FAFSA changes coming...

[TwoMisfits]

So, in a U-turn, my daughter is now thinking a "new" 2+2, b/c she has a large desire in music, and realized her #1 school's program won't even let you get a minor in it (which is what she wants - to get a minor and perform in a choir) without jumping through 100 hoops, while the CC will let you take what you like and improve the skills you want and be in the choirs/ensembles you want. There is a program that makes you a student of both on day 1, while taking your 1st 60 credits at CC (and she'd have time to get a bunch of music lessons/classes b/c we already have 18 of the 60 credits to send over, but you usually do 2 full years)...but being able to be in clubs/gyms/sports/cultural events, etc of the main school all 4 years...

We'd save over 30% of the full 4 year tuition we are looking at...and apparently 3K kids/year transfer from the CC to the #1 school as juniors (thus, this "new" program which started in 2018), so she wouldn't even be "odd" when she transferred...hmmmm...

I'm having trouble with the mental block of a perfect grades kid with National Merit Commendation and significant merit scholarships at 2 schools and honors at all 3, dumping it all for a 2+2, where we wouldn't have even had to do a college application. But, then, I tell myself how much of a sucker am I if I do pay full freight and fully drain the 529, which could be used for the eventual masters needed in her program. All for "core class" stuff with little utility to my kid. But then again, the main school isn't THAT expensive to start with...but then again, why even pay that much when it's not needed for nothing gained?

My kid is not having this block...she is all about no debt...so, we are gonna sit down with the advisors for this...

I do know my 2nd kid already is on board doing this, and since she won't be National Merit, I'm on board, too...it's just the 1st was such a high scholastic achiever, I'm struggling with the feeling of selling her short (which she herself doesn't have)...but, then I'm also struggling with sending her to a school where she's guaranteed to not work on her desired music skills, so why am I paying that much...

 

[havaneselover]

So, in a U-turn, my daughter is now thinking a "new" 2+2, b/c she has a large desire in music, and realized her #1 school's program won't even let you get a minor in it (which is what she wants - to get a minor and perform in a choir) without jumping through 100 hoops, while the CC will let you take what you like and improve the skills you want and be in the choirs/ensembles you want. There is a program that makes you a student of both on day 1, while taking your 1st 60 credits at CC (and she'd have time to get a bunch of music lessons/classes b/c we already have 18 of the 60 credits to send over, but you usually do 2 full years)...but being able to be in clubs/gyms/sports/cultural events, etc of the main school all 4 years...

We'd save over 30% of the full 4 year tuition we are looking at...and apparently 3K kids/year transfer from the CC to the #1 school as juniors (thus, this "new" program which started in 2018), so she wouldn't even be "odd" when she transferred...hmmmm...

I'm having trouble with the mental block of a perfect grades kid with National Merit Commendation and significant merit scholarships at 2 schools and honors at all 3, dumping it all for a 2+2, where we wouldn't have even had to do a college application. But, then, I tell myself how much of a sucker am I if I do pay full freight and fully drain the 529, which could be used for the eventual masters needed in her program. All for "core class" stuff with little utility to my kid. But then again, the main school isn't THAT expensive to start with...but then again, why even pay that much when it's not needed for nothing gained?

My kid is not having this block...she is all about no debt...so, we are gonna sit down with the advisors for this...

I do know my 2nd kid already is on board doing this, and since she won't be National Merit, I'm on board, too...it's just the 1st was such a high scholastic achiever, I'm struggling with the feeling of selling her short (which she herself doesn't have)...but, then I'm also struggling with sending her to a school where she's guaranteed to not work on her desired music skills, so why am I paying that much...

My dd is like your dd--very high achieving. Honestly I cannot imagine her doing two years at cc first. I think she'd be bored to tears. But if she really wanted to do it... I don't know, I'd struggle too.

My ds might be a bettter case for 2+2 unless he does some major maturing. Although we have a major state university nearby which might be another option (he'd probably live at home).

 

[crisi]

I will say right now it can be very hard for a student to get a job at a university that is not work study related. Even RA positions were cut dramatically at my daughter’s college.

Even work study positions are not guaranteed, even if it is part of your package.

