My son is a senior this year. We have been talking colleges for the last year but, now it is time to get a lot more serious about the subject. He initially started out with USC, College of Chas., Fla. St. and Fla on his list. After looking at the Florida schools we decided that the tuition is just more than we can handle. Going out of state means giving up all of the instate scholarships he is eligible to receive and that will amount to a good deal of savings. He has reconsidered his list and in addition to USC and CoC, has added The Citadel and,(I can’t believe I am saying this) Clemson. The Citadel is a dark horse being pushed more by his Mother but at least he is willing to look at it. Clemson is a good school (ugh, again I am dying here) but I am not sure he would be happy so far from the coast. I think he really wants to go away to school and, it would probably be good for him. The idea of being in Charleston appeals to him so I think CoC is the front runner right now. We’re taking tours of all schools so I am sure that will help narrow things down but, I would really appreciate any CONSTRUCTIVE input from alumni, parents, students, etc…
We like the idea of school in Charleston as we love spending time down there and hope to retire in the area so. Getting into any of these schools is not a problem, he is an Honor student with an excellent GPA. Our challenge is finding a school that fits him and that he fits and paying for school and everything else.
Thanks!
Oh, he wants to major in Biology with plans to go into medicine (PA, PT or even Med School).
“Apathy is the Glove in Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”.
What is he wanting to study? Kids don’t want to hear this but doing the first two years at affiliated Tech schools can get some of the generic math/science/language courses and electives out of the way. That saves you money, gets him more toward his core classwork and gives him time to figure out what he wants to do. It also allows for some maturing so that when he does pick a school he doesn’t go there and get wild.
Mark
Pioneer 222 Sportfish Yamaha F300
Yeah, but do you consider a dog to be a filthy animal? I wouldn’t go so far as to call a dog filthy but they’re definitely dirty. But, a dog’s got personality. Personality goes a long way.
“Life’s tough…It’s even tougher if you’re stupid” John Wayne
My oldest Daughter wanted to be a “little bit” away from home, but not too far. She decided on USCB and will transfer next year to CofC to finish her degree. One thing they get you on is meals. We were required last year to buy the full 3 meal/day plan. After doing the math, and no longer having to buy the expensive meal plan, we found it was cheaper to live off campus than in a dorm. So be aware of the “additionals”. My youngest is (hopefully) bound to Annapolis after she graduates from Academic Magnet in 2 years. So that will be less of a financial burden.
Depends on what he wants to study. If he is undecided, I would push USC and staying at home or tech for 2 years like mentioned.
He won’t like it, but unless my kid is determined to get a certain degree and that school is the best for him, then I will let him go off to school. Otherwise he can stay local and live at home, or bank roll his education himself.
My brother is a junior at the Citadel and is going to try to go to dental school after that. If you need help in that direction I would be glad to help.
Don’t rule out Coastal Carolina University. It has some really great degree programs, affordable tuition, probably more scholarships available, and the housing is cheap and a very safe place. Plus it has the beach which is always the biggest draw for kids to the coastal schools anyways.
My oldest Daughter wanted to be a “little bit” away from home, but not too far. She decided on USCB and will transfer next year to CofC to finish her degree. One thing they get you on is meals. We were required last year to buy the full 3 meal/day plan. After doing the math, and no longer having to buy the expensive meal plan, we found it was cheaper to live off campus than in a dorm. So be aware of the “additionals”. My youngest is (hopefully) bound to Annapolis after she graduates from Academic Magnet in 2 years. So that will be less of a financial burden.
Wow, Annapolis. Good for you, that’s gotta make you proud.
Our daughter is at Clemson and Andrew is headed there next year as well. A lot depends on what he wants to study. Elizabeth is in packaging science and Clemson is the only program in the state. They also offer an MS packaging science and a PhD in food packaging. Andrew will do computer science and could go pretty much anywhere, just picked in state to control costs.
Clemson freshmen are required to live on campus and have a meal plan. Out of pocket costs after Palmetto Fellows and a couple of other scholarships is about $12k/year. That’s room board books fees and ot of other small costs. She’s off campus this (junior) year in an apartment with 3 other girls. Cost will be about the same as on campus with meal plan after we give her grocery money.
