<p>MomOf3Stars - Does your H.S. freshman by any chance like all kinds of dance? You might have her look at Fordham’s B.F.A. with Alvin Ailey. It would be good for her to know about possibilities like this, and that careers in dance can follow programs like these. (If she is strictly a ballerina, this is not a good fit.)</p>
<p>He’s looking at an out of state program as there aren’t any in state ones that offer as much or that he’s interested in. This is the biggest problem for us. It’s not the same as sending a kid off to college out of state and knowing there are dorms, structured programs, advisors, on campus activities etc. My guess is it’s more of a program that people attend while working also. It would involve him finding an apt etc. Truthfully I don’t think he’s anywhere ready for something like that maturity wise. It also is a big financial investment which we will be splitting with his mom. It’s $33,000 for an 18 month program. This whole thing was sort of kept from us. All this time we thought he had decided on a few colleges and had applied. We didn’t know he came up with this idea, told his mom, applied and decided to tell us later. I have a college freshman who attends out of state. I see all the things that she is experiencing at college and want that for him also. If he didn’t like school or struggled, it would be totally different. I think the auto stuff is more of a hobby that he’s interested in. It won’t be as easy as switching majors. We could move him out there, pay for this program and he could be homesick in a month and want to come back and there would be no refund, a signed lease etc. Of course I want him to be happy and pick a career he loves. I just keep thinking he’s wasting his potential and maybe if he had more exposure or support for something like engineering he would be interested in that and want to pursue a degree.</p>
<p>Our S2 was an average h.s student (not straight A’s) in honors and a couple of AP’s, top third of his class.
During his senior yr. he went back and forth between college or a tech. program. He took a “college” class and a “tech” class at our CC during his senior yr.to try both out. He had our blessings and support for either choice. </p>
<p>He decided on college (in part I believe because that’s what all the “smart kids” were doing so thought he should too… also I think he wanted the adventure of moving away fr. home). So off he went last Aug. Socially, it was great. He loves the whole college scene. Academically, it was a disaster. He started staying out late, skipping classes, sleeping in and missing assignments / tests until it was too late to catch up. </p>
<p>This semester he will be on academic probation and must do really well to be allowed to continue. If he does not, he will be back home living with us and going to the Comm. College after all. If it turns out that way, we will be OK with CC as long as he is actively pursuing a degree.
I agree 17 yr. olds often don’t know what the best course is but sending them off to college doesn’t guarantee success if their heart/head isn’t in the right place. In our case his heart is there but his head wasn’t (hope that changes in the spring sem. We’ll see). It may be the opposite in the OP’s case. </p>
<p>FWIW, DH has a degree in mechanical engineering and says there is very little ( he actullay said next to nothing)in the mechanicall engineering curriculum that relates to automotives unless the student was interested in automotive design. Most of the work done by mechanical engineers is not very “hands on”. They make the plans and the guys with the two yr. CC degrees do the “hands on” part.</p>
<p>nurseratchet
maybe a bachelor’s program that is basically in auto mechanics? These programs exist. On real campuses with dorms, R.A.'s, football teams, fraternities, activities. Maybe if he visited one he would warm to the idea.</p>
<p>I think this is possible only IF he wants to attend college. College will always be there in the future if he wants it. </p>
<p>The hard thing to remember is that HE is the one looking at schooling after high school…not you. While your dream for him is college, it is not his dream…now.</p>
<p>True Thumper… But when I was his age my dream was to be the drummer for the Go Go’s. lol Being that I had no musical talent, my degree ended up being a better idea. But I get what you are saying. It’s just hard to let them fly, make their own decisions etc.</p>
<p>I think the OP is right to be concerned about the social part of his son’s decision.</p>
<p>My neighbor boy went to an automotive training school - Wyotech - in a program similar to the one you described. The school matched students up in apartments and that sort of thing, so they were supportive. While he learned what he went there to learn, it was a very difficult time for him because there were very few (if any) girls in his classes and really nothing to do in their off time in Laramie. He was a very social kid and really missed that part of his life for the time he was there. Although he stuck with the program, he just wanted to come home for the entire 18 months. </p>
<p>So, if this type of schooling is what his son wants, I would make certain that it is in an area where having a social life that makes him happy - in addition to a great education in auto mechanics - is possible.</p>
<p>And this could happen to the OPs kid…but it also happend to tons of college freshmen who are not happy away at school for one reason or another. NOTHING is forever. If this student doesn’t like the school for whatever reason, he can look for other options. If forced to attend college, the same scenerio could play out…he might hate it and be on the “gee I can’t wait for this year to end so I can go to automotive school” train.</p>
<p>The social stuff is a big concern for us. DD1 doesn’t have a career direction but is thriving at a liberal arts college. She’s volunteering and in a ton of clubs, extracurriculars, job on campus etc. I think that stuff is as much of the education as the classes themselves. I see him being like the one described above. That’s a big adjustment at 18. Maybe he’ll visit the campus and hate the area and that might make him change his mind. Perhaps the other college choices will feel different after that. If not, and he loves it, it’s a different story. We just want him to be happy. We can get over the direction change if that’s what it comes down to.</p>
<p>nurse- suny farmingdale also has a program which may fit his interests. Farmingdale is on long island, part of the suny system, has a campus and dorms. SUNY OOS tuition is also very reasonable (under $12,000 at least before the budget crunch). SUNY loves OOS kids, as not too many take advantage of SUNY programs. The prgram is under the school of engineering technology with a BS in Automative Management Technology. I think they also have a 2 year program. They also have a 4 year program in aviation technology and its very close proximity to Republic (?) airport makes it an interesting mix. There are probably other similar programs as Midwestmom also listed a few programs that seem to be on other college campuses. But I know for sure that Farmindale has a real campus and real dorms. I’ve been to the campus.
