California schools?

[AngieW in Texas]

My youngest (rising 10th grader) really wants to go to college in California. She isn't actually interested in any particular school there. She just wants to be in California. She wants to end up with a degree in marketing (probably, or maybe in business) and do real estate, but California is where she wants to be licensed.

 

My other two girls both wanted to stay in Texas and they both ended up going for the same school and my middle will be joining my oldest there in the fall.

 

I know how to handle planning and what to do for colleges in Texas.

 

I don't know about California except that they have a-g requirements. I have looked them up and it seems like most of them can be satisfied with either cc classes or SAT subject tests. However, this particular dd is the one with LDs.

 

She is very smart, but struggles greatly with math. She can't handle a program any more rigorous than MUS and even MUS is a struggle for her if the topic isn't geometry. Geometry makes complete sense to her. Algebra does NOT.

 

There is no way we could handle full price for a CA school. We could manage it here in TX for a state school.

 

I have no idea how we could possibly manage to pay for it, but I'd like to at least make sure that if she somehow managed to get a scholarship of some sort to help pay for it, she could get in to a school in CA.

 

Any hints at all or advice for how to plan high school? This is not my strong academic student. She has to really work hard for her grades and she can't do more difficult or rigorous math or science programs because the ones that I have planned are already a struggle.

 

Also any ideas for scholarships? She is strong in music, but she plays guitar and banjo, not violin or piano. She also loves photography and is quite good at it, but I don't think there are scholarships for it.

 

Here is what she has just finished:

9th grade

US History - hippocampus - I guess I'll have her work on studying for the subject test over the summer and sign her up for the October test date.

MUS Algebra I (she finished Algebra I midway through the year and then started Geometry. I expect her to finish Geometry around November or December and then start Algebra II)

English - She wrote a complete novel (over 200 typed pages) that was actually quite good and read a lot of dystopias that we discussed. We tried Movies as Literature, but that was a total bust. I know a 560 on the writing portion of the SAT or a 24 on the writing portion of the ACT will satisfy 3 years of the English requirement, but I don't see any way for her to get the score to satisfy all 4 years when my oldest didn't even manage it to get a 680 on it and she is much better at it. I guess I will have her take English I and II at the cc her senior year to take care of that 4th year requirement.

Conceptual Physics - She really struggled with this, but she managed to barely eke out a B. There is absolutely no way that she could get a 530 on the subject test after the conceptual course. The subject test is really geared towards AP Physics B level.

P.E. - no requirement for this that I see, so it doesn't really matter

music - guitar, banjo, and voice lessons weekly. I don't know whether to list this for credit or as an extracurricular.

 

10th grade (upcoming year)

world history - We will use Oak Meadow and I'll have her take the subject test at the end of the year to complete her "a" requirement.

MUS Geometry - She will finished this up and then start Algebra II, also with MUS.

English - I have no idea what we are going to use for next year.

Conceptual Chemistry - I know this is not going to prepare her for the subject test. The chemistry subject test is geared towards AP level. She can't do a higher level chemistry than this though.

P.E.

Spanish I - We'll use Visual Link Spanish at home for 10th grade and then she'll take Spanish I and II at the cc next year.

[shinyhappypeople]

If I were in her shoes I'd move to California first, work for a year to establish residency (while simultaneously getting my RE license), and THEN finish my bachelor's. CSU schools are very inexpensive if you're a resident. They're also fairly easy to get into if you have the right high school pre-reqs.

 

In my opinion it would absolutely be worth planning a gap year for financial reasons. Which parts of California interest her? I'm assuming when she thinks "California" she's picturing a beach :)

[stephinsocal]

ItIt's true that CSU schools are inexpensive, but they're also a mess at the moment: underfunded, overenrolled to the point that students can't get into the classes they need. Investigate carefully before making this move.

[shinyhappypeople]

ItIt's true that CSU schools are inexpensive, but they're also a mess at the moment: underfunded, overenrolled to the point that students can't get into the classes they need. Investigate carefully before making this move.

 

True, but four or five years from now things will hopefully have settled down.

[Freckles]

My advice... Do not come to school here. Get a degree in Tx. There are too many students, not enough professors, and the system is financially broke. My two cents.

