<p>Don’t “B students” go to community college?</p>
<p>CarmenandCo, your D may change her mind during her high school years & she may change her mind while in college about her proposed major. But I think that is a great idea to start looking at urban, rural, suburban, small, medium, large, LAC, National University, Regional University, Women’s College, etc. to see what she would prefer.</p>
<p>Honestly, I think it is much, much, much too early to start this process, especially with so much specificity. </p>
<p>I think it’s OK to visit some campuses, casually, to get a sense of differences between urban, rural, big, small. </p>
<p>It’s definitely good to plan future courses carefully, to start involvement in extracurriculars, to develop close relationships with teachers and guidance counselors.</p>
<p>But to do anything else is overkill. </p>
<p>That 3.7 GPA is based on what, first quarter grades? You have no idea what her final GPA will be based on such limited evidence. The first quarter doesn’t even necessarily predict what her freshmen GPA will be – she hasn’t taken first semester final exams yet. She hasn’t taken her PSATs, so you have no idea what range her test scores will be. And to assume she wants to major in Classics now is also very premature – she could likely switch majors a dozen times in the next six years.</p>
<p>Relax and let her enjoy high school.</p>
<p>Well, I agree it’s a bit early, but I think that a lot of college decisions are frankly, fairly arbitrary anyway What I thought I would study in college, and therefore what I was looking at in terms of majors as a junior/senior changed dramatically once I went to college, but the colleges that I wanted to attend didn’t shift that much from freshman year to senior year (the first college I ever really seriously read about freshman year was the one I ended up going to). I would maybe not be totally rigid (can ONLY look at colleges with good classics departments), but as a starting point for speculative investigation, why not?</p>
<p>Because, Smithie, this girl has been in high school for less than 4 months! Why on earth should her parents be pushing her to look at colleges when she just started high school. Her focus right now should be entirely on high school, not on a place she’ll be in four years. You may not have changed your college interests over four years, but I’ve seen high school students veer from wanting to go to large state schools to small LACs and then back again in the span of a month.</p>
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<p>I have to disagree with this. It depends on the kid. Both of my Ds started to get interested in college as HS freshmen. We went with their interest and visited a few colleges which helped clarify what they were seeking in a college. That information then helped shape later rounds of investigation, clarification, and evolution of their preferences, The unexpected side benefit: thinking about college actually made them MORE motivated to nail their HS courses and standardized tests, and to excel in HS ECs. </p>
<p>But not every kid will respond the same way. My D2 who is now a HS sophomore reports that most of her classmates have expressed zero interest in college and are pretty clueless about the whole process, and many of the juniors she knows are just beginning to think about it. That’s fine, too. I wouldn’t “push” a HS freshman or sophomore to look at colleges if they’re not ready. I would start to push by junior year, because come fall of their senior year they’re going to need to know which colleges they’re applying to and have some strategy for how to proceed. But if a HS freshman or sophomore is genuinely interested in beginning to explore college options, it’s not too early to start.</p>
<p>@fireandrain – My dad brought me home a stack of college brochures at teh end of my first week of high school and told me “I think you should start looking at colleges” (he’s a teacher and had been at a college fair with some of his students, that’s where he got the brochures). </p>
<p>I think there’s nothing wrong with starting to cast your net early. If nothing else, for many kids, particularly ones who might be tempted to slip academically, keeping college in front of them as a goal to reach towards is very important. Does she have to decide for sure on what college she wants to go to right now, no, of course not. But if she already knows she has some interests that she might want to pursue in college, there is nothing wrong with starting to look around into what is out there. I think it’s too early to go on college visits, but freshman year is a perfectly good time to start reading brochures and getting a feel for what you might want or don’t want. </p>
<p>And sort of as a side example, this kid is does not sound like she what is known as “at risk” but one of the issues of at risk youth is that very oftne no one is talking to them about college, and certainly not talking to them about it early enough. Because they lack exposure, they have less motivation and are less prepared. Later on, even if they want to go to college, it’s often too late for them to start becoming a competitive applicant. And lacking a post-high school goal, they often drop out.</p>
<p>And of course, if she is interested NOW, falls in love with Smith or Tufts or Duke etc … she’ll know what she needs to do to be admissible to any of the above and that can be motivation!</p>
<p>I think there is much a parent can do when a student is a freshman…ensuring they have a well planned course curriculum through the remaining high school years, assessing family finances, exploring college options etc. I think it is very important to test the waters with the student. I flat out had one that told me he didn’t want me hurrying him, that he was a freshman and we could start talking the next year. Of course, this is my totally self sufficient, self aware and outspoken one, but kids can give this message in many ways and it’s good to respect that. There is a difference between supporting and pushing, a difference between encouraging and demanding. It’s more difficult to know where that balance is with the first between the subsequent kids get much of the vibe through osmosis. But you can put a toe in the water and feel the temperature so to speak. As someone said at the very, very least you can help them make the connection with the work they do today and what they will have to work with in the future. That is a good enough lesson for freshman year.</p>
<p>Fordham. (ten characters.)</p>
<p>My nephew is a sophomore and started college with the intention to major in “the classics”. He attends UMaryland and loves it. He changed his major, so it also includes communications too. He was a “solid” B student.</p>
<p>Goucher, Clark University, and Hobard William-Smith are great schools for “B” students, with good academics and also some dance. BU and UMass are also possibilities on the East Coast.</p>
<p>But I agree with others that it is too early to get so specific. It depends on your child: some will get anxious if college is mentioned too early, but others may be motivated if the subject is handled in a low key way.</p>
<p>Things change in a month at this age, let alone 4 years.</p>
<p>When the time comes, consider buying Loren Pope’s books (“Colleges that Change Lives,” and “Beyond the Ivies,” and also, for dance, a great book entitled “Creative Colleges.”)</p>
<p>Definately take a look at the University of Dallas. They have an excellent Classics department and a true core curriculum. The sophomore semester abroad at their campus just outside of Rome, Italy also includes a 10-day trip to Greece. </p>
<p>UD offers a “Latin in Rome” summer study abroad session for high school students who have already studied 3 years of high school Latin. Information about that is under the Department of Classics section of their website. There’s also the Arete in Irving summer program for high school students, which would be a good trial run for the type of education a student would get at U.D.</p>
<p>Ridiculous to even start looking at her age. I don’t think I am going out on a limb when I say this is being parent driven and not kid driven. Is it any wonder that by senior yr the kids end up burned out basket cases. </p>
<p>Let her be, fgs. She’s a FRESHMAN IN HIGH SCHOOL!</p>