Freshmen living on campus get networked in well and do better than kids trying to live off campus. They’ve studied it several times in the past few years and came up with the on campus only policy as a result. Kids will still do stupid stuff, so don’t hesitate to give him a kick in the shorts… I know I’ll be doing it to Andrew from time to time.
CofC Biology program puts more kids at MUSC medical school than any other undergraduate program by far. They have an excellent premed, marine biology and chemistry program.
My advice is to go tour campuses and get a feel for them. One will click with your son. Also, ask the colleges and departments tough questions about graduate schools, admission rates, etc. If they avoid the questions, that’s a bad sign. They should know exactly how many of their grads are being placed in the work force, graduate schools, etc.
Of course, I’m biased but my undergrad degree from CofC has served me well. Good luck and have fun. This should be the best four-five years of his life!
My suggestion is to consider the advice above about two-year colleges. I did this and it was a VERY good decision. I didn’t have to move far off and saved me (and the family) a TON of money. I finished my Associate of Science at York Technical College (York County), my B.A. at Charleston Southern, and my M.Div at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (the single most difficult thing I’ve ever done).
The 2-year degree sometimes has a bit of a stigma attached to it, but the reality is, nobody I’ve ever met (who has an opinion that matters) ever cared. Once you complete the B.A or B.S, you have a B.A. or B.S… Enough said lol.
quote:Originally posted by PeaPod
CofC is doing cutting edge work on important topics:
I’m sure that CoC is a great place for an education, but this craziness just smacks of sanatorium-grade lunacy.
“Sire, it belongs in truth to the Church of God, in whose name I speak, to endure blows and not to inflict them. But it will also please your Majesty to remember that she is an anvil that has worn out many hammers.”…Theodore Beza
By the way, UNC Wilmington also has a VERY good marine biology department. I have a good friend who got a job at SeCore (coral reproduction) in Curacao after graduating from UNC Wilmywood.
“Sire, it belongs in truth to the Church of God, in whose name I speak, to endure blows and not to inflict them. But it will also please your Majesty to remember that she is an anvil that has worn out many hammers.”…Theodore Beza
I feel ya. Daughter is a senior and is doing the same thing. We, of course, are looking at schools with swimming. She is being recruited by several schools, some up North…talk about going to Clemson. She is being looked at by some of the SC schools as well.
I worked for the UNCW marine lab when I was in high school. It has a great marine biology program. So does Florida…go Gators!
If he is looking for Med school…PA is the way to go:smiley:. MDs are not making what they used to and are coming out of school $250K or more in debt. Be glad to talk to you about it sometime.
“No individual raindrop ever considers itself responsible for the flood.” Anonymous
As someone who went to cofc, I’d highly recommend it. I had an incredible time there.
As a parent, you cannot send him to a better place than The Citadel to set him up for success in the future. Citadel grads take care of their own, he will always have opportunities in and around Charleston because of that degree alone.
I just got done with my first year at The Citadel and I can proudly say that I took the challenge. Not only will he get a good education and connections afterwards, but he will get something more important than most kids today have, character and that will make him become different from others of my generation. Plus the benefits from the school will surpass other colleges. Hope he will consider The Citadel.
The Citadel is a ****ty place to be, but a good place to be from. I probably wouldn’t have graduated in 4 years if I had gone to a normal/party school as I wouldn’t have been as motivated to go to class or finish school on time. It seems as though 5 years is beginning to become the norm for Bachelors degrees now as college is fun and people want to stay in school. The Citadel is by no means fun and there is no motivation to want to make a victory lap for year # 5. There are room inspections, uniform inspections, curfews, mandatory study times every night, and only certain times the cadets are allowed to leave campus so no boozing it up every night and banging down the door of the sorority house. That’s reserved for the weekends and Wednesday nights…
quote:Originally posted by idratherbefishing
I just got done with my first year at The Citadel and I can proudly say that I took the challenge.
You’re only 1/4 of the wy done with the BS. Just remember that knobs have the protection of BH. They don’t coddle upperclassmen nearly as much. Say goodbye to randomly disappearing punishments, sympathetic teachers and staff, protective TACs and care packages.
