<p>My parents have it in their minds now that they want to send me to a JC because it will save money (obviously) and because since I'm not certain on what I want to do, then there is no point in going to a UC.</p>
<p>I am NOT going to a JC. Not only will my family's circle of friends think I'm stupid (trust me, my circle of friends are like that), but it will be unnecessary because then I need to work again to transfer out when I'm already good enough to get in. I need a convincing argument for them to not send me to a JC.</p>
<p>We are a high income family but not enough to just think money is not going to be a problem. My brother goes to med school (in pre-med right now) and it costs a lot. That seems to have had an affect on them in my future college education.</p>
<p>Even if I tell my parents that a lot of people use undergrad to decide their future, they don't listen. I really need some help here.</p>
<p>See but that's stupid IMO. I shouldn't have to decide what I want to do the rest of my life WHEN I'M STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL!!</p>
<p>I mean I have ideas, and I already have one I'm leaning towards but so many people change their minds while doing undergrad, because undergrad is used for that purpose exactly. To explore and decide then.</p>
<p>I think you should review with them how you have shown that it will be a good investment. Come up with some data to support the fact that you will succeed in the U.C. setting.It will be more convincing if it's several years worth, rather than just a recent demonstration of commitment or a promise.For my son, I'd be looking for a two year history of internal Motivati in pain to what it's going to take at z U.C. For example, doing HW & getting stuff turned in without me bugging him. Going a little beyond what is required instead of saying "we don't really have to do that..." My son is going into 9th grade and I'm hoping this will happen; While he does OK on standardized tests and gets A's and B's, the A's & Bs only seem to happen with a lot of harassment. His sister is very different. Your post is making me think I should bring this up now.</p>
<p>It pains me to think that you sound exactly like the kind of person who would benefit most from a liberal arts education....</p>
<p>For your parents, is it a financial thing primarily, or a practical thing? Do they think the only reason to go to college is to study for a career? (If so, they might want to yank out their financial support if you start out, say, in communications and slowly make your way to Religious studies). Maybe you can talk to them about WHY you want to go to a four-year college, and tell them that law school, for example, has no required undergraduate major, and that the major with the highest overall acceptance to law school is CLASSICS.</p>
<p>You can tell them that you know somebody (that somebody is me) whose parents were history majors. Mother is a math teacher; father is a speechwriter.</p>
<p>If it's a financial concern, talk about how much they are willing to pay for your education, and look at UC and other alternatives. Depending on your numbers, there are a lot of great little LAC's that love tucking students in under their wings.</p>
<p>Yeah I've been getting people telling me to just tell them I already know what I want to do but I don't think that's enough.</p>
<p>Some girl came to my house the other day and she filled their heads with all this JC stuff because she goes to one. Now they see virtually no disadvantages to going to a JC instead of straight to a UC. </p>
<p>What I need is reasons of why it would be advantageous to go straight to a UC rather than a JC.</p>
<p>Let's not focus too much on money. That's a reason but not THE biggest reason. Right now they think that I would just go to a JC and stay there for a few years. Then transfer to a UC and stay there for like a year or so and then go to grad school. All peachy to them. There has to be some problems somewhere in there. Otherwise, why would ANYONE go straight to a UC? Why don't we all just go to a JC and then transfer to a UC? It would save money. So there has to be a reason not to do it.</p>
<p>Work your buns off to get the scholarships, GPA, and test scores that will convince them you are serious. Just wanting to go to a UC to keep your firends and their parents from thinking you are stupid is pretty weak. I don't know many parents who are able to afford it who will deny their child the education they have earned. Plus, work on refining your goals now, make them clear to you mom and dad and who then gives a rats rump what you switch to once you start school. </p>
<p>Play the game, jump through the hoops, less talk more action!</p>
<p>If all else fails when you are 18, figure out a way to go it alone. If they see you are serious then I bet you won't have to </p>
<p>There really aren't good practical reasons to attend a UC straight out of hs. There are good emotional reasons for you to go to a 4 yr. school straight away ie: the dorm experience the "real college" feel that is hard to get at JC, the friendships you make that can last a lifetime, etc. But the truth is that few if any emplyoyers are going to care that you got an AA before a BA or BS and it is where you get your Bachelors that matters...even then it doesn't matter to the majority of employers. If they didn't go to a 4 yr school out of hs they won't get it, if they did I don't get why they would deny you the same experience unless they feel you would waste it. The burden is on you to prove that you wont.</p>
<p>Two final suggestions are to get your brother to go to bat for you and also that you consider the CSU system as a less expensive alternative to UC where you can still get a top-notch education.</p>
<p>just make stuff up about how your gonna be pre-med or pre-law, either one of those, your parents will love it. Or say whatever convinces them. It seems from your perspective this will work, since they'll think you have a life plan ahead of you.</p>
<p>And if your too righteous for that...maybe JC is a good choice. Don't alot of people transfer to UC's after a couple of semesters of JC? It isn't unusual, and it might help pad your GPA to avoid large intro classes.</p>
<p>Maybe I was being obtuse. The reason you should give them, assuming it's true, is that for the last 2 years you have demonstrated a UC level of commitment to your education, that leaves little doubt that you can make good use of the academic opportunities made available to you. The reason you, and other kids should get to go to a UC is because you have risen to the top 12% of students in your class through motivation and hard work, and you are likely to make the most of the money that your parents and tax payers laic invested in the university system. Some kids go to a JC because they need a few more years to prove this.</p>
<p>"Work your buns off to get the scholarships, GPA, and test scores that will convince them you are serious."</p>
<p>My parent's know I can get into a UC. But it's that they don't think it's worth to go there when I don't have a set plan.</p>
<p>I really don't understand their logic. I can major in anything, but that doesn't mean I have to do what I major in.</p>
<p>I mean, I could major in biological sciences. That gives me a lot of options. Why can't they understand that?</p>
<p>Isn't that what undergrad is about? Exploring? </p>
<p>"Just wanting to go to a UC to keep your firends and their parents from thinking you are stupid is pretty weak."</p>
<p>And I'm not denying going to a JC only because of that, it's because it's not necessary. One major thing about college is learning to become independent. I will basically be a fricken high school student for another 2 years or something if I have to do that. And I hate where I live, not to mention. I moved here 2 years ago and left behind a ton of friends who I could reunite with since they're going to UC's as well.</p>
<p>Basically, since I'm not being very clear in my posts...This is what I want you guys to answer:</p>
<p>Why go to a UC straight out of high school when one can go to a JC, take the same classes and spend way less money and transfer to a UC later?</p>
<p>That's what my parent's are thinking right now. Now where is the loophole in all of that? Or is there none? What is the disadvantage of doing that?</p>