Problem with college and where to attend

[Shenron]

I have a problem obstructing my progression to college. I will give you some background so as to allow you to better understand my predicament.

I am originally from GA. I lived with my grandma for many years until I moved to VA to live with my parents. I am very academically focused and get good grades, at least I have been since entering the 10th grade. I really messed up my 9th grade year and barely passed so my overall GPA is suffering because of that.

So, first problem: I THINK I want to go to ASU (Augusta State University) in GA. But I also think I want to go to UVA (University of Virginia). Either way I will not be able to live at home, but my parents have plans to house me. If I go to UVA they will purchase a small house, if I go to ASU, my dad will kick one of his tenants out and I will leave in the rental house. (I know it sounds like my parents are made of money but they aren't, I'm not a spoiled rich kid lol) So my housing is secured no matter the decision. I personally want to go to ASU because all my friends whom I have known for over eight years live there. My parents want me to go to UVA because it would not be unreasonable to visit every other weekend. My parents do not expect me to hold a job while I am in college, they want to help me as much as they can and more or less pay my way. Because of this, I want to do what they want. But see I am a very relationship motivated person. I have never had a good relationship with my father and I am always happy when around my friends. I want to go to ASU so I can be close to my friends. I also want to be out of the sphere of influence of my father because he has some...opinions I guess you could say, that I don't exactly agree with. He tries to push his opinions on me and I don't like that. He also doesn't like some of my friends and if any of them wanted to come visit, I don't think I would want to deal with him. To me, my friends are very important. My reasons for wanting to go to UVA are thus: It is a great school (25th in the nation), I want to go to UVA Law after my undergrad (more on this later), and I like the rural setting. My reasons for ASU are as follows: I want to be near my friends, I want to return to my hometown, I want to get away from my father, and I want to be a part of the community near which I would be living if I were in GA (Christian community which my grandmother is a part of and whose school I went to from 5th-9th grade)

Now for the second problem: I have always said I wanted to be a lawyer, since I was eight this has been my opinion...until now. Now I am not sure what I want to do. I kinda want to be a Law Enforcement Officer (My dad was a cop and we have had many conversations about his experiences and it sounds as if I would enjoy it) but I also still want to be Lawyer. I have also thought of something in the Medical Science field (My mother is a nurse) I am sure there will be other carreer opportunities and ideas that I come across. In this instance, I know it is not all important to decide upon my carreer choice now, but I would like your input.

If you have made it this far, then I know you are interested in my situation and I would greatly appreciate your fedback. I have included a poll but please, also give me your thoughts in text. Please cite personal experience if any pertain.

To all who respond, Thank you

[Mikey_bishop]

You are in 10th grade? You have plenty of time to figure it all out dude. Charlottesville (UVA) is not really all THAT Rural, but its a good school. The law school there is also really good to. You should just focus on getting your GPA back up, because its not an easy school to get into either. Its also expensive (or I think it is lol).

Anyway, as for the career options, just focus on high school, and maybe explore different things. Does your school have like a technology center where you can take medical sceince type classes as like electives?

Also, if you go to law school, who says you cant go into law enforcement?? Federal jobs, like FBI or DEA RECRUIT lawyers to be agents (their websites say so lol).

You could always go back and do nursing on the sdie lol. it only takes afew years I think (my cousin is doing that).

YOU CAN DO IT ALL hahaha.

Good luck dude. Just stay motivated to get your GPA back up.

[Shenron]

You are in 10th grade?

Nope, I'm in 11th. And I have roughly one year before I have to send off my apps...And UVA is about $11,000 per year.

[AutumnDae]

Have you visited both of these schools?

[Mikey_bishop]

Nope, I'm in 11th. And I have roughly one year before I have to send off my apps...And UVA is about $11,000 per year.

Oh, I thought it was more than that. Anyway, I agree with the other poster, go visit if you can. I would also apply to both of them, and see if that helps narrow you options. I dont mean this to sound bad, but you might get accepted to one and not the other? Problem solved...sorta haha.

If you want to go to UVA Law School, I guess its possible you could go to both schools, one for undergrad and UVA for Law School?

Either way, good luck man!

[pizzamon]

You seem to have a pretty good housing arrangment. Your decision is basically whether to go back to your hometown or a top school in your current city. I would apply to both schools when that time comes and make a decision then. You said you wanted to be close to friends. Do you know if they are for sure going to apply to the schools in state? As far as the career goes, the best advice I've read is to experience the careers firsthand by volunteering or interning and then make a decision about what you like.

[goat]

If you take all your general education requirements up front it will take 2 years to finish them and that will give you 2 more years to decide. I'm taking all my general education requirements in community collage. Louisiana has made it REALLY easy to transfer credits between CC and university because the have lists of classes that are guaranteed to transfer. We as have what's called a Louisiana Transfer Degree. It's an AS or AA that is guarantee to transfer all 60 hrs to a university. It is specifically designed for people who are uncertain of what they want to take or which university in the state they want to attend. Perhaps your home state has something similar. Also if a bad year hurt your GPA 2 years doing well in CC college will help yo get accepted at most any college.