<p>Ok...this is a really non-traditional topic and nothing like oh about 95% of the situations on CC. </p>
<p>My fiance will be looking to go back to school in a few years and I was wondering what the steps we should take to get him back in the saddle. His record isn't very impressive at all, he was a typical student that did really well at a not so great high school and thus wasn't adequately prepared to do work in college. He flunked out of the University of Pittsburgh in Spring of 2002, I really don't consider it a true 'flunk' out since he could have fought it, but he took it as his chance to go home and re-group and to attend community college for a few years. He moved back home to the Philly area and attended Bucks Comm. College for about a year and a half and frankly didn't see a point in what he was doing and didn't flunk out, he did really well in the classes he attended but you obviously can't get grades for classes you don't attend. </p>
<p>He has now moved down to North Carolina with me and is working full-time trying to get out of debt and such and we will be moving next fall to wherever I get a PhD offer (hopefully Madison or Twin Cities). Because of his situation he is going to wait until he's absolutely sure about what he wants to get a degree in...he's currently thinking about either a BA in Business Administration or certification as a Radiologic Technician. This way he will be sure that he has the drive to actually complete the degree and be a studious student. </p>
<p>My question is what he should do next when the time comes? I'm almost absoluetly sure he'd have to go to a community college first, but how long do you think it would take to re-establish his name to be admitted to a reputable university? He currenlty has probably a total of around 50 credits of primarily gen. ed. requirements and obviously his SAT/GPA from high school is now pretty much obsolete.</p>
<p>Any input on this situation would be really helpful! Thanks so much in advance.</p>
<p>When you've moved to the area where you'll get your PhD then your fiance should then go talk with a counselor at a CC to find out what they recommend as far as next steps. There's a lot of opportunity out there, more than he might realize. Many colleges even have special admission programs for "non-traditional" students who took time off between HS and college and if he shows he can do the work in a CC he'd be the type of person they're looking for. But its premature to look too deeply into these without a better idea of what he wants to do, and there will be plenty of time while he's studying at the CC to investigate.</p>
<p>Its important that HE do this, not you; unless he buys into the whole thing and the drive comes from him then the odds of seeing it thru diminish greatly.
Reading between the lines of what you've written I sense a big problem here. Does HE really want a degree, or is it a goal of yours and not his? </p>
<p>He wants to wait until he's "absolutely sure"? How many people ever are absolutely sure about almost anything? You start down a road and keep your eyes open; if its the wrong road you take a turn. If someone won't start until you're 100% beyond-any-doubt sure they'll never start. </p>
<p>He needs this certainty to "be sure that he has the drive to actually complete the degree"? And back at Bucks CC he only went to some of his classes? I can tell you right now that not every college class is going to be fascinating, and some are completely unrelated to the major. If you want classes that all are aimed at a specific goal, you want a vocational school and not a college.</p>
<p>Now maybe I'm completely wrong here, but I wonder if you're comfortable with the idea of being married to someone who may never get a college degree. His past shows higher ed wasn't really right for him at the time, and these days he's given a few reasons to put off college and says he can't motivate himself unless he sees the goal. Yet you're talking of "admitted to a reputable university", and you are out doing the legwork instead of him. I sense a disconnect here; are you sure you want the same things?</p>
<p>I decided this thread was much better suited for the parents forum. A lot of these points were brought up there, to which I responded. Please look in the Parents forum under 'Non-trad student question'. Thanks.</p>