 

[QueenIsabella]

So, in a U-turn, my daughter is now thinking a "new" 2+2, b/c she has a large desire in music, and realized her #1 school's program won't even let you get a minor in it (which is what she wants - to get a minor and perform in a choir) without jumping through 100 hoops, while the CC will let you take what you like and improve the skills you want and be in the choirs/ensembles you want. There is a program that makes you a student of both on day 1, while taking your 1st 60 credits at CC (and she'd have time to get a bunch of music lessons/classes b/c we already have 18 of the 60 credits to send over, but you usually do 2 full years)...but being able to be in clubs/gyms/sports/cultural events, etc of the main school all 4 years...

We'd save over 30% of the full 4 year tuition we are looking at...and apparently 3K kids/year transfer from the CC to the #1 school as juniors (thus, this "new" program which started in 2018), so she wouldn't even be "odd" when she transferred...hmmmm...

I'm having trouble with the mental block of a perfect grades kid with National Merit Commendation and significant merit scholarships at 2 schools and honors at all 3, dumping it all for a 2+2, where we wouldn't have even had to do a college application. But, then, I tell myself how much of a sucker am I if I do pay full freight and fully drain the 529, which could be used for the eventual masters needed in her program. All for "core class" stuff with little utility to my kid. But then again, the main school isn't THAT expensive to start with...but then again, why even pay that much when it's not needed for nothing gained?

My kid is not having this block...she is all about no debt...so, we are gonna sit down with the advisors for this...

I do know my 2nd kid already is on board doing this, and since she won't be National Merit, I'm on board, too...it's just the 1st was such a high scholastic achiever, I'm struggling with the feeling of selling her short (which she herself doesn't have)...but, then I'm also struggling with sending her to a school where she's guaranteed to not work on her desired music skills, so why am I paying that much...

It sounds like your DD is smart and focused enough to find the right path for her and her chosen course of study. That's not a bad thing!

Our DD17 is wrestling with taking the local college seriously. She's said for years that she didn't want to go to the local branch of State U. It's literally 2 miles from home, but we would pay for her to live on campus if she chose it. If it's a good school and offers her major and they want her in their Honors College--it deserves a thorough consideration. Her big objection is that it's too close to home!

 

[crisi]

It sounds like your DD is smart and focused enough to find the right path for her and her chosen course of study. That's not a bad thing!

Our DD17 is wrestling with taking the local college seriously. She's said for years that she didn't want to go to the local branch of State U. It's literally 2 miles from home, but we would pay for her to live on campus if she chose it. If it's a good school and offers her major and they want her in their Honors College--it deserves a thorough consideration. Her big objection is that it's too close to home!

Listen to the subtext of this. My youngest went 1500 miles away, farther than any of their classmates - because they wanted zero chance for their classmates to end up in class with them. They had been bullied relentlessly in high school ("you should just kill yourself, no one likes you" anonymous texts - and there WERE two suicides her Senior year, I suspect it was a bigger problem than just my kid). And indeed, what happened is that a lot of her classmates are at the same public university close to home, and a lot of them ended up at one of three private schools nearby. They all still hang out together - high school has moved to college with the same cliques and the same bullies. If your DD felt left out while in high school (or worse), ending up in college to see the same people who never let her sit at their lunch table all hanging out in the Student Union together might just be an experience she wants to avoid.

And it was a good decision. One of her friends from a different school ended up at the same college as one of her main tormentors. Without my daughter, the bullying just moved - and what a convenient target your former victim's friend makes.

 

[QueenIsabella]

Listen to the subtext of this. My youngest went 1500 miles away, farther than any of their classmates - because they wanted zero chance for their classmates to end up in class with them. They had been bullied relentlessly in high school ("you should just kill yourself, no one likes you" anonymous texts - and there WERE two suicides her Senior year, I suspect it was a bigger problem than just my kid). And indeed, what happened is that a lot of her classmates are at the same public university close to home, and a lot of them ended up at one of three private schools nearby. They all still hang out together - high school has moved to college with the same cliques and the same bullies. If your DD felt left out while in high school (or worse), ending up in college to see the same people who never let her sit at their lunch table all hanging out in the Student Union together might just be an experience she wants to avoid.

And it was a good decision. One of her friends from a different school ended up at the same college as one of her main tormentors. Without my daughter, the bullying just moved - and what a convenient target your former victim's friend makes.

That hasn't been an issue for my DD in HS (don't get me started on middle school, but we moved away--probably the best thing we could have done for her). She's in the IB program at her HS--37 kids, I think, very tight-knit group. She's not close to everyone, but she gets along with them fine. I think it's more she doesn't want to stay in our city. Even though it's fine--she just wants to get out.