check out [Farmingdale</a> State College: A four year school centrally located in Long Island, NY.](<a href=“http://www.farmingdale.edu%5DFarmingdale”>http://www.farmingdale.edu)</p>
<p>Thank you all for your posts, support and advice. I will forward the links of programs to him. We will end up with 3 in college at the same time. I think by the time the 3rd one finishes the selection process I will be ready for a rehab!! Thanks again!!</p>
<p>momof 3- I"m really pushing SUNY today- but SUNY Purchase has a program -conservatory of dance leading to a BFA degree in performance, ballet dance production and other areas. SUNY Purchse has a very fine program in the performing arts and is very competitve from what I have heard. I"m sure there are other programs within a 4 year college setting. We looked at U of Tampa for d # 2. I think they also had a dance program.</p>
<p>Cal Poly San Luis Obisbo is an excellent school with a very hands on approach.
The nearby Cuesta College has Automotive Technology.</p>
<p>Option 1. Start at CalPoly and take automotive classes at Cuesta.
Option 2. Go to Cuesta, then transfer to CalPoly. (The residential life in the town of San Luis Obisbo may be what you are looking for.)
Option 3. Some combinations like this at another location.</p>
<p>Thanks for the Fordham suggestion Midwestmom. She does have other forms of dance under her belt: tap, modern, clog, jazz, hip hop (tap is her other “main” thing) and she can sing as well but hasn’t done much acting. Ballet has been her true love though since she started studying seriously several years ago. Her ballet schedule is very intense and while she keeps up on the rest of the types of dancing for fun she is only dabbling right now. </p>
<p>Consolation: My indication is that Tisch is more modern focused? Also, oldest D got into NYU last year and there was no way, even with the very nice FA package they offered, that we could afford it.</p>
<p>Quite literally just 10 minutes ago she repeated her intentions to me about not going to college. (Me: “Blah blah blah financial aid for when you go to college” DD: “Yes but I am not going to college so I don’t have to worry about that”) Yes she is only 14 and a lot can change but this kid is stubborn as heck and has always known exactly what she wanted and never had aspirations to be anything else (except a brief period where she thought she could be a supermodel but since at 14 she is only 4’10" we are pretty sure she is not going to make the height cutoff lol). </p>
<p>I can only hope that she will change her feelings about college (as we speak she is practicing fouettes in my kitchen). She would be well suited to a career in anything that requires her to use her personality as well, she is definitely a snake oil salesman in waiting IMO.</p>
<p>N had extensive ballet training from an early age (SAB summers, etc) although she also added modern later. My impression is that they stress both. I actually took her to her audition, and in chatting with the parents, discovered that kids were auditioning in styles ranging from full-out ballet on point through tap and jazz. Most other college programs are modern-focused. I forgot to mention that your D might want to try Julliard, also.</p>
<p>nurseratchett, has your D auditioned for any dance summer programs of the type associated with dance companies or festivals? I would suggest that doing so might be an eye-opener for her…</p>
<p>OP - An outstanding option would be military service. With his abilities I’m sure your future stepson would qualify for training in whatever type of engine maintenance he prefers. He gets trained, he gets two years of work experience, he gets paid, AND he has the GI Bill to pay for a four-year college should he decide (between now and age 25) that working on engines isn’t what he really wants to do with the rest of his life.</p>
<p>Jolynne - Lots of good advice above. I favor Simba’s. NOLA is quite different from Austin or Tuscaloosa. All three will offer better weather than south Jersey this time of year!</p>