CA transplants only: do you move to CO because of schools? (Boulder: fit in, second mortgage) - Denver - Colorado - City-Data Forum

missingcol · 10-22-2007, 03:44 PM

I have planed to relocate to CO quite a while, but have to delay the date to 1.5 years later. Reason: my son is in high school now and I would like him to graduate from a CA high school. This may let him to easily admit a better college since CA has more first class universities as you know. I heard many people leaving CA and complaining the bad education system\schools in CA. I am confused about this and I am wondering if you ahve thought of the higher education future of your kids?

formercalifornian · 10-22-2007, 03:57 PM

No. If I wanted really outstanding schools, I would be moving back to the east coast.

missingcol · 10-22-2007, 04:19 PM

yes, but if you move to CO from CA with middle school age and high school age kids, it is sort of "giving up" some chances for your kids to enter a better college. If your kids' higher education is your top priority, you got to think about it.

Katarina Witt · 10-22-2007, 05:06 PM

I don't understand.

missingcol · 10-22-2007, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pittnurse70

I don't understand.

Here is an example: one of my friend's son who graduated from Fairview HS in Boulder last year. He got very high GPA and SAT scores (2300), but rejected by UC Berkely. One of my another friend's daughter graduated from a San Jose HS. She got relatively lower GPA and lower SAT score, less social activities, but still was accepted by UC Berkely. People told me that a CA resident may have advantage for top UC schools. I might be wrong since I don't quite familar with U.S. education system. I admit that Chinese parents take too serious about which university their kids could go to.

rebagirl · 10-22-2007, 06:10 PM

Aren't there plenty of decent or excellent colleges in Colorado? What would be the benefit in the long haul of attending a California university over one in Colorado? I'm not trying to be a thorn in anyone's side. I just honestly would like to know what makes people think this way.

I guess I know too many people who place so much emphasis on prestige. I also know of a few who sent their kids to well-known colleges for four years and now their kids are doing nothing related to their majors. Example: One went to USC for four years and is now a truck driver; another went to a a local private university and is now going to cosmetology school. While there is nothing wrong with truck driving or cosmetology, I would hate to have taken out a second mortgage in order to send my kids to these colleges, only to have it not really be worth it career-wise.

formercalifornian · 10-22-2007, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by missingcol

yes, but if you move to CO from CA with middle school age and high school age kids, it is sort of "giving up" some chances for your kids to enter a better college. If your kids' higher education is your top priority, you got to think about it.

Sorry, I misunderstood your original question. So, allow me to clarify.

My major concern is not easing their way into a CA university by leaving them in a sub-standard public school and counting on lax local admission policies to gain them entry. Rather, it is making sure they are prepared to make the most of their higher educations by ensuring they are academically-challenged and ready to handle the work, no matter which university they attend.

After living on the east coast in an area with extraordinary public schools, I'm not impressed with my local elementary. It's above-average, but nothing to write home about. Therefore, my spouse and I are taking steps to provide extra tutoring, particularly in math, because the program used here in Douglas County is just awful.

Would I like my kids to go to Stanford? Of course. But, my guess is that they'll do fine wherever they go. It's not the quality of the university, it's the quality of the student. College is too late to start worrying about their educations.

Katarina Witt · 10-22-2007, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by missingcol

Here is an example: one of my friend's son who graduated from Fairview HS in Boulder last year. He got very high GPA and SAT scores (2300), but rejected by UC Berkely. One of my another friend's daughter graduated from a San Jose HS. She got relatively lower GPA and lower SAT score, less social activities, but still was accepted by UC Berkely. People told me that a CA resident may have advantage for top UC schools. I might be wrong since I don't quite familar with U.S. education system. I admit that Chinese parents take too serious about which university their kids could go to.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rebagirl

Aren't there plenty of decent or excellent colleges in Colorado? What would be the benefit in the long haul of attending a California university over one in Colorado? I'm not trying to be a thorn in anyone's side. I just honestly would like to know what makes people think this way.

I guess I know too many people who place so much emphasis on prestige. I also know of a few who sent their kids to well-known colleges for four years and now their kids are doing nothing related to their majors. Example: One went to USC for four years and is now a truck driver; another went to a a local private university and is now going to cosmetology school. While there is nothing wrong with truck driving or cosmetology, I would hate to have taken out a second mortgage in order to send my kids to these colleges, only to have it not really be worth it career-wise.

California residents do get preference at the Cali state schools, just as CO residents get preference at CO state schools. Colorado's state colleges and universities offer a good education.

As for formercalifornian's concerns, I would say "relax". I know of a number of kids who were whizzes in ele/middle school who burned out in HS. And I know a number who were late bloomers and got going seriously in HS, which is the better trajectory, if you ask me. I also know of kids who took the IB program and then went to a mediocre college. When my kids were in HS, there was a lot of peer pressure and presure from advisors to "get into a good college". It's a bit over the top. And like rebagirl, I know many who went to college and are now working at Dairy Queen, the YMCA (in child care, not management), etc. I agree those are honorable jobs, but hardly jobs one needs a college education for.

formercalifornian · 10-22-2007, 06:49 PM

Quote:

As for formercalifornian's concerns, I would say "relax".... When my kids were in HS, there was a lot of peer pressure and presure from advisors to "get into a good college".

That was my point when I wrote that the quality of the student matters more than the quality of institution.

Katarina Witt · 10-22-2007, 06:56 PM

My point was that your kids probably don't need extra tutoring in math, even if you do think the program in Douglas Co is awful. These things tend to even out by high school. I have seriously seen ele/middle school kids burn out by HS. Some were pushed ahead, took honors courses as soon as they could, etc. By high school they are getting just mediocre grades.