 

[crisi]

That hasn't been an issue for my DD in HS (don't get me started on middle school, but we moved away--probably the best thing we could have done for her). She's in the IB program at her HS--37 kids, I think, very tight-knit group. She's not close to everyone, but she gets along with them fine. I think it's more she doesn't want to stay in our city. Even though it's fine--she just wants to get out.

College is a good time to try something different. It is hard having mine far away - especially as they've had their share of challenges. But moving away for college gives you and easy time-limited period to gain a new experience. And its been good - its increased the amount of adulting that must be done because Mom isn't there to adult (I do clean their apartment when I visit, its a Mom thing, but I only visit once or twice a year - and less this year).

 

[havaneselover]

That hasn't been an issue for my DD in HS (don't get me started on middle school, but we moved away--probably the best thing we could have done for her). She's in the IB program at her HS--37 kids, I think, very tight-knit group. She's not close to everyone, but she gets along with them fine. I think it's more she doesn't want to stay in our city. Even though it's fine--she just wants to get out.

My DD is in IB too with 50 students in her cohort. A huge chunk of them, like her, got into our flagship state school (public ivy) which is an hour away. My dd wants to get out of the state just like I wanted to get out of CT when I was 17. We are fortunate to be able to provide her with the opportunity to go out of state and I do think going somewhere new is important to some kids and often well worth it.

 

[barkley]

So, in a U-turn, my daughter is now thinking a "new" 2+2, b/c she has a large desire in music, and realized her #1 school's program won't even let you get a minor in it (which is what she wants - to get a minor and perform in a choir) without jumping through 100 hoops, while the CC will let you take what you like and improve the skills you want and be in the choirs/ensembles you want. There is a program that makes you a student of both on day 1, while taking your 1st 60 credits at CC (and she'd have time to get a bunch of music lessons/classes b/c we already have 18 of the 60 credits to send over, but you usually do 2 full years)...but being able to be in clubs/gyms/sports/cultural events, etc of the main school all 4 years...

We'd save over 30% of the full 4 year tuition we are looking at...and apparently 3K kids/year transfer from the CC to the #1 school as juniors (thus, this "new" program which started in 2018), so she wouldn't even be "odd" when she transferred...hmmmm...

I'm having trouble with the mental block of a perfect grades kid with National Merit Commendation and significant merit scholarships at 2 schools and honors at all 3, dumping it all for a 2+2, where we wouldn't have even had to do a college application. But, then, I tell myself how much of a sucker am I if I do pay full freight and fully drain the 529, which could be used for the eventual masters needed in her program. All for "core class" stuff with little utility to my kid. But then again, the main school isn't THAT expensive to start with...but then again, why even pay that much when it's not needed for nothing gained?

My kid is not having this block...she is all about no debt...so, we are gonna sit down with the advisors for this...

I do know my 2nd kid already is on board doing this, and since she won't be National Merit, I'm on board, too...it's just the 1st was such a high scholastic achiever, I'm struggling with the feeling of selling her short (which she herself doesn't have)...but, then I'm also struggling with sending her to a school where she's guaranteed to not work on her desired music skills, so why am I paying that much...

i totally get your dd. i was heavily into music and theater when i was younger. i knew it was something i wanted to retain in my life but not something i wanted to do as a full time profession (never wanted it to become my job and risk resenting something i loved to do). because the actual major i wanted was offered at a college that didn't have a big music or theater department there wasn't much of an opportunity there to participate/take classes but our local community colleges were BIG on their programs. i got all my general ed classes taken care of at a fraction of the cost while being able to take theater/choir/ensemble/private voice classes to my heart's content. i participated in the community college productions and quickly learned that b/c they were rehearsed at night they pulled in allot of non college attending adults that had decades of training and experience i was able to greatly learn from.

