Em wants to graduate this school year, 2015, instead of waiting until 2016. She will have enough credits to graduate at the end of this school year. Not only does she want to graduate a year early, she wants to complete all required courses to get into Cal Baptist University. Cal Baptist is a private university that does not necessarily require the "a-g" list of required courses that other California universities require for admission. Still, Em has already completed most of them. So, not only does she want to graduate high school early, she wants to complete any necessary course in order to skip Jr college. Of course, she wants to do this in one school year. I know she is capable, but I was not planning on it. I basically need tips and ideas so I don't have a heart attack. The good thing about this is that if she is overwhelmed, she still has another year if needed. I need to get cracking. Thankfully my friend works in admissions and has been valuable in telling Em what she needs to do.
From their site: https://www.calbaptist.edu/future-students/why-cbu/applying-cbu/home-school-students/ HOME-SCHOOLED STUDENTS California Baptist University provides a welcoming environment for college students who have been home-schooled. CBU's small classes and caring faculty and staff enable our home-schooled students to make a successful transition to college. How to Apply Home-schooled students interested in attending California Baptist University should submit an application, $45 application fee, two letters of recommendation, SAT or ACT scores, and one of the following: Official High School Transcripts or General Education Diploma or State Proficiency Exam. Many home-schooled students accumulate credit at community colleges during their high school years; please have official transcripts sent from any college where units have been earned in order to receive proper credit. For more information, contact Allen Johnson in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at 1.877.228.8866.
Patty, what major is Emma pursuing? How'd she do on her ACT/SAT? If she wants to try to take some courses at community college to get through her undergrad faster, make sure to not only look at a transfer guide, but talk to a counselor directly about her getting credit. Hope College here in MI pulled a fast one on my buddy...promised him credit for his community college classes and then decided they "revised standards" so that the classes wouldn't transfer. Whole year of classes, expense, and trouble...for no credit. He was so discouraged. If you can...have a counselor sign a note that the transfer guide credits will be honored when your daughter enrolls. Not quite sure what you mean by finishing high school AND doing whatever she needs to skip Jr. College? Are you talking about trying to cram three years worth of classes into a single year? Wowsers...that's crazy ambitious! What is she interested in studying?
We are attempting to skip the Jr college. She only has Government to complete for high school graduation. The rest of the time will be spent completing courses from the "a-g" list that she hasn't already covered, even though they are not required, but recommended. She will have to cram, but it will not be three years worth. Em was to test in 11th and 12th grade, but if this is her last year, she will have to use these scores. I am not concerned. In the past we have taken another test, while it differs from the ACT and SAT, she scored high every time she took it. Aside from that, I know Cal Baptist well, while they appreciate high scores, it isn't top priority. They will not accept ridiculously low scores, but they value homeschoolers and frequently accept them. They value their individuality over test scores. It is an amazing school. She is looking into psychology (?), or something along that line.
I made a mistake with the Stanford, it was another test. She also took the Stanford, but it was prior to 8 th grade. Sorry about that mix up. I edited my previous post. Hope it makes sense.
Where I come from...Junior College is an associate's degree. I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around an 11th grader trying to do a whole associate's and also finish high school early in one year! (heck, I can't even imagine doing half of that in one year!) Is she very gifted and planning to test out of a lot of her freshman classes? Am I completely confused and misunderstanding? I feel lost. Help! LOL. Sounds like you're really happy, and Emma's happy...and like the school is a great fit for your family. I wish her the very best of luck!
She isn't working for an Associate's degree. Jr college is not a requirement unless the student wants an Associate's degree or they need to take required courses before transferring to a university. People do it all the time. Some people like having the Associate's because it adds more, what is the word, meat to their education, but it isn't necessary, again, unless they have to take courses for transfer without an Associate's, or they want to earn an Associate's. On a side note, I know a few homeschoolers who have earned an AS or AA and graduated from high school at the same time. They were not a genius, but well organized. I think everybody is gifted, just in different areas. Academically, Em isn't gifted, she just knows what she is striving for and is trying to attain it.
...and I have one friend who graduated with her AA and AS the same day she graduated from high school. This wasn't the plan, but she took the right classes at the right time.
I forgot to answer your question. She wants to try to test out, or test into the university. If she has to take a few Jr courses, she will only take what is needed to get into the university.
