Posted on 02/03/2012 7:07:30 PM PST by bauerpauer
Hi Freepers, I'm currently at a community college looking into 4-year colleges/universities outside California and wanted your opinions/suggestions. Here are my criteria: -Conservative (or relatively right-leaning) school. -A state and/or school that allows some sort of open carry or concealed carry permit (on campus if possible). -A good computer science or computer forensics program. -Interested in profiling but not sure which departments teach it. -Core curriculum not overrun by communists/Marxists.
I love Texas.
Questions in criteria are welcome.
Thanks.
My son intends to major in mechanical engineering too. We are beginning to look around. Do you have any universities nearby? Our oldest daughter is a bio major at University of Delaware - about 30 minutes away from home and I hope my son gets into there as well since it allows for the family to still be a major touchstone week to week and would allow for commuting from home if needed. I really like the campus and I have worked with several engineers who graduated from UD as well as those fom other engineering schools.
Northern Arizona is not bad.
I’d like to suggest my Freshman year alma mater - Virginia Military Institute, where Stonewall Jackson once taught, and whose cadet corps fought in the Battle of New Market: I’d like to suggest it, but it’s been co-opted by flaming Libs now as well. Utterly worthless. Sad.
I have second-hand knowledge from a Coast Guard Academy grad, and slightly more indirect knowledge about the other academies, that those once-august bastions of the values you seek are simply jokes in recent decades.
I hear very good things, indirectly, about Hillsdale college, and don’t know of any that are better reputed.
Texas A&M - College Station, Texas
Baylor - Waco, Texas
Le Tourneau - Longview, Texas (small Christian university)
STAY AWAY FROM UT-AUSTIN - Very, very liberal!
On behalf of A&M, I would state though there are liberals there, the vast majority of students are conservative.
I would absolutely suggest you visit your local community college. I’ve worked with and hired many engineers who took their first two years of pre-engineering work at a community college and they are among the best, most practical, and first chosen for jobs. Don’t let anyone kid you, the first two years are the same anywhere, unless you count partying, screwing off, hanging around a dorm or frat, etc as “educational”. Many CC students live in or near home and this helps hold down expenses, and most class sizes are smaller and tutors are available if they need a little help.
After 2 years, the Pre-E credits from an accredited CC will transfer anywhere, and the student will probably have better study habits and a good track record to hit the next 2 or 3 years running. And employers don’t care much about where an applicant earned a BSME or MSME degree, but more about how capable they are of working in a team environment, having good communications skills, being good problem-solvers, etc. Good luck.
I'm way out of touch, since I graduated 50 years ago - but back in my day, you could go to an engineering school with a co-op plan and earn most of the money for tuition after the first year. I did that, but then I lived at home and commuted into Philadelphia to Drexel.
Oh, that's right, didn't DuPont to into genetics and biology in a big way?
Cheers!
FReepmail.
I’m with bigbob on the Community College question. It’s THE best option for almost any student, especially one who’s chosen to attend college later, and who doesn’t come from a monied family.
Your son should go talk to someone at the local community college about what courses he will need to take to transfer to a 4-year in his intended major. He won’t waste time and money taking courses that don’t lead to that end.
Everything bigbob said is right on. Credits are easily transferred, cost is lower. Your son can continue to live at home, or wherever he’s now living, and can possibly keep his job, at least on a part time basis. Down sides are hard to find.
If you were to follow thru on the advice to go to Texas A&M or George Mason or any other state school, you’d be wise to move to that area and work for a year while establishing residency. Tuition is less than half for in-state students.
Hillsdale.......truly independent...... (’64)
One way to fight the cost factor of college is to attend community college and get as many basic courses out of the way as possible at a much reduced fee compared to university level.
Another way to defray the cost of college is RENTING books rather than buying new or used ones. The costs of renting is MUCH less expensive than buying new or used ones. Plus the on-line sites have given us free return shipping as long as we get the books returned or postmarked by the return date.
He’s already in community college - sophomore year.
Disclosure: bauerpauer is my son and a solid young conservative
Fiji Hill,
That’s an excellent resource, thanks! Full disclosure: bauerpauer is my son.:)
He’s considering LEO work, which requires a four-year degree. He’s also done an awesome job with the local libs/progressives/Marxists since middle school - one of his high school history teachers was openly, but honestly (!) liberal, and required that he back his opinions with facts. It was an excellent course and a good experience. The teacher learned a few things from him, too.
Given the potential unrest that’s coming up, I’d prefer that he not hone his skills in a large, Marxist blue, thug-ridden city.
Thanks again for the terrific information!
You are going to have to be your own boss in college on an ethical and practical level - I’m sure you know this. Stand out from the herd and be who you are and know right from wrong no matter the ethical and mental gymnastics you see and observe around you. You are not a child. Be an adult to and with yourself and help the lost souls when you can.
UT Austin is big, liberal but wonderful. Better than the East and West coast hard core Marxists and the wannabes in the midwest. UT is not so easy to herd. Come to Austin.
Avoid the drugs and drinking. Enjoy the music; Austin launches bands. Be your own man/woman. It’s a big place and you will get lost if you are in need of hand holding. Don’t waste time hanging out in political and dorm social herds. Pray every day; be close to God and don’t let anyone stupid, but who claims to be “smart”, mess with your soul just because they don’t know they have one. If you have extra time, get a job and start building a network and mentors in the real world. Major in something that is employable and useful.
If you can, don’t go into debt. Work and go to school if you must; you are not in a race to finish college. Try to stay free of debt. It’s important to stay independent and free from the beginning; now more than ever. It is cheaper to go to college in your state and even cheaper to do two years in a community college and then transfer to and graduate from UT or another four year college. God bless you.
Hey bigbob,
Thanks and you’re absolutely right. He’s gotten a terrific education in his first two years at the community college - this is his last semester. I’ve been very impressed - and they offer “Personal Protection” classes on the weekends. It’s time to transfer to a four-year for junior/senior years.
Well, her roommate is a chem engineering major and the first two years they have many of the same courses except for their honors courses.
Absolutely right. CC has been a great choice.
Haha, my dad went to UMass... he’s a democrat.
Thank you for the suggestion.
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