My dd is like your dd--very high achieving. Honestly I cannot imagine her doing two years at cc first. I think she'd be bored to tears.

just curious why you think she would be bored. the first 2 years at a college be it community or 4 year are universally the same for someone pursuing a 4 year degree-general ed classes. if someone goes to a community college with plans of going to a specific or one within a pool of specific 4 year schools than i would presume that they've researched to ensure that the general ed classes at the community college they are looking at will transfer and are accepted by those 4 year schools. if that's the case then the curriculum of the acceptable for transfer general ed classes should be identical at both institutions (at least that's the way it worked in california when we lived there/dh and i got multiple degrees, is the way it works here in washington). my experience/the experience of my youngest when he was taking community college classes over the last couple of years is that at the community college you frequently get instructors that are actually working professionals in the subject matter they teach vs. long term professional educators who either haven't worked in the field in decades or have never so depending on the class, they can bring insights to share that go far beyond the basic curriculum.

 

[WVMomof3]

So, in a U-turn, my daughter is now thinking a "new" 2+2, b/c she has a large desire in music, and realized her #1 school's program won't even let you get a minor in it (which is what she wants - to get a minor and perform in a choir) without jumping through 100 hoops, while the CC will let you take what you like and improve the skills you want and be in the choirs/ensembles you want. There is a program that makes you a student of both on day 1, while taking your 1st 60 credits at CC (and she'd have time to get a bunch of music lessons/classes b/c we already have 18 of the 60 credits to send over, but you usually do 2 full years)...but being able to be in clubs/gyms/sports/cultural events, etc of the main school all 4 years...

We'd save over 30% of the full 4 year tuition we are looking at...and apparently 3K kids/year transfer from the CC to the #1 school as juniors (thus, this "new" program which started in 2018), so she wouldn't even be "odd" when she transferred...hmmmm...

I'm having trouble with the mental block of a perfect grades kid with National Merit Commendation and significant merit scholarships at 2 schools and honors at all 3, dumping it all for a 2+2, where we wouldn't have even had to do a college application. But, then, I tell myself how much of a sucker am I if I do pay full freight and fully drain the 529, which could be used for the eventual masters needed in her program. All for "core class" stuff with little utility to my kid. But then again, the main school isn't THAT expensive to start with...but then again, why even pay that much when it's not needed for nothing gained?

My kid is not having this block...she is all about no debt...so, we are gonna sit down with the advisors for this...

I do know my 2nd kid already is on board doing this, and since she won't be National Merit, I'm on board, too...it's just the 1st was such a high scholastic achiever, I'm struggling with the feeling of selling her short (which she herself doesn't have)...but, then I'm also struggling with sending her to a school where she's guaranteed to not work on her desired music skills, so why am I paying that much...

Having one a National Merit Scholar and 2 that were not, I can't imagine any of them being able to take anything useful at a CC. Of course our state is not really big on CCs, unfortunately. I do think it is the right choice for some people. Maybe since it is a joint program it will be different where you are. Mine all had their basic elective type classes along with English and basic level science and math taken care of with AP credit so not sure what a CC could offer them. If she really wants to focus on music then maybe it will be a good choice for her, but I can't imagine otherwise. My DS is a freshman and already taking core engineering classes. Having said that, don't let people tell you that AP courses are "cheaper" than college classes. None of mine will graduate earlier than 4 years even coming in with 50+ "credits". Jury is still out on DS, but the other 2 just double majored to still fill out 4 years.

 

[havaneselover]

i totally get your dd. i was heavily into music and theater when i was younger. i knew it was something i wanted to retain in my life but not something i wanted to do as a full time profession (never wanted it to become my job and risk resenting something i loved to do). because the actual major i wanted was offered at a college that didn't have a big music or theater department there wasn't much of an opportunity there to participate/take classes but our local community colleges were BIG on their programs. i got all my general ed classes taken care of at a fraction of the cost while being able to take theater/choir/ensemble/private voice classes to my heart's content. i participated in the community college productions and quickly learned that b/c they were rehearsed at night they pulled in allot of non college attending adults that had decades of training and experience i was able to greatly learn from.




just curious why you think she would be bored. the first 2 years at a college be it community or 4 year are universally the same for someone pursuing a 4 year degree-general ed classes. if someone goes to a community college with plans of going to a specific or one within a pool of specific 4 year schools than i would presume that they've researched to ensure that the general ed classes at the community college they are looking at will transfer and are accepted by those 4 year schools. if that's the case then the curriculum of the acceptable for transfer general ed classes should be identical at both institutions (at least that's the way it worked in california when we lived there/dh and i got multiple degrees, is the way it works here in washington). my experience/the experience of my youngest when he was taking community college classes over the last couple of years is that at the community college you frequently get instructors that are actually working professionals in the subject matter they teach vs. long term professional educators who either haven't worked in the field in decades or have never so depending on the class, they can bring insights to share that go far beyond the basic curriculum.

