Should I look into Florida schools?

Parents Forum
1

<p>I am a student OOS with good SAT’s, mediocre GPA, looking at warmer places-</p>

<p>UCF
U of Miami</p>

<p>I want to get a Computer Engineering degree and I have read on these forums that both offer good academics. My parents are suggesting that I avoid florida schools! If they have to full pay for UM they will definitely not agree. UCF is more reasonable but it is rather large. I come from a small town and would worry about its size.</p>

<p>My other choices are GTech and UT Austin (big again!).</p>

2

<p>What is your home state? From your post I would guess you will not need financial aid? How much can your family afford?</p>

3

<p>Why would you select Florida schools that are weaker than Ga. Tech and UT Austin? </p>

<p>I.</p>

4

<p>I don’t believe parents should tell their child where they can go to school (even if they are footing the bill).</p>

<p>Do your research and choose the school that you will be most happy at.</p>

5

<p>If you really have a mediocre gpa, I doubt you can get into Ga. Tech or UT Austin.</p>

<p>If parents are paying the bill, I think parents have the right to determine what they’ll pay for.</p>

6

<p>Northstarmom: I respectfully disagree with you. We’re talking about the future of their child.
The child is the one who will be “living” at that school for the next four years. It should be the child’s choice. Now, if the parents don’t want to pay because it is not their choice, than the child will have to find other means to pay for their own education. But I do not believe parents should dictate where their child will receive their undergraduate education.</p>

7

<p>editor,</p>

<p>Are you a parent? Or, I should say…are you a parent with abundant means?</p>

<p>The reason WHY most “paying” parents feel that they should have some say in where their child is going to school (or which car the parent is buying for their child) is because they want to make sure that it’s a good investment. They also want to make sure that they aren’t paying more than what is necessary.</p>

<p>That said, no parent should “pick the college” nor insist a child go somewhere that the child hates/dislikes.</p>

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<p>I’m not sure we disagree, editor.</p>

<p>I think that if parents are paying for their kids’ college, they have the right to say what they are willing to pay for. I’m not saying that parents should select the college their kids will attend, but I am saying that since the parents are paying, they do have the right to say they won’t pay for certain colleges. If that means that parents will only pay for colleges in a certain state or of a certain religious denomination, so be it.</p>

<p>If the kid disagrees, the kid has a right to find other means to pay for the college of his/her choice.</p>

9

<p>To the OP…</p>

<p>Ok…we need the details…</p>

<p>What’s your GPA? Weighted ________ UnWeighted _______
Are the above GPAs including electives and PE or just the college prep classes?
Are you including grades 9-11? or grades 10-11?</p>

<p>What’s your ACT _______ and/or SAT ________ (M____ CR_____ W_____)</p>

<p>Did you take a full college prep curriculum?</p>

<p>Why are your parents against Florida?</p>

<p>What states are ok with your parents?</p>

<p>What state do you live in?</p>

<p>How much can your parents pay each year?</p>

10

<p>is you are OOS for UT with mediocre grades, you won’t get into UT. </p>

<p>and i don’t think mediocre grades will cut it for GTech either.</p>

<p>i don’t think parents need to choose the college for their kid, but they do have a right to agree or disagree to paying for the childs choice.</p>

<p>we plan to pay for our kids college. but we will help them make the decision on where to go. we would not pay for kid to go to party university and party our $$ away.</p>

<p>you have to kind of work with the parents if you want their $$$</p>

11

<p>In Florida here. Need a little more information - you say you have good test scores, but mediocre GPA…
need more specifics, but here is some info on those two Florida school’s Freshman Profile…
But…UM is VERY very competitive incase you weren’t sure.</p>

<p>UCF:
Average SAT: 1225 (I believe this is just the reading and math added together)
Average ACT: 27
Average H.S. GPA: 3.8</p>

<p>UM: (I believe this is 2009 profile)
2/3 are in top 10% of their class
Avg GPA 4.2
31 ACT
1380 SAT (i believe this is reading & math)</p>

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<p>Northstarmom: Agreed! :)</p>

<p>Mom2collegekids: I am a parent. My financial status is besides the point. Like I said before, if a parent doesn’t want to pay a certain tuition, and the kids chooses that school anyway, than he or she will have to find a way to pay for it. It is me belief that the choice should be with the student.</p>

13

<p>^^^</p>

<p>Agreed…but in this case, I think the OP needs his parents’ money…LOL</p>

14

<p>UM is hard to get into with a mediocre GPA.</p>

<p>According to the GT website you only need a 3.0 to get in. (Maybe less. Can’t remember if that was OOS or IS.) GT is a city school, not in a great part of the city, so determine if you want a city or suburb.</p>

<p>Agreed with other parents that cost should be a factor. Determine what your parents can spend and how much in loans you should realistically be taking.</p>

<p>Clemson in South Carolina may be an option for you. Sate school which you would likely get into. </p>

<p>Do not be overly concerned about size of the school. The school is only as big as the circle of friends you make!!!</p>

15

<p>^^^
Georgia Tech is ugly…and in an ugly part of town…and with ugly dorms.</p>

<p>You definitely need to determine what your parents will pay for. I hate for students to take out student loans. They will be the monkey on your back for a very long time…a time when your income won’t be so hot AND you’ll be trying to buy a home, etc.</p>