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time4tea
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| Posted: May 15 2009 at 7:12am | IP Logged
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Hi Everyone,
Our ds has applied to our local community college to take some courses there in the coming year (he will be in 11th grade next year). He would like to eventually finish an Associate's Degree there and then transfer on. Being that our finances are tight, we have always figured that we would be utilizing the local Comm. College to some degree. Many of the local homeschoolers in our area do this, btw., some even graduating with full Associate's degrees at the same time they graduate form high school (essentially using the comm. college for their Junior and Senior years.).
Now here's the hard part for me: I have had a number of very well meaning Catholic homeschooling friends (many of them from other regions of the US) tell me that a child should never be sent to a Comm. College or ANY kind of college or university save a "truly" Catholic one. While we have looked at schools like St. Thomas Aquinas, Ave Maria, etc., we really cannot afford them and do not want to go deeper into debt taking out loans.
Furthermore, our ds does not want to leave the area, and having never been a "bookish" student, really doesn't want a "serious" university environment so much as he would like to combine school with work or internships. He studies classical ballet and is interested in combining that with either business, education, or possibly something like kinesiology/exercise studies that would lead him to coaching, personal training, etc.
What do you all think of community college for a high school student? Do you think it has a place for homeschoolers, esp. Catholic/Christian ones? Is this a route you have taken with any of your dc?
Thanks in advance!
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Blessings to you!
~Tea
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Bookswithtea
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| Posted: May 15 2009 at 7:28am | IP Logged
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Honestly, the opinions I would trust the most would be the local ones. The environment is probably fine in some individual community colleges but not in others. And if you have peace about it when you pray, then I wouldn't worry about what others say.
I imagine you'll find lots of varying opinions on this topic.
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Blessings,
~Books
mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and  due 9/10
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folklaur
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| Posted: May 15 2009 at 8:55am | IP Logged
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time4tea wrote:
What do you all think of community college for a high school student? Do you think it has a place for homeschoolers, esp. Catholic/Christian ones? Is this a route you have taken with any of your dc?
Thanks in advance!
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I think that Community Colleges are excellent choices for homeschooled high school students.
Not only do they give the students their first taste of college in a more controlled atmosphere - since they are still living at home, but it shows any Universities that they apply to later that they can handle the material, etc. It backs up the grades you give on transcripts. It gives them the opportunity to do Science Labs in an actual Lab setting. It saves a LOT of time and money. CC make an ENORMOUS amount of sense for homeschoolers.
I also think that assuming that by going to a strictly Catholic college, it gives (especially the parents) a false sense of security.
Secular colleges can have EXCELLENT Newman Centers.
A lot of what the student's College experience will be like is strictly up to the student.
DH and I went to a very secular college (ASU is considered a 'party school',) and it did not adversely effect our faith at all - in fact, during that time, I pretty much reverted, and DH converted.
Our daughter is transferring from a tiny Catholic college, where her experience was truly horrific, and we are HAPPILY sending her to the state university in Las Vegas next semester.
hth.
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Evette
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| Posted: May 15 2009 at 9:54am | IP Logged
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As of right now, we plan to enroll our oldest son in community college when he is in 11th grade (he is just finishing 7th). There are several Catholic homeschooling families in my area that do this.
OTOH, I have heard other families say that they will only send their children to Catholic colleges so I understand your uncertainty.
I think it all comes down to what is best for your child and family. If you have prayed about it and feel at peace, then I think you have your answer!
Evette
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mom3aut1not
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My oldest daughter did a couple of courses at the community college while in high school. It was fine.
My second daughter did half of her high school credits through two community colleges (we moved after her first couple of courses). That worked very well for her, and the environment was fine. After she got her AS, she transferred to an online branch of the University of Maryland with a scholarship for doing so well at the community college. (All of the small Catholic colleges would be a horrible mismatch for this daughter. She is on the autism spectrum, and communication of any sort is taxing. She can and does write and speak, but most of the small Catholic schools are very heavy on what she struggles with and light on what she excels at.)
My third daughter wants to go to the community college; however, given that she has significant deficits in processing and memory as well as general coping, I am not sure she can do it. She has finished high school (after extra time and a great deal of struggling), but we are still pondering what to do.