DD is planning on studying engineering so 2 + 2 really isn't an option.

But, I think she'd be bored because she's used to working at a higher level with other students who, like her, are incredibly high achieving. These kids just don't go to CC in my neck of the woods. They go to ivies (a few here and there), UVa and William & Mary, etc. So the instructors may be great and the knowledge may be very practical, but that isn't what she's looking for. She's looking for an experience and a challenge which she won't get at a two-year school.

ETA: And as someone who attended a very good university in the mid-90s, I can tell you that the professors who taught the "general ed" classes were amazing. I think of our intro to macroeconomics professor--the man is still a local legend in my college town and amongst alumnus. And I could say that about many of the other courses I took.

 

[barkley]

DD is planning on studying engineering so 2 + 2 really isn't an option.

But, I think she'd be bored because she's used to working at a higher level with other students who, like her, are incredibly high achieving. These kids just don't go to CC in my neck of the woods. They go to ivies (a few here and there), UVa and William & Mary, etc. So the instructors may be great and the knowledge may be very practical, but that isn't what she's looking for. She's looking for an experience and a challenge which she won't get at a two-year school.

ETA: And as someone who attended a very good university in the mid-90s, I can tell you that the professors who taught the "general ed" classes were amazing. I think of our intro to macroeconomics professor--the man is still a local legend in my college town and amongst alumnus. And I could say that about many of the other courses I took.

i get it.

community colleges differ so much region to region. the 4 year i went to was lacking in the way of general ed educators-they were either grad students under the guidance of a professor you might see once during the course or professors who were largely focused on doing research work and resentful that they were expected to actually teach a class. there were no research facilities at the community colleges so if you were hired in as a professor then that's what you knew you would be doing.

 

[crisi]

just curious why you think she would be bored. the first 2 years at a college be it community or 4 year are universally the same for someone pursuing a 4 year degree-general ed classes. if someone goes to a community college with plans of going to a specific or one within a pool of specific 4 year schools than i would presume that they've researched to ensure that the general ed classes at the community college they are looking at will transfer and are accepted by those 4 year schools. if that's the case then the curriculum of the acceptable for transfer general ed classes should be identical at both institutions (at least that's the way it worked in california when we lived there/dh and i got multiple degrees, is the way it works here in washington). my experience/the experience of my youngest when he was taking community college classes over the last couple of years is that at the community college you frequently get instructors that are actually working professionals in the subject matter they teach vs. long term professional educators who either haven't worked in the field in decades or have never so depending on the class, they can bring insights to share that go far beyond the basic curriculum.

Mine did their Senior year of High School at a local Community College. And we have decent community colleges. But it was NOT on the same level as her Freshman coursework at her selective University - and the Freshman and Sophomore work has prepared them for their more intense Junior and Senior level coursework - had they done two years at CC and transferred, they'd be completely out of their depth. The academic rigor required to get any sort of good grade isn't there, and moreover, it isn't taught. Working professionals are awesome when you are getting a Accounting Degree, they aren't great when you are learning Organic Chemistry - and they don't really exist when you are studying Shakespeare or taking Symbolic Logic.

 

[mjkacmom]

Okay, I see the appeal of early registration -- that is a very big perk, and it's one I used to get because I was an RA.

As for "likeminded friends", that may or may not happen. I know I just had a bad experience, but when I was a college freshman I lived on an "Honors Floor" -- we didn't have Honors College then, but this floor was for people who you'd think were very serious about their grades. We had to "qualify" to get a room in that area -- and we had to sign something saying that we understood we'd be kicked out if our GPAs weren't up-to-snuff.

My high school friend /college roommate and I thought we were making a good choice. The reality was quite different: That floor was full of juniors and seniors who'd been together for a while, and they had no interest in two babies fresh out of high school. They weren't really mean to us, but they very blatantly excluded us; I mean, they wouldn't even talk to us on the elevators. The group WAS very serious about grades, but the climate wasn't what we had expected: Sunday night - Wednesday night you could have heard a pin drop -- except for the sound of typewriters. At any time of day, someone was in the study rooms reading, and in the evenings groups worked together on this or that. Exactly what we expected. But Thursday through Saturday night it was like living in the movie Animal House -- and we weren't invited to the party. The climate of that floor was study-hard-party-hard.

