College opinions

[nick1985]

ok, im in a real jam here. i have basically 2 options with college. i can go to a local community college and pay basically nothing and live at home and have all my meals/laundry etc. paid for. or...i could go to North Central college in Naperville IL to continue to run and also get a kick ass education. running is VERY important to me and their team is the national champions and i would like nothing more than to run there. but....it cost 12 grand a year. my parents are still medling with what we are going to do, and i just wanted to know what you guys think.

 

[her209]

Go to a real school. If your parents cannot afford, take out some loans. And make sure you get a real degree too.

 

[MacGaven]

North Central.

You have a hot girlfriend.

I thought you said something about Notre Dame before?

 

[Hector13]

I'll agree with her209 (although there is nothing not "real" about some community colleges). You education is one of the best "investments" you can make, so if it requires borrowing money do so, you will gain more than enough to pay back your loans.

 

[Dudd]

Originally posted by: MacGaven
North Central.

You have a hot girlfriend.

I thought you said something about Notre Dame before?

You might be thinking of either me or imac something (I believe he had a thread about going there). Anyways, I'd say go to North Central, I know I don't want to miss out on the "real" college experience. I just couldn't see myself living at home for another four years, it would just seem like more high school.

 

[Schadenfreude]

Socializing is one of the main parts of schools - especially universities.

If you commute, you'll miss out on a lot of "college" things - some experiences are stupid, I admit, but others I've learned a lot from - go to the school in Naperville.

I've seen a lot of people that commute drop out because they say it's a waste of time (because they can't socialize as much) - I've seen the same for "real" universities, but I'd still recommend "real" Universities. You won't regret it.

 

[MacGaven]

Seriously,

if you go to the Community College you will probably never run competitively again much less be motivated to run by yourself.

You'll want the space away from your parents too. I would recommend you take out the loans and go to North Central but you also should speak to your parents about the whole decision.

 

[minendo]

Originally posted by: nick1985
ok, im in a real jam here. i have basically 2 options with college. i can go to a local community college and pay basically nothing and live at home and have all my meals/laundry etc. paid for. or...i could go to North Central college in Naperville IL to continue to run and also get a kick ass education. running is VERY important to me and their team is the national champions and i would like nothing more than to run there. but....it cost 12 grand a year. my parents are still medling with what we are going to do, and i just wanted to know what you guys think.

Ha NCC is 5 minutes from my GF's house in Naperville. Nice area.

 

[Schadenfreude]

Oh, and my (ex)roommate is from Naperville. I'm currently at ISU.

 

[crabbyman]

I go to a local big name university....Ohio State in Marion...and it's cheaper to go here than the main branch. Sure I would have liked to go to the main campus but for free housing, food, etc. you can't beat it. Another thing you could do is take a year and go to the local campus....and then if you are still serious enough about the more expensive one transfer your credits. Just make sure you take the very basic courses.

 

[MartyMcFly3]

my house is like 5 minutes from NCC.... go there if anything for the awesome riverwalk they have... I love that place.

 

[m2kewl]

Originally posted by: nick1985
get a kick ass education. running is VERY important to me and their team is the national champions and i would like nothing more than to run there.

Originally posted by: Hector13
so if it requires borrowing money do so, you will gain more than enough to pay back your loans.

you know what you must do

 

[johnjohn320]

Go to North Central. Nice school, btw.

 

[agnitrate]

Originally posted by: nick1985
ok, im in a real jam here. i have basically 2 options with college. i can go to a local community college and pay basically nothing and live at home and have all my meals/laundry etc. paid for. or...i could go to North Central college in Naperville IL to continue to run and also get a kick ass education. running is VERY important to me and their team is the national champions and i would like nothing more than to run there. but....it cost 12 grand a year. my parents are still medling with what we are going to do, and i just wanted to know what you guys think.

lol You live in Naperville?

