Teaching Degree & Certification (Buffalo, Syracuse: credit, transfer to, school districts)

[ajacques]

I got so wrapped up figure out where I'm gonna go for school that I forgot all about my girlfriend. She's currenlty going to a community college here in orlando for education. I'm looking at what her option are in Buffalo. She wants to be a Social studies teacher. The only schools that I came across that specifically offer a BS in Social studies Buffalo State & Medaille College. I know Buf State is reputalble but what about Medaille? Keep in mind that she not the strongest student competitivly (2.9 gpa).

I guess if worst comes to worst she could go to Erie Community College and get her teaching assistant certificate and transfer to Buffalo State when her grades get better

[Canerican]

Then I would go for Buffalo State, Medaille isn't exactly academically rigorous, but my sister is in Buff State's education program, and it is supposed to be the best in the area by far. Plus Medaille isn't exactly cheap.

If I were her, I would apply at both, using Medaille as the fall back school.

[CAugust]

Medaille has come a very long way - BUT those grades are not looking so great. I dont think she could even graduate with a gpa of under 3? can you?

tell her to go to ecc and get her basics out of the way and up that gpa and then move on to get the rest of her studies in line.

[ajacques]

Originally Posted by CAugust

Medaille has come a very long way - BUT those grades are not looking so great. I dont think she could even graduate with a gpa of under 3? can you?

tell her to go to ecc and get her basics out of the way and up that gpa and then move on to get the rest of her studies in line.

Thats florida for ya. I got into Barry (the better of the two law schools in orlando) with a 3.1. I believe here in florida you just have to have a c avg. to graduate. She's got all a's and b's expect for two f's.

[ckhthankgod]

Yeah, I would tell her to go with Buff. State. If you were coming to Syracuse, I would have said LeMoyne or SU. SUNY's like Oswego and Cortland aren't that far, but they are both around 30-45 minutes away.

[Canerican]

Originally Posted by CAugust

Medaille has come a very long way - BUT those grades are not looking so great. I dont think she could even graduate with a gpa of under 3? can you?

tell her to go to ecc and get her basics out of the way and up that gpa and then move on to get the rest of her studies in line.

In NY you need a 2.0 GPA (or a "C") average to graduate from a SUNY school (that is, any public school)

[coldwynn]

In the Canisius Ed Dept any grade of C or lower is a failing grade.

[ajacques]

Originally Posted by Canerican

In NY you need a 2.0 GPA (or a "C") average to graduate from a SUNY school (that is, any public school)

I'm sure you are correct. However i'm not worried about her being able graduate so much as I am worried about her being able to get in.

She already has an AA in CSI but its from FMU (nationally but not regionally accredited) so I don't think that'll help.. you know one should make up their mind about what they want to be when they grow up..before they get the degree.

[Johnny228]

Nothing wrong with a 2.9. and Buffalo State is a good school for education. Why go to a private school to be a teacher----that's like going to Yale and majoring in sociology, doesn't make sense.

Social Studies teachers are a dime a dozen; I would recommend her to get a special ed certification----that's where the jobs are. Get one there, then transfer into a SS job when they become available.

[7 Wishes]

Originally Posted by Johnny228

Nothing wrong with a 2.9. and Buffalo State is a good school for education. Why go to a private school to be a teacher----that's like going to Yale and majoring in sociology, doesn't make sense.

Social Studies teachers are a dime a dozen; I would recommend her to get a special ed certification----that's where the jobs are. Get one there, then transfer into a SS job when they become available.

Also, I would advise 1 thing and note another:

1) Try to get the grades up a bit at Buffalo State, many school districts want to see a 3.0 or better when you graduate (though 2.9 is close enough that with some good references (make that student teaching stint count!) you should be OK.

2) NY State, unlike most states, requires a masters degree for teaching. Now you can start out without one and you have I think 3 or 4 years to get one to keep your certification.