Some problems I need help with

[Guy Fawkes]

Entering second semester of my junior year, I'm looking toward college. I'm thinking heavily about majoring in Poli-Sci, but I don't know where to go. My grades/GPA aren't the best, but I think I'll pull out very well on the SAT/ACT. I'm open to suggestions as to schools I should look into.

My second problem is this: I don't have the best relationship with my parents. Its a miracle that my father and I can live in the same house. I'm OK with my mother, except that she doesn't listen to me, so I never talk to her. This is creating a problem, as I am a closeted homosexual. It could be plain as day to them, but I'll never know, because I never talk to my mother; at least not about anything important or life changing.

Also, they both seem to think that I should join the army. We've started getting solicitations from the marines... I've got nothing against the armed forces- they do a vital job (sometimes)- but I don't really want to join up.

Advice is welcomed.

[JohnKleeb]

1. Hmm I am a year older than you

Do you think you got the life skills to live on your own perhaps, and is there a community college near by that you could perhaps attend then go to your desired school. I admit it, I fucked up my sopohomore and junior year in school thus fucking my GPA and I didnt take my SATs either, so Ive decided to go to community college next fall. Good luck man. Sorry that you don't have a good relationship with your folks, I take that for granted since I do get along with mine mostly.

[Florida_Geek]

2. IF and only IF you want to join up in the military

the only real service is the Navy. The Air Force is second but not as good as the Navy.

I would not sign up for any military. While I said Navy, they are pulling Air Force for sure to do Iraq tours. In the future they may pull Navy too.

[Guy Fawkes]

3. kick

please?

[DrWeird]

4. Forget the army. Here's what you do.

Work your ass off. Pull those grades up.

I know that seems impossible, put it's not. You're going to have to bust your ass.

2nd thing. Get a part time job. Save up some money. You've got one full time summer left, use it to your advantage.

Then, once you graduate, go to a junior college. You can get the same first two years of college education for a fraction of the cost.

Rent a room at a house with other college students. Should be only a couple hunrded dollars a month, plus you'll be socializing with people your age. That's very important. With your savings, your earnings from working, and with financial aid, you should be fine for money.

Once you've got your associates degree, with decent grades you can transfer to the four year college of your choice. Clear sailing from there.

The last thing you need to be worrying about now is your choice of major. Anybody who's telling you otherwise is full of it. That won't be a real issue until your junior year of college.

Don't worry about your parents. Everybody's parents are assholes, until you move out and usually for some time afterwards.

[Guy Fawkes]

7. Thank you for the advice

(and previous posters, Kleeb and Florida)

The amry is their idea, and I've already said no way. As for worrying about a major, people tell me not to, but I already know what I want to do. I'll still look into other options, though.

[DrWeird]

9. Oh, I see.

I thought when you said you didn't no where you wanted to go, you meant major. I guess you mean schools.

That also shouldn't be something you worry too much about, unless you really want to go to some big fancy ass Ivy league school. And I wouldn't recommend going there anyway.

But get those grades up anyway and stop worrying. Better grades means more options, but choice of school is more than being the toughest school that still let you in.

[JohnKleeb]

10. sure thing man

believe me I am still confused about what I wanna do, I wish I could go to college but I haven't been a great student. If you lived around here, I would recommend the local comm college but I dont know about the area whrre you live. Good luck, it all comes so quick.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

11. This is excellent advice...

It sounds like you have serious incentive for moving out. Don't let anybody tell you to serve in the military, especially when it isn't their ass which is going to be in jeopardy.

Get your basics fulfilled at the Jr College level, and take some time to get comfortable with yourself. Maybe you could get involved with a support group for gays and lesbians.

Whatever happens, know that you have friends here at DU... :hug:

[GreenPartyVoter]

5. My dad got his Poli-Sci degree at North Eastern in Boston, then did a year

at Suffolk.

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[Left Is Write]

6. I don't think I have any practical advice for you

other than do NOT join the military due to outside pressure. Join ONLY if you truly want to (and of course, you've said you don't).

I wish I knew what to tell you about your relationship with your parents. I have a 17-year-old daughter who is a high school senior, and I think we have a pretty good relationship. We do have our moments, though.

Is there another adult you could talk to? Someone who perhaps knows your parents and could offer you some advice on how to talk to them?

[Guy Fawkes]

8. There isn't anyone else...

I don't know any of the people my parents do, and my father rarely leaves the house anyway.

[Dastard Stepchild]

12. I worked in a college admissions office...

you can PM me if you'd like to discuss your academic situation. There really is a school out there for pretty much everyone... :)
Oh, and I'm bi, so I've been down that "coming out" road with mes parents as well.

cheers...

[Lady President]

13. Study, study, study

I can't believe how old I'm starting to sound.... but you should concentrate on pulling up your grades. Colleges really will notice if your grades improve your last few semesters of high school, especially if it's coupled with decent SATs. To me, it sounds like you want to go to college, not the service.

I noticed you are from Wisconsin. If you want to stay in-state for cheaper tuition, how about one of the Univ. of Wisc. branches? They're very highly regarded because of the smaller class size.

IMO, I don't trust the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, so it seems unwise to join the military.

[SnowGoose]

14. My two cents

Good luck with the parent thing - that's tough.

As far as colleges go, many people will tell you to do community college first because it's cheaper. All told, I've been at 6 different colleges and universites - and I just don't think the trade offs are worth the money you save. Remember, it'll cost you the same amount to eat, put gas in your car, and put a roof over your head, whether you're in community college or university. Yea, ok, some 'college towns' are more expensive in terms of rent, but you can always find a cheap place to live, as long as you don't have to be downtown. So the only money your really saving is tuition.

One of the very big intangibles you get from college is the environment. I can't stress that enough, and I'm guessing from your parental relationships that you could probably use a good support system - it's one of the most important things in life.

The environment not only relates to the people you'll meet on campus, and who you live with, but also campus organizations, events, seminars, volunteer opportunities, political groups, libraries, visiting professors, and course opportunities. I know you have an idea about what you want to do, and I'd never minimize that, but there are so many ways any career direction can take.

Don't just go to college to learn calculus (or whatever skill) - you could do that on your own at home. Go to become educated - and that has more to do with expanding your horizons than it does with how well you master a particular skill set specific to some trade you're interested in.

Again, that's just me dude. Maybe it'll be different for you - but if I may make a couple of snap judgements from the fact that you're poliltically motivated and at your age have already have a fire in your belly to get into a career, I'm guessing that you just need access to the right fuel in order to explode into the fullness of your potential.

Good luck with it all.

[CornField]

15. Take some time this semester and visit with your school counselor

Mine was able to help me find several scholarship programs -- and ultimately a full scholarship for four years at a university. There are many out there which do not look only at your GPA.

Our local high school has several programs available (not sure about yours, but you can ask the counselor):

1) Cisco Networking Certification. You take the classes while you're still in high school. By the time you earn your diploma, you're also a certified Cisco Network Admin.

2) Dual enrollment. High school students can enroll in both high school and community college classes (taken at the high school in the distance learning classrooms). My daughter is pursuing this option and plans to have her Associates at the same time she graduates high school.

3) Career learning. The school can match students with prospective employers as interns (no pay). At the end of the block (half the school year, I think), the student/employer have the option of making a new arrangement for pay. The student can also go back into the system and be match with a different employer (once again as an intern).

4) I don't remember the official name for this one, but the student takes a class based on commercial software packages (Illustrator, PageMaker, Quark, PhotoShop, Dreamweaver, etc.) so they can acquire the skills needed for work after graduation.

Hope this is helpful. All my best wishes to you & remember that when there is a will, there is always a way.