I'll have to drop by sometime so you can show me your claymore. lol

-silver

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: minendo

Originally posted by: nick1985
ok, im in a real jam here. i have basically 2 options with college. i can go to a local community college and pay basically nothing and live at home and have all my meals/laundry etc. paid for. or...i could go to North Central college in Naperville IL to continue to run and also get a kick ass education. running is VERY important to me and their team is the national champions and i would like nothing more than to run there. but....it cost 12 grand a year. my parents are still medling with what we are going to do, and i just wanted to know what you guys think.

Ha NCC is 5 minutes from my GF's house in Naperville. Nice area.

YOUR gf???

 

[nick1985]

i live in sycamore IL, its about an hour from naperville

 

[minendo]

Originally posted by: nick1985
YOUR gf???

Amazing how an a$$hole like me can keep a steady relationship isn't it?

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: minendo

Originally posted by: nick1985
YOUR gf???

Amazing how an a$$hole like me can keep a steady relationship isn't it?

me too....

 

[agnitrate]

Originally posted by: nick1985
i live in sycamore IL, its about an hour from naperville

You only live about an hour from me (Palatine).

Anyways, I hate to be an ass about this but unless you're an extraordinary runner, you probably won't be doing much of it in college because commpetition is so fierce. I'm not saying that you should stop though.

I think you should think about your education first and the sports situation second. You might regret choosing a school based upon their athletic credentials later in life. I'm not familiar with either colleges you speak of so I can't comment on it, but it looks like you are putting a lot of thought into it. I hope you make the decision that is right for you.

-silver

 

[anno]

easy to tell you to go spend the money.. sometimes it just isn't the possible choice.

if that's the case go to the community college for a year or two.. get the core classes out of the way, and keep training with the highschool team at every opportunity.. if you're good enough to run in college then you were important in high school, your coach will be supportive and you'll still know a good portion of the kids so you won't be miserable. do that.. you won't stay in competitive shape if you try and do it on your own. if you can stay in running shape and get a year (or two, but one would be better) of your education out of the way for next to nothing.. that won't be the end of the world. you'll get to big college still in shape to run and in time to get the important classes and the degree with more clout.. and save some money in the process.

heck.. you'll get to the big college with a year more maturity and determination under your belt and be more able to avoid the standard freshman pitfalls too.. it's not an easy choice but it's not a bad choice either..

sure.. goin' straight on to the school you plan to finish at is the more desireable option, especially from a wanting to get away and be independent point of view but.. specially for freshman year, if you can't make that work.. take a year at home, keep workin' on the things that are important to you.. it'll work. really good year at community college may open up new scholarship opportunities to make the subsequent years where you really want to be more doable, too.

it's really more about how determined you are than it is about where you are, in the beginning.

anno

 

[Sukhoi]

Go to the U of I!

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: Sukhoi
Go to the U of I!

id rather lick a toilet seat haha, jk

 

[toant103]

Originally posted by: nick1985
ok, im in a real jam here. i have basically 2 options with college. i can go to a local community college and pay basically nothing and live at home and have all my meals/laundry etc. paid for. or...i could go to North Central college in Naperville IL to continue to run and also get a kick ass education. running is VERY important to me and their team is the national champions and i would like nothing more than to run there. but....it cost 12 grand a year. my parents are still medling with what we are going to do, and i just wanted to know what you guys think.

if you run, won't they give you a schoolarship?

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: toant103

Originally posted by: nick1985
ok, im in a real jam here. i have basically 2 options with college. i can go to a local community college and pay basically nothing and live at home and have all my meals/laundry etc. paid for. or...i could go to North Central college in Naperville IL to continue to run and also get a kick ass education. running is VERY important to me and their team is the national champions and i would like nothing more than to run there. but....it cost 12 grand a year. my parents are still medling with what we are going to do, and i just wanted to know what you guys think.

if you run, won't they give you a schoolarship?

for some reason, NCC doesnt give athletic scholarshipse

 

[dabuddha]

Well from my personal opinion, your education is usually only what you make of it. So sometimes it's just not worth the extra money. But it's between you and your parents. I personally would goto the community college for a year or so and get all the crap core classes out of the way. Why pay thousands of dollars for English 1301 when you can take it for ~$100 or whatever it costs locally. Plus the free room/board is nice in the beginning.