’s). At this Bible College, all faculty are required to be members of the same denomination & teach same doctrine (so no Catholic/Jew/Muslim professors need apply)! If we were Latter Day Saints & son wanted to attend BYU, that would be fine (stay in same “fit” rather than beyond the religious pale); but this Bible College is not where we come from (son would be better served at Hanover College or one of the Presby-USA schools, but they’re all now “too far away” or other excuse). The real excuse is: they’re not “good enuff” for S’s new religious conversion! There’s such a big world out there to discover, yet my son wants to hide (educationally) underneath a (religious-censure) bushel! This isn’t how I raised my kid: to be intolerant!</p>