[JennW in SoCal]

There are numerous private colleges in California -- it doesn't have to be a UC or Cal State school. Don't assume that the private schools are going to cost far more than the public universities, because with merit aid and other scholarships it could wind up being cheaper than the out of state tuition rate at the UCs. It is also easier to gain admission to a private college -- they are used to, and welcome homeschool students whereas there are lots of hoops for the publics. Those hoops are changing, but it take some time to read about the requirements. She could always apply as a transfer student which would cut your costs and help you avoid the whole a-g requirements.

 

On the positive side, the Cal State school system is vast, with many interesting campuses to choose from. Some are impacted, such as San Diego, Long Beach and Fullerton, but there are so many others to choose from. From my limited experience and from anecdotal stories from friends I can report they offer many services to students with LDs.

 

Her unique musical talents might be more attractive than you think. I think a student with LDs who has some unique talents can make for a very attractive applicant. Especially to the small private schools, and while she may not get a music scholarship she might still get merit aid.

 

By the way, I just drove across Texas while helping my college grad move back home from school in Florida. My goodness but it is a big state -- 10 hours from Houston to El Paso!! Just think of the drive you'll be making one day if she does end up here. Think of the airfare!

 

Some of the private schools I'm thinking of in Southern California are University of San Diego (excellent business school), Chapman, Redlands and the Christian schools such as Point Loma Nazarene (breathtaking campus with dorms on the beach), Azusa Pacific and another which is eluding me at the moment. There are also the Claremont Consortium schools and of course USC. Lots of excellent options.

[shinyhappypeople]

Biola :-)

[Hot Lava Mama]

I believe the U.C. system doesn't accept home-schooled students. You might want to look into that because I am not positive on that.

Hot Lava Mama

[JennW in SoCal]

Biola :-)

 

D'oh! That's the one! :laugh:

 

Are you available for filling in other gaps in my memory?!

[Ellie]

I believe the U.C. system doesn't accept home-schooled students. You might want to look into that because I am not positive on that.

Hot Lava Mama

 

 

Homeschoolers go to UC schools all the time. :-) They tend to get there via the community colleges, though, rather than right out of high school.

[ilanao]

We're in California and my oldest two went to UC Davis and Cal State Monterey Bay(undergrad)/Cal State Bakersfield(graduate). My third child is a high school junior and I, along with many other Californians, are looking at out-of-state schools. Our schools are not what they used to be. We can't even use the community colleges because there is no way to get classes. Both my older kids were forced to take night classes to complete their requirements. It only got worse and more expensive as each year went on. I would only consider a California school if you go the private route. For anyone in the western states (Texas is not included), the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) allows you to attend a western school that is out of your state, but at a reduced tuition. I don't know where my son will end up, but I'm betting that our state schools are going to sink further in the next couple of years. That's my two cents, but someone else might have a different opinion. I think the new motto for the California schools should be "caveat emptor."

[Hot Lava Mama]

 

Homeschoolers go to UC schools all the time. :-) They tend to get there via the community colleges, though, rather than right out of high school.

Really?! Good! As a California resident, that is good to know. I have heard from a couple of people that the admissions to the U.C. system is almost impossible for home schooled kids. They won't accept transcripts from parents, etc. I have no personal experience, just comments I have heard with others that had kids older than mine. I have been hoping that isn't true because I don't want my kids to have to transfer out of state to go to college.

 

I am curious what your experience/knowledge of is with the U.C. system. Do you know if some of them are better than others? Do you know what their general feeling is about home schooled kids? My oldest will be starting in 9th next year, so it's a brand new topic for us to delve into soon. My knees are trembling! If they don't go the C.C. route, do they have to jump through additional hoops that the government schooled kids don't? Any information is appreciated!

 

Thanks!

[JanetC]

What about California attracts her? Whatever it is, I'm pretty sure it's not all available in any college in the state.

 

Just as Texas is a lot of different things - cities, farmland, different cultures around different cities and regions -- California is not all "California" (whatever that means to her). If she really thinks any place in California would be a great fit, I would encourage her to research it a bit more thoroughly and define what she really wants and where that is, exactly.

