*east coast, sorry. I’m joining the military, so they will pay for my college completely. I still have time for my GPA to rise significantly, a whole school year, but I’m looking into college now
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Will you go first to the military? If so, then college is premature.
You’re throwing a lot of moving details out there.
Slow down, paint the entire picture please.
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I’m a junior in high school, and am planning on joining the military, but in a burst of impending doom (aka realizing I’m graduation soon), I’ve started looking at colleges so I know what my life should roughly look like in the future, so I can make plans according to my situation.
Are you going guard/reserve or are you going in full time active duty?
Have you already started the process (seems early- but that can depend on your current age)
It is wise to have a plan B even with plans of going into the service- not everyone will qualify. It can be a shock to most when they do not. If you have not yet- start talking to your local recruiters.
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I am joining full time for a few years, long enough to get benefits and some real-life experience. Most of the adults in my life did the same thing, or are/were active duty, so I know what I’m getting into, but I am looking to plan for after I leave
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I don’t know that there is any particular advantage in majoring in “forensic science” in order to have a career in forensics. Forensic pathologists are medical doctors, so that means med school. Other technicians on the team need backgrounds in science and/or psychology as you’ve said, but I don’t think that their course work needs to be called “forensic science”. I think that you can get the course work you need at just about any college.
Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania is a liberal arts college which is excellent for theater and I think that you would qualify for admission there. Same for Ithaca College in west/central upstate New York.
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I think if you’re joining the military, a lot can change between now and then (major, etc.) including where you want to be.
I’d also learn of the benefits - to see how much it will cover (I don’t know) - and you’ll have to pay to live - so budget will still be an issue - whether you go up front or post military.
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I have several people in my family/friends that have done this, so I know that budget is not an issue because they will cover all tuition costs. Forensics and acting has been a long term goal for me, and it is the path I have been building throughout high school.
This may be - but it will have limitations - right from the website, at privates $25K a year.
Not here to argue but suggesting you meet with a recruiter and find out the realities because what your family did might not be the same thing as today or they may have chosen different school types than you’ll want to.
You created another thread for woman’s colleges. There aren’t many - but most will be religious - but you can google, find a list, and go through majors one by one to see if any offer forensics. Or niche . com has a list.
The top schools - Wellesley, Smith, Mt. Holyoke, Bryn Mawr, are likely off limits to you. You might also start at a Community College - because with decent grades there and your military experience, it might open you up to more schools (higher echelon) than you can get now.
Good luck.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill
This is the most widely used GI Bill option, providing up to full college tuition for public and in-state schools plus more than $25,000 per year at private or foreign schools.
After military experience, your interests in academics and career may be different from what they are now.
Also, many nontraditional students including veterans take the transfer pathway starting at community college, which may result in more college options from an admission standpoint if they do better in college than in high school.
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Have you thought about getting the training for a backup career in the military and then spending more time afterwards on acting studies? For instance, there are enlistment options for medical laboratory technicians or a variety of other areas that pay well and would get you paid experience (as well as training). Additionally, it would widen the schools to consider if you’re not looking for a focused forensics program once you enter university.
But some schools offering both forensics and theater include that I think would be well worth considering include:
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Long Island University (NY)
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Point Park (PA )…though a minor in acting would require an audition
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Towson (MD): Seconding this suggestion, and although the major in acting requires an audition, I don’t think the minor in theater does, and the minor offers options for various acting classes.
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Virginia Commonwealth
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West Virginia U.
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There is nothing wrong with pre-planning. But you need to have a plan B for if the military does not pan out.
You keep saying that you know what you are getting into because many adults in your life have done this- but things are different now. Not everyone ends up being eligible for service and it can be shocking to find out during MEPS. Have something to fall back onto that its practical for your current situation. So IMO- a chance me as a backup with your current stats and financial situation for colleges that interest you now makes way more sense over a chance me for 4 yrs after my military service does.
Also- if you do enter service successfully- it is very premature to be looking into schools that meet your current high school profile. There are so many chances for education while in the service- it would be wild not to take advantage of those opportunities!
And if you do- no college will care about your high school stats because you will then be a transfer student at that point.
Also- your residency for tuition purposes could be a little easier depending on where you are last stationed and many schools will take you as instate tuition rates if using the GI Bill.- so even trying to figure out residency needs at this point will be a wasted exercise.
Good luck and hope all works out.
As a side note- I am a USAF veteran. I have used VA benefits, and my children have utilized/will utilize them. I am far from and expert- but if you have any question- please reach out. I don’t know everything- but I can at least point you in the right direction.
I find that most online have very little understanding of the many nuances and other resources available.
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Please ignore my suggestion up thread ( too much of a reach).
I only see the Ole Miss suggestion - and that’s legit.
Did I miss others? Or you deleted them?
If you were to go to college after high school, two colleges I immediately thought of were Allegheny (not only is it easy to double minor but everyone MUST have a minor; they don’t have Forensic science but they let students design their own major if it’s interdisciplinary and not offered; they also have a theater major or minor) and Muhlenberg (very good for Theater). However neither has Forensics, which is a very specific major - typical recommendation was that for a career in forensics a better path was traditional BA (including BioChem, Anthropological science..) + Masters.
Why that specific major (ie., a career and if so can it be reached with a broader major?) Is anything else of interest?
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GPA is too low for the specific major that I suggested. My mistake as the OP clearly stated the GPA in the thread title.
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