<p>My wonderful son has just informed me he will not be applying to college, and will attend the local community college instead. His argument is that he wants to be practical…and mine is that he should follow his heart. I don’t believe his heart is pulling him to CC. I also know it is not the fear of leaving home. He was away at a summer program this past summer and has spend weeks away from home in the past with his father…help?</p>
<p>He is being practical. There are worse things! There were plenty of bright kids in my D’s senior class (5 years ago!) who did the same. Practically everyone of them transfered after a year, because they found direction in that first year of CC. Nothing wrong with that!</p>
<p>Let him be. You might suggest that he apply to one or two state schools just in case he changes his mind in the Spring. This way, in May he’ll have a choice in the Spring. If he still wants to go to the local community college in the Spring, that’s fine.</p>
<p>He is a grown man…leave him alone. Time to STOP making choices for your son. In my opinion, he is being VERY practical. He is saving thousands of dollars he will not have to pay back once he is in the real world.</p>
<p>I think it can be a great idea if that is what he wants to do! He can always transfer later. I know plenty of med students who started in CC then moved for the last 2 years. Their degree is from the uni they switched to. They really benefited from a much higher GPA it seems. And had $$ left over to fund med school too! :)</p>
<p>You might want to discuss finances with him if that’s a concern, and also make sure that if he gets into some other colleges, you can afford it.
Meanwhile, there are many bright students who start off at community colleges and then transfer to 4-year colleges, and use the money that they saved to help pay their way to graduate or professional schools.</p>
<p>He may have any number of reasons for making the choice, but it’s not a harmful choice. </p>
<p>I like the idea of suggesting that he might want to apply to some other schools anyway in order to give himself choices in the spring, but I wouldn’t push it if he balks at doing this.</p>
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Not all students feel a great pull on their heartstrings regarding college. Maybe he thinks doing the CC then 4 year is fine and doesn’t feel that he’s compromising. OTOH, is there any reason why he’d feel that he should go to a CC vs. a 4 year for financial reasons - i.e. has the family been discussing financial concerns that he might have picked up on? </p>
<p>Maybe when you discuss this with him some more he’ll state what’s on his mind.</p>
<p>I also think the suggestion to apply to a couple state schools is a good one. Unless his intent was go attend CC all along, there’s a good chance he might change his mind by spring, and he might be sorry having no other options.</p>
<p>Whether it is a reasonable choice really depends on a) what kind of academic experience he wants, and b) what kind of CC you’re talking about. If you live in California where a good GPA at a CC comes with guaranteed acceptance to a 4-yr school, and reasonably good students go to the CC, that’s one thing. If you live in a place where only the least successful students go to CC, much of it except the vocational training is a low-quality repeat of high school, and few manage the transition to a 4-yr school, that’s another matter. It CAN be a harmful choice if he ends up among the many who never manage to get a degree or a useful credential, but simply rack up debt.</p>
<p>Has he explained why he wants to do this? If it is finances, he should be aware that FA often makes a more expensive school affordable for good students. If you can at least persuade him to keep his options open by applying to a few state schools, it would be a good thing.</p>
<p>You have my sympathy. By the way, a high school senior is NOT “a grown man.” Not by a long shot.</p>
<p>He IS applying…he’s just not applying where you thought he would apply. He’s applying to a community college. Personally I don’t think there is anything wrong with taking your general education requirements at a CC, and then transferring to a four year college to get your bachelors degree. Many students do that. DD is a college junior and a number of her friends have just this year matriculated at four year colleges, having done the first two at the local community college.</p>
<p>Thanks all! It seems the girlfriend has a great deal to do with his choice…sigh… I suppose we do try to live vicariously through our kids, and since I never had the “college experience” I wanted it for him 
I attended a state school, and lived at home for “practical” reasons too…</p>
<p>I have to disagree with the crowd here, especially after hearing a girlfriend is the pull. They just don’t know what they don’t know at this age and often need a push in the right direction. It’s an increasingly competitive world out there and this is his future. If he can do better and you have the means, I’d work on him .</p>
<p>If he is a good student with good Stats who might qualify for merit money I would encourage him to at least apply to at least your 4 year State school(s). If he is offered some merit money (usually merit money offered to freshmen is much better than what is available to transfer students) it may open his eyes a little. My daughter is at a State U (and lives away from home) and her merit awards there probably make it a better deal over 4 years than going to a CC and transferring would have been. Of course she would have died before she would have lived at home but. At least he will have that option on the table. After that he will have to make his own decision.</p>
<p>Ahhh…it’s about a girl. We should’ve figured that out right away. I disagree with the poster who said he’s a grown man. He is more than likely a 17 year old boy. I agree with those who said you need to require him to apply but assure him you will talk over definite decisions in the spring.</p>
<p>Perhaps a family meeting with the guidance office? Where they can talk about his “peers” and their choices in prior classes? For example, other students with profiles similiar to yours have chosen schools A, B &C…along with Community College 1,2 & 3.<br>
That would potentially help take this off your wish list and make the conversation more about him… and not about the girlfriend. Guidance may even know of kids who come in at last minute looking for apps to get filed and how their advice is to not wait til last minute. Lob apps in now at the state school etc…</p>
<p>I always wanted my oldest to have 3 great choices…and that is what I wish for your son.</p>