 

Maybe there are other places that might work for her as well.

 

When you do figure out what she is interested in as far as location is concerned, you'll just have to try net price calculators on different school websites and see how you do. You can even have her do that herself, if you are willing to share family income and such with her.

[Grantmom]

Maybe she could plan and research moving to CA after getting her degree there in TX?

[AngieW in Texas]

I'm pretty sure that what's going to end up happening is that she gets her degree here in TX and then moves to CA or OR. There is no way we are going to manage OOS tuition and she is not likely to be able to get a scholarship that would cut it down to even close to being the same cost as going to school here in TX would be.

 

She wants OUT of the Bible belt. I agree with her on that front. We have a nice little oasis where we are, but the rest of Texas is extremely conservative.

 

She wants to eventually get a real estate license and practice in CA.

[Freckles]

I'm pretty sure that what's going to end up happening is that she gets her degree here in TX and then moves to CA or OR. There is no way we are going to manage OOS tuition and she is not likely to be able to get a scholarship that would cut it down to even close to being the same cost as going to school here in TX would be.

 

She wants OUT of the Bible belt. I agree with her on that front. We have a nice little oasis where we are, but the rest of Texas is extremely conservative.

 

She wants to eventually get a real estate license and practice in CA.

 

Let's swap houses. I can get out of L.A. and back to the Bible belt, and y'all can come to the Left Coast. I'm in very easy commuting distance to 3 community colleges and CSUN. :)

 

Has she looked at UT-Austin? I went to school there, and it is not conservative.

[AngieW in Texas]

She is really going to have to push to be able to get in at UT Austin. Because it is the most popular of the state schools, most of the freshman class is made up of students who are automatically admitted with the 10% rule (top 10% of a public school in Texas has automatic admission to any state school). In fact, UT-Austin is so popular, that they only have to take the top 8% because if they had to take the top 10%, their freshman class would be too large. A few hsers and others get into UT Austin each year, but they generally have to be pretty special to get in.

[Freckles]

I hope she finds something she likes and is a good fit for her. It's too bad UT is out. I enjoyed my time as a student there.

[sunnyca]

UC Riverside is the only school that allows application via portfolio for non-traditional students; the process was set up by some homeschooling professor/dads. The rest of the UC schools require pre-approved syllabi and texts for all the core academic courses (that's what a-g means), as well as specific # of years of math, foreign language, english, science, etc. In general, this a-g setup is pretty effective at excluding homeschool students and many who attend private religious schools (UC does not, for example, approve syllabi with abeka science texts).

 

IF you have really high scores, there is entrance via examination, but we're talking perfect SAT/ACT scores and several SAT II or AP tests. Or you can validate *all* your a-g classes via examination or taking a community college class for high school credit. Or you can go to the community college for 2 (or more, given availability) years and take transferrable courses, which are very clearly laid out. In fact, the CC-to-transfer route is something the UC/CSUs have been pushing anyway, as they don't want to have to supply so many remedial courses and they can reduce the crowding on their own campuses while pushing it back onto the overstressed CC system. CC's offer associate of arts degrees and/or up to 60 credit hours (maybe more?) for transfer to UC/CSU. But they also offer all kinds of vocational training and certificates in various skills.

 

This is what I heard for many years and may have been true in the past. My ds is a junior at UCLA and our experience was much different. UCs were much more open to the non traditional application than we expected. No perfect SAT score here and only the required SAT IIs (no longer required for current admission) and 2 APs, and only one college class done for dual enrollment (we were not impressed with the quality of the community college class so did not take more). He did write a couple of extra essays detailing his unique application but there was no trouble accepting any our our courses which were mostly Christian curriculum -- they did not even ask for detailed information or even course descriptions.