We moved to a "general dorm" at Christmas break and were much, much happier; we literally camped out to get one of the few rooms available mid-year.

Admittedly, we fell into a weird little group of oddballs -- but they WERE all strong students who were grade-motivated. In all fairness, they LOVED the climate of that floor, which is why so many of the group had stayed in the dorms through senior year.
My husband and I both attended a large university, and our girls attended a large university -- I never felt "lost" because I made a point of being proactive /making myself known.

These days it seems that so many majors aren't "in the school of ___" until junior year. Both of my girls (different majors) were officially nothing in their first two years, then had to "apply for their majors" as second semester sophomores. Once they were "in the school of ____", they were both in cohorts of about 40-50, and the advisors took them very seriously.
I did it too! My girls were always going to attend a state college, but they didn't choose the one I expected! (Not a problem -- they both chose well -- just a surprise for me.) Still, I watched costs for years, so the tuition bill wasn't a surprise to me.
Severeal thoughts on that idea:

- The best-paying job isn't always the most profitable job. I'm thinking of a church friend whom I know only in passing. She was an elementary school principal with one child ... then she adopted three kids (siblings) all at once. She gave up her principal job and "dropped down" to become a PE teacher. The salary difference was significant, BUT her hours were also greatly reduced, and she was able to walk out the door at the end of the day, meaning she didn't have to pay child care in the afternoons. It was the right choice for her family.

- It's not only parents who can work at colleges. The single best thing I ever did (financially) to get myself through college was to become an RA in the dorms. It was real work the first two /last two weeks of the semester as we checked people in /out of the dorms ... and I'm not saying I was idle in between, but it was (mostly) fun. I did deal with some serious issues occasionally -- a suicide on my floor, a serious injury on my floor -- but mostly it was setting up socials and workshops, checking the fire extinguishers daily, and occasionally asking people to keep it quiet in the wee hours of the night. I didn't get paid any cash money, but I got a (private) dorm room for free, a paid-for phone on my wall, half my in-state tuition paid, half my meal plan paid. For a poor kid with no family support, it was a Godsend.

- I know two men who work at a major university, and they both say nothing will make them leave those jobs -- for just the reason you say. They both have two children, whom they expect to one day attend that university if not for free, at least for reduced cost. One is a professor, the other is head of maintenance. Universities employ a ton of people in a wide variety of jobs, and every last one of us is qualified to work in the cafeteria.

Having one a National Merit Scholar and 2 that were not, I can't imagine any of them being able to take anything useful at a CC. Of course our state is not really big on CCs, unfortunately. I do think it is the right choice for some people. Maybe since it is a joint program it will be different where you are. Mine all had their basic elective type classes along with English and basic level science and math taken care of with AP credit so not sure what a CC could offer them. If she really wants to focus on music then maybe it will be a good choice for her, but I can't imagine otherwise. My DS is a freshman and already taking core engineering classes. Having said that, don't let people tell you that AP courses are "cheaper" than college classes. None of mine will graduate earlier than 4 years even coming in with 50+ "credits". Jury is still out on DS, but the other 2 just double majored to still fill out 4 years.

Actually dd24 graduated a semester early with AP’s and taking 18 credits every semester, Dd19 is on track to graduate in 2022, a year early, just took her GRE’s. Fingers crossed! Ds22 almost graduated a semester early but couldn’t get a class he needed in the fall, so he ended up taking 2 classes spring of senior year (and 1 was basketball).

 

[QueenIsabella]

In my experience, community colleges can be all over the map. They seem to be more respected in the south than they are in the northeast. My older son started at a cc because he was unsure of his direction. He's now attending the local State U, and doing fine.

Our local cc would be a drama/theater kid's dream--they built a fancy new theater building just a few years ago. There are a ton of productions, both local and "imported" (travelling performers). Lots of opportunities for learning sound, lighting, set design, and so forth, in addition to performance opportunities.

As an engineer, I will say that definitely, an engineer needs 4 years of engineering school. There's no substitute. Our youngest wants to study engineering--he plans to do dual enrollment once he hits his junior year of HS. Mostly, I'm hoping he gets his core/non-engineering stuff out of the way, maybe some of the higher math and some science. We aren't expecting it to shorten his college years so much as give him a good running start.

