<p>This will probably go over like a lead balloon - but why not community college? It would give your son time to "find" himself while keeping expenses low. There is no guarantee that an uninspired child will suddenly apply self to college even if sent to the most inspiring college in the world. </p>
<p>As a parent, I want my kids to "earn" my financial support in terms of going to college. I don't think that parents paying the expenses associated with an OOS school/living away from home is a good response to a child's lack of effort ("being inspired" whatever). College funds being supplied by parents, in my book, is not an automatic response to a child just for showing up and doing minimal efforts in highschool (a B- GPA for a bright child is definitely someone going through the motions). Community college would be the time for the child to grow up and learn the life lesson that some things are not going to be fun and inspiring and yet require our full effort - and when this effort doesn't happen - there are real life consequences that will lead to different paths. I think cc is a perfect answer.</p>
<p>I have two kids. One is at community college and it is the right place for her. She is <em>still</em> not inspired, though she is making the deans list each semester. The other child is aiming for Berkeley and doing so on his own steam for the most part (some concern that he isn't doing enough prep to get into the school, but our advice can only go so far, at some point he needs to apply it). I think he may get into the school and if so, that will be the right place for him. Different kids, different goals/temperaments - both very bright. "Showing up" at high school did not, in our book, mean automatically sending the older child off to some school to continue being uninspired. I'm convinced that she will become inspired on her own time schedule and it won't have much to do with which school she is at - so why not make it local and inexpensive?</p>
<p>Just another way to look at the situation.</p>
<p>Annika</p>
<p>nyc- Can you suggest other schools like Goucher that are looking to increase their male population?</p>
<p>This is kind of an out there suggestion...but look at University of Wisconsin Green Bay. They have an environmental science program and an environmental policy and planning program. The campus was originally planned with this major in mind and the campus is drop dead gorgeous! Looking out on the Bay is something and the arboretum in the middle of campus is amazing as is the nine hole golf course and frisbee golf course right on campus. I was amazed at the money Wisconsin is putting back in to their university system.</p>
<p>I second the Wisconsin idea. For a smaller option, how about Northland College in Ashland?</p>
<p>Northland College's Academic web site:
Northland</a> College:
What does an environmental liberal arts college offer you?</p>
<p>He would get a lot of personal interaction with professors there; I think that would inspire him.</p>
<p>Annika - I do not altogether disagree with your suggestion of community college. I have, in fact, suggested it to my son. Talk about a lead balloon! It was as if I had just handed him a death sentence! That being said, his grades may severly limit his ability to get into the college of his choice, and we will not spend all of that money just to send him ANYWHERE! We will support him throughout the application process, and see what options he has in the end.</p>
<p>Danhmom - When you say that Clark is in an "iffy" area, do you mean dangerous? I know that Worcester is not the most exciting "city," but I didn't realize it was unsafe.</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone for your suggestions!</p>
<p>Mom2009 - do not underestimate your son's abilities. Too much time on CC will warp one's sense of reality. Contrary to popular belief one does not need a 1450 SAT and a 4.2 GPA to get into college.</p>
<p>Your son may not get into all schools on his list but he will probably get into most. Go in with a dose of reality and spread the wealth with applications - but not too wide!
Good Luck!</p>
<p>I am originally from NJ but now live in VT. I know UVM very well and its right on lake champlain and offer tremendous offerings in environmental studies. Hands on learning and an amazing campus. They are a green school, with biodiesel shuttles, they are carbon neutral and the new buildings are us green certified. Check out the web site and see all that is happening there.......burlington is a wonderful young town right on the lake. It is know as a party school but they do have individual dorms for different groups like honors college, international, environmental etc. You just have to apply to get in them. My daughter will be going there this fall in the honors college.</p>
<p>I think the key is to place CC in the proper perspective for the teen. This requires some reframing of it by the parent because everything that is being told to the student by the glossy flyers from the colleges, news articles, hs guidance counselors, websites and forums is that 4years are the "better" route than a CC followed by a 4year. The best route is the one that takes into account all the different aspects of the student's maturity.</p>
<p>The reality is that there are many advantages to a CC that should be seriously considered by many students. Cost, size of classes (30 vs 600), quality of teacher (being taught by the PHD vs being taught by the grad student), are some of the obvious advantages. If one might want to change majors a few times, or take 3 instead of 2 years to get through the beginning classes, or add theatre or art or other fun ECs while still exploring majors, CC is a great option.</p>