 

UCLA was his choice but not his only CSU/UC acceptance. Along with several of his homeschool friends, we have seen admission to UC Berkeley, UCSan Diego, UCLA, UC Santa Cruz, UC Irvine as well as pretty much any Cal State, including Cal Poly San Luis Obispo which is a tougher admission process. He has also run into many homeschool grads at school which leads us to believe our experiences were not unique. UCLA has one of the highest application rates (and therefore, the lowest admission rate) in CA schools but that does not mean it is impossible for homeschoolers, as far as we can see. I suggest no homeschooled student rule out CA state schools, if they are of interest. Just like at any university, there are requirements for certain years of Math, Foreign Language, etc, but it is consistent with any good college prep program. I did not find the admission processes to have required hoop jumping, though I expected the worst since it is what we had heard, too.

 

CA community colleges are very impacted and incredibly difficult to finish in 2 years as used to be the case. We thought jumping into the 4year was a better option since statistics show that many who go the CC route now either get discouraged and never transfer, or end up taking much longer to transfer than they thought.

 

All that said.... I would also look into privates. Vanguard is one whose admission process is easier for homeschoolers since it is Christian. I have also heard of generous scholarships for the Arts. Concordia is a great music school and, likewise, offers great scholarships. Both are located near everything you would love about California and are small enough to feel like home for an out of stater.

[Crimson Wife]

For those concerned about satisfying U.C. a-g requirements, there is a new online program called UC Scout. The cost is $19/course for private school students (including private homeschools) and out-of-state students.

[Sebastian (a lady)]

For those concerned about satisfying U.C. a-g requirements, there is a new online program called UC Scout. The cost is $19/course for private school students (including private homeschools) and out-of-state students.

Where did you find the $19/course reference. I was quoted a much higher price several months ago when they announced that UC Scout was replacing UCCP. ETA: I found it in the FAQ section. It looks like the $19 is for the open course options that used to be on UCCP for free. For a course with a teacher, it is $149, which is far lower than what I was quoted earlier. Good to see that the price is more available than I initially thought.

[Wildiris]

One thing to consider beyond just going to school or living in California is how much it will cost to live on or near campus. Ca-Ching, Ca-Ching, Ca-Ching. This is the sound of your hard earned dollars flowing freely from your pocket to subsidize living expenses for any type of college experience in California. The cost of living in CA is very high.

[Lanny]

True, but four or five years from now things will hopefully have settled down.

 

 

As a native of California, with relatives there, I would like to think that will happen. However, California is 2nd only to Illinois, with problems of unfunded Pension plans, etc., etc.

[Crimson Wife]

Where did you find the $19/course reference. I was quoted a much higher price several months ago when they announced that UC Scout was replacing UCCP. ETA: I found it in the FAQ section. It looks like the $19 is for the open course options that used to be on UCCP for free. For a course with a teacher, it is $149, which is far lower than what I was quoted earlier. Good to see that the price is more available than I initially thought.

 

Why would you need their teacher? If the student is enrolled in your homeschool, then you would be granting credit for the course through that.

[Lanny]

I believe you should have your daughter begin to research this dream of hers, thoroughly, starting now... I was born and raised in Southern California and I know about the beaches and the mountains. I also know about the COL, the Smog, etc. When I was in high school, I thought UCLA was a good to very good university. My youngest uncle, and many of the kids I went to high school with, are graduates of UCLA. My cousin who lives in Marin County (mentioned in one of the previous posts) is a graduate of UC Berkeley.

 

The son of one of my cousins sells Real Estate in the L.A. area. If your DD thinks that someone is going to buy real estate, that costs what it does in CA, from someone in their 20's, I think she should get her feet onto the ground.

 

I really think she should plan on getting her education in Texas and then trying to find a position in California.

 

My era is of the "Beach Boy's" (they were clients, where my mother worked), and again, I would tell your DD that it isn't just about going to the beach (see Corpus Christi/North Padre Island), or to the mountains, but of the "rat race" of the traffic, the COL, etc., etc.

 

She needs to thoroughly research what it costs to live in CA and what it is like to live there. Take a trip to Hollywood, see what it's like... Would she want her children to grow up there? Much GL to your DD!

[Sebastian (a lady)]

 

Why would you need their teacher? If the student is enrolled in your homeschool, then you would be granting credit for the course through that.

Well, I'm not sure what is the value added in the personalized section vs the open course vs the teacher provided course. The old UCCP open courses did not include assessments. I might be interested in the teacher provided course option if there was NCAA approval.