Q:  My daughter is a junior at a high school in Queens.  She wants very badly to go away to college; however, she has a GPA of about 74 and does not do that well on standardized tests.  She is planning to take the SAT this March, but I don't believe she will score that well.  My question is:  what schools should she apply to?  Is a community college that has dorms the answer?  Also, are there any programs that she could do while in high school to learn some sort of trade, such as being an X-ray technician?

A:  Thank you for mentioning two things that are good, practical ideas for many students to consider -- community college and a trade.  Beginning one's higher education with a traditional 4-year degree program is not for everyone.  Learning marketable skills -- in medical technology, for example, as you mention, or business, healthcare, and so forth -- is extremely valuable.  And community colleges are a terrific way to gofor many students.  They offer a wide and flexible range of programs, cost far less than a 4-year school, do not require SATs for admission, and can assist students in preparing to transfer to a regular college or university.

Let's look at some of the practical details of your daughter's situation.  It sounds like she is struggling academically in high school.  I am not sure she could handle the additional work of practical education -- a trade program --  at the same time, unless you mean taking a couple of courses this coming summer.  That might be a great idea to help her focus on what she might enjoy.  It could build up both her skills and her confidence.  There are many schools in NYC that offer such programs.  But your daughter's main focus over the next year should be to graduate with the highest grades she can manage.  She might also think about taking the ACT at some point, and see if she might do better on that than on the SAT.  But take one step at a time.  First see the results of her March SAT.<!--more-->

You say that your daughter really wants to go away to college.  Most teens do look forward to the genuine college experience, which includes moving away from home, living on a campus, and exploring a new environment.  But not everyone is prepared for this major transition at the same time.  If your daughter is struggling with school now, will she be able to handle college-level work while dealing with living away from home for the first time?  It sounds like this is a family issue you need to talk out.

There are a few SUNY community colleges that have dorms --  most of them are upstate.  There are excellent CUNY community colleges in the NYC-metro area that can get your daughter started on her higher education while she remains at home.  She might think about a two-step process:  two years at home going to community college, and if she is academically successful there, transferring to a 4-year campus out of town.

Your first action ought to be making an appointment for you and your daughter with the college counselor at her high school.  Discuss all these issues and come up with a workable plan that incorporates all your concerns.  Remember:  one step at a time!