<p>Not to mention the whole idea that for students who are feeling (or acting) very wobbly about going off to college and being serious about their studies - staying close to home and limiting expenses is a far wiser investment in case it all doesn't work out. Many CCs also allow part-time enrollment, which can also be a better way to ease into school. My daughter is fulltime, but just by a sliver. I think this has helped her ease into the college system. She continues to build on her successes rather than be completely overwhelmed and try to build on a series of failures.</p>
<p>Parents need to explain that the "peer pressure/culture" of going straight to a 4year is not realistic for many students, including the bright ones. Gap year or going part-time to a CC or going full-time to a CC can be the right bridge for many students. </p>
<p>Annika</p>
<p>Worcester is not UNsafe - but its a city and every city has its downside. Personally I like Worcester. It has several colleges, it has hills and parks, a very nice museum, a decent mall, and many fine and quirky restaurants. It is also only an hour from Boston and about that, or less, from Providence. The area where Clark is is not the nicest but Clark is a very good school and I would never think of it as being in a really unsafe area. Its not as nice an area as WPI but the campus is fairly pretty. You'd have to see it to decide. RE: the comm college idea - be careful on this. If your S did CC then a private college afterwards, not all credits may transfer. You need to check first with the colleges he would be looking at to transfer to re: their policy. A friend's D lost 2 semesters of work transferring from a CC to a small private LAC b/c the credits were not considered equal.</p>
<p>We already visited both UVM and Clark. While I didn't feel that Worcester was a particulary nice city, I didn't feel the area was dangerous either. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing a safety issue. Son really liked the feel of the campus and the curriculum.</p>
<p>Also visited UVM, which son loved. Beautiful campus, and lots of opportunities for a kid who is into environmental science. Also, if he should change the direction of his major, UVM has many other strengths.</p>
<p>Large school vs. small school, but I honestly think he would be happy at either school. Unfortunately, not sure his grades will gain him admittance at either place!</p>
<p>Maybe his interest in UVM will motivate him to do his best next year. The state gives the school so little money that they need lots of OOS students. It is not at all difficult to get to Burlington, as you must know since you visited. It is a wonderful college town.</p>
<p>Sterling College in VT is one you could check out.</p>
<p>Since I saw as far west as Colorado on your list, I'm going to suggest looking at Montana State University. They have a strong enviro program, great campus and location, and your S should receive merit $, which for OOS kids is almost soley based on test scores. I know 2 enviro kids from NH that chose MSU over UNH and have been very happy there. Rolling admission with a quick turn around time could give him a nice early acceptance.</p>
<p>Any other ideas for schools west of the Mississippi?</p>
<p>Several kids we know are at MSU-Bozeman and really love it. Great for skiers too!</p>
<p>How about Colorado College?</p>
<p>^^^^
with the academic profile mentioned in the original post, colorado college would be a real stretch. </p>
<p>if he is interested in ES, warren wilson and richard stockton are great options on the east coast. so, too, is unc-wilmington, especially if he is not 100% sure he will major in environmental studies...they have a great marine science program, which may compliment his interest in the environment but take him in a slightly different direction. many of the state schools west of the mississippi may also be a good option (msu, wyoming, nevada, asu, arizona, new mexico) if he is not necessarily sure he is going to pursue environmental studies but is sure he is interested in the sciences (maybe geology?). many of their admissions policies are straight forward and published on their websites (they are very clear: you are from out of state - you need this gpa and this SAT to get in). </p>
<p>in general, the challenge here is that your son has tested abilities, as evidenced in his SATs, but he has not necessarily performed at the level his testing would suggest he could. additionally, coming from new jersey will be a challenge as there are MANY jersey kids applying to a variety of schools across the country - and many of them are at the top of their classes. i would strongly suggest he get some fire in his belly and start banging out a's if he wants to attend some of the schools mentioned in this thread - if he does, he may very well land himself not only some admit letters, but also some merit money. if this doesn't happen, though, a cc may not be a bad option - where are you in jersey? camden county has a great cc and their science offerings are pretty strong if you are in the southern part of the state and he wants to explore the sciences more.</p>
<p>AdOfficer - Thanks for the suggestions. While Colorado is far, we have some family there. The Wyoming, Montana, New Mexico suggestions seem unreasonable due to the distance.</p>
<p>We are in Central NJ, and will look into Stockton. However, son would like to spread his wings and leave the state.</p>
<p>Regarding your comment about the discrepancy between my son's scores and his grades, I think he has finally realizes the error of his ways. Yes, it is a bit late, but better late than never! This summer, he is taking 2 courses (by his own suggestion); repeating a math class that he did poorly in and taking a geophysical science class for enrichment. These grades will be included on his transcript. Assuming he does well, do you think this extra effort will be a positive for his applications?</p>
<p>NC State University has lots of environmental related majors and also just about every other major you can think of if he should change his mind.</p>