I have no real qualms about sending a child to a community college. It's much cheaper (we pay all costs through an AA or AS out of pocket), and our kids' faith is not impaired by attending at all. (I do make sure to give warnings about typical pitfalls in some courses.)
Now, in an ideal world, I would love to send a child to Christendom or Benedictine or whatever. Even so, I wouldn't have a problem sending them to a community college first. It'd be a easy way to introduce them to the responsibilities of college work.
A last thought. Your children are in your care. What works for other families may not work for yours. If you pray and reflect and community college still seems like a good idea, I wouldn't worry about what other families think is right. You are your children's mother, not them.
In Christ,
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Deborah
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guitarnan
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| Posted: May 15 2009 at 1:12pm | IP Logged
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I agree with Deborah. Do what you feel is best for your family in your situation and bring your worries and concerns to the Good Lord.
We can't afford a Catholic liberal arts college, either, and my son wants to study something most schools like this don't offer anyway (in fact, only two of our state universities offer it...civil engineering). Huge debt is not an option, for him or for us.
Our son plans to take a CC course or two this next school year (he will be in grade 12) and I see this as a good way to help him adjust to the college-level workload as well as to college life.
So...you're not alone...whichever way you go...whilch brings it all back to God, your son and you.
Sending prayers your way!
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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anitamarie
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| Posted: May 16 2009 at 9:44pm | IP Logged
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Do any of the smaller colleges near you offer the same option? Our kids' piano teacher was able to take college classes for 1/2 price at two local small colleges during her junior and senior years. One is a Baptist College (they are Baptist) and the other a small independent college. She will be attending college in the Fall at the Baptist college, so it was a good fit for her. Good luck with your decisions.
Anita
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time4tea
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| Posted: May 16 2009 at 9:48pm | IP Logged
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Anita,
We live in a rural area so the Community College is the only college in our entire county, there isn't anything else! I know, I know, we are out in the "sticks"....
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~Tea
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anitamarie
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Lucky you. I've often wanted to move to "the sticks." 
God Bless,
Anita
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joyfulmamaof3
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My son is not only going to be taking a few classes at a community college his junior and senior years (he's in 10th now), he'll be attending one after high school. His goal is law enforcement and I have yet to find a traditional Catholic college offering that program. While a Liberal Arts degree from a Catholic college is an admirable thing to have, we are finding out these days that it doesn't always get the bills paid. Perhaps I'm being too practical.....but those are my thoughts.
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time4tea
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| Posted: May 18 2009 at 5:47am | IP Logged
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Joyfulmama,
No, you aren't being too practical, but then, I tend to be told I am often "too practical" so maybe we are just birds of a feather 
My ds is also currently in 10th, and will essentially be matriculating into CC so that he can take courses there now and finish off an Associate's Degree there later. It is an option we can afford, and that means a lot to us. We will not be able to pay for all of our dc's education post high school, but dh and I have always felt a sense of relief that we could at least give them a start with an Associate's degree from our local CC.
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Blessings to you!
~Tea
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ladybugs
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| Posted: May 18 2009 at 9:54am | IP Logged
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Your son will still be at home and not incurring debt. Both of those things are huge.
I think that your friends are well meaning but you also have to look at what has been made available to you.
Would one semester hurt?
A community college may just be the best environment for him to hone up on his apologetical skills! 
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Love and God Bless,
Maria P
My etsy store - all proceeds go to help my fencing daughters!
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helene
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My daughter had a wonderful experience taking a biology course at our community college last semester. I think community college is a smart choice for homeschoolers. The student body tends to be mature and goal-oriented, without all the cultural trappings of a traditional public high school crowd. My daughter learned lots and everyone was friendly and cheerful. She will later attend a catholic liberal arts college because that's is "who she is" and I know she will enjoy it and do very well for herself there. She may want to specialize her education afterward. But if my child was not at all inclined to such a study and wanted a practical education (as I suspect some of my others may) I would whole-heartedly support him! I bet you will find it a positive experience.
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Happy Mom to five girls (20,17,13,11and 4) and five boys (19, 15, 10, 8 and 6)
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4Real Forums : High School Years and Beyond
Topic: Community College during high school?