 

[WVMomof3]

Actually dd24 graduated a semester early with AP’s and taking 18 credits every semester, Dd19 is on track to graduate in 2022, a year early, just took her GRE’s. Fingers crossed! Ds22 almost graduated a semester early but couldn’t get a class he needed in the fall, so he ended up taking 2 classes spring of senior year (and 1 was basketball).

Could mine graduate early, probably yes. The classes only offered certain semesters does complicate things and they both ran into that. Did they want to? No. lol Though my oldest DD got 2 different BS degrees from 2 different "colleges" within the university and did take a semester off studying abroad. Well, technically I guess she "studied" abroad and took classes. They just didn't count for anything. She received 2 different diplomas so she could easily have only gotten 1 diploma and graduated early. Other DD thinks she will only get 1 diploma because her 2 majors are within the same college. She came in with many more "credits" but because of the university she attends many of them don't really count. For example she only needed 1 math. She had credit for both Calc 1 and 2, but her university required that a math be taken on campus, therefore, congrats you can now take Calc 3 even though only 1 was needed. Same for her Chemistry and Biology. Required to take on campus even though she got 5 in both and "credit" for both. And she took them and then changed her major to one that didn't require them.

 

[WVMomof3]

In my experience, community colleges can be all over the map. They seem to be more respected in the south than they are in the northeast. My older son started at a cc because he was unsure of his direction. He's now attending the local State U, and doing fine.

Our local cc would be a drama/theater kid's dream--they built a fancy new theater building just a few years ago. There are a ton of productions, both local and "imported" (travelling performers). Lots of opportunities for learning sound, lighting, set design, and so forth, in addition to performance opportunities.

As an engineer, I will say that definitely, an engineer needs 4 years of engineering school. There's no substitute. Our youngest wants to study engineering--he plans to do dual enrollment once he hits his junior year of HS. Mostly, I'm hoping he gets his core/non-engineering stuff out of the way, maybe some of the higher math and some science. We aren't expecting it to shorten his college years so much as give him a good running start.

The problem my DS is running into with going in with most of the general ed credits is that he does not know what he wants to major in yet and had a heck of a time finding classes that he could take for any engineer major as a freshman. I almost wish he could be filling out his schedule with those general ed classes because I do believe most of them don't go in knowing exactly what they want to do.

 

[mjkacmom]

Could mine graduate early, probably yes. The classes only offered certain semesters does complicate things and they both ran into that. Did they want to? No. lol Though my oldest DD got 2 different BS degrees from 2 different "colleges" within the university and did take a semester off studying abroad. Well, technically I guess she "studied" abroad and took classes. They just didn't count for anything. She received 2 different diplomas so she could easily have only gotten 1 diploma and graduated early. Other DD thinks she will only get 1 diploma because her 2 majors are within the same college. She came in with many more "credits" but because of the university she attends many of them don't really count. For example she only needed 1 math. She had credit for both Calc 1 and 2, but her university required that a math be taken on campus, therefore, congrats you can now take Calc 3 even though only 1 was needed. Same for her Chemistry and Biology. Required to take on campus even though she got 5 in both and "credit" for both. And she took them and then changed her major to one that didn't require them.

Technically my oldest was in a 5 year MA of accounting program but did it in 4 1/2 years (needed the extra credits anyway for the CPA). Dd19 is moving on to her DPT, which is 3 years, so saving a year of time and tuition is important to her (although she has been virtual since March, and therefore missing more than a year of in person classes which is sad).

 

[WVMomof3]

Technically my oldest was in a 5 year MA of accounting program but did it in 4 1/2 years (needed the extra credits anyway for the CPA). Dd19 is moving on to her DPT, which is 3 years, so saving a year of time and tuition is important to her (although she has been virtual since March, and therefore missing more than a year of in person classes which is sad).

I am trying to talk DS into graduating early. Though him still not knowing what he wants to major in is really hampering that! But a year less at out of state tuition would be fantastic to me!

 

[dreamer17555]

This may well depend on the university. One of the schools my DD17 got accepted to, had a whole webinar on finding an on-campus job, just a couple weeks ago. She wasn't able to attend--it conflicted with dance class--but clearly, they have resources to help students find suitable part-time employment.

Be careful with this. I know my DD's school is advertising and offering information about on campus jobs, especially to prospective students, but it does not match the current reality at all. There are some on campus jobs but not nearly as many as their used to be and many are ear marked for work study students.