In Ohio, state universities encourage kids to start at a community college. Rachael was in constant touch with her advisor at Wright State, and he made suggestions of classes for her to take at Columbus State. So she knew what classes would transfer as what. Faythe is planning on going to Bowling Green, and again they told her to keep in touch while she takes classes at Columbus State. BGSU even has a scholarship just for kids transferring from a community college, and another for kids who have an Associate's Degree from one.
Our Jr colleges guides the students through their journey, too, basically guiding them through which classes transfer. Their rule of thumb is that if a student only wants to earn a Bachelor's, then they should also earn their Associates. If the student is going to earn their Bachelor's and Masters, then it is fine to skip the Associate's. They recommend the students have at least two degrees since hiring companies often look at the top two degrees. We'll see how it goes. The sure thing is that she wants to graduate this year. If she needs to attend a Jr college for university admission, it will not be our local college. For whatever reason, they keep having their accreditation pulled. I don't want to mess with accreditation.
I don't have much advice, except to have a backup plan because teens change their mind all the time! When I went to public school (in MN) 11th and 12th graders could take some or all their classes at the community college. I have many friends who graduated with an AA and a HS diploma at the same time, and they handled the work load just fine. I wish I had taken that route too - and saved a LOT of money! My kids are both in middle school, but my plan for them is to finish high school (homeschooled of course) at age 18 (my daughter might finish a bit early) and then send them to community college for two years. It's something I can afford for them, and keeps them at home a little longer, to mature a little more. Then, depending on their career goal, look for an appropriate college (if needed). I made the mistake myself of moving out of the house at 18, taking out loans for an expensive university and living in the dorms. While fun, I made a lot of financial mistakes that I am still paying for today, at 39. I changed majors 4 times and ended up taking 5 1/2 years to graduate, and then went onto grad school! So, I'll be paying my student loans off probably long after my kids are done with their loans! And my job pays me less money than my husband makes - who never went to college. I am not working in the field I studied. I want to make sure my kids don't make these same mistakes! I don't want them to go to college just because they are done with high school. I want them to have a plan! Sorry, I got off topic.....but that's our plan, for today!
Good advice Laura. Kids need to do some serious thinking about loans...how that debt is going to effect their lives, and for how long. They also need to make sure their careers are in demand and that the job market is projected to be strong in their chosen field.
If she were in brick and mortar school, which is a very limiting learning environment, or money were just not an issue, I would say go for it, graduate early. BUT..as a home schooler, she can take credits at the community college, and sometimes, at a local university or college, without being considered a matriculated college student. This means a lot. She will be able to transfer those credits to her college when she goes (each college has different policies, but most take dual enrollment and AP credits). In one school year, your daughter could potentially get an entire years worth of credits to transfer to the 4 yr college. THEN, she will still be considered a freshman and can still earn the freshman scholarships. The reason I commented about the money is that college costs a lot. And many kids end up taking more than 4 years. That extra year of dual credits can save you thousands of dollars..tens of thousands actually.
California private homeschools are considered brick and mortar schools. Whether or not she attends a community college or goes directly to a four year university, she will start as a freshman. We have been looking into other universities, although Cal Baptist is still top on her list. Today we attended Biola, and just like Cal Baptist, general studies can be spread throughout the four years and the student still graduates within four years. These schools are private and operate differently than state schools. If my kiddo gets in, she will have to qualify for scholarships. We are trying to stay away from loans. Cal Baptist is about $37,000 per year and Biola is about $42,000. I about fell out of my seat. But, both schools have many private scholarships that stack with federal scholarships and grants. The neat thing about these two schools is that a lot of students are employed by the school. So the goal is to knock down the cost as much as possible. For us, we like the idea of Em completing general studies at the same campus. Although they accept transfer credits, there are general courses that these schools require that are only taught on their campus. For example, intro to Psychology is a required course for all students, but it will double for a general course and Ems degree. Biola requires the students get a minor in Bible, along with what they plan to degree in. Again, these are private schools.
I forgot to mention that the fees are for living on campus. It is about $27,000 for CBU and around $32,000 for Biola students who live off campus. Em would have to stay on campus because of the drive.
Isn't the cost astounding? I share your sticker shock! I really didn't think that $27,000 was doable....thought it was hopeless. Yet, here we are, less than a year later....and it's going to be less than $5000 out of pocket. Has been a crazy year...and the financial part has been looming large in my mind. Two suggestions: * Check your school's graduation rate. * Check your school's rate of employment for graduates in her field. Not saying this specifically to you, Emma'smom....just general advice for everyone. College is a HUGE investment, and you want to make sure you're lining up good odds for success.
