Wow - Free Tuition to Attend Local Community Colleges?

[Lisa Starbuck]

In today's News-Sentinel, there is a story about an initiative spearheaded by Knoxville Mayor Mike Ragsdale and Shelby County Mayor A.C. Wharton that would offer FREE TUITION to area community colleges.

The first initiative would be "a promise of free community college offered to any student graduating in Davidson, Hamilton, Knox or Shelby County."

"We have discussed this concept with many local and state leaders and they agree that offering free community college to every student graduating from the local high school system on this scale will be a transformational work force development initiative while helping move the dropout, graduation and college-going rates."

Click here to read the full story.

If this actually happens, it would be wonderful!

[Pamela Treacy]

I also agree with Debi's last paragraph -- we have some serious issued to resolve in the K -12 area, probably the most important one being high school graduation rates and the amount of remedial work needed to go on beyond 12th grade.

[Jamey Dobbs]

How much money would be needed to hire the aides for your children? What is needed for the playground? I would post on this separately and ask the community to help.

[Ginevra]

This is another underutilized resource: CLEP

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/exams.html

It isn't free, but it can help a student to save on the first two years of college classes by testing out of the entry-level courses and going on to higher-level classes for credit.

Also: There are disparities between different high schools, and how well students from high school will be prepared for the college level classes.

Some students, whether they took AP classes or not, would still be able to test out of entry-level classes, and should ask about this.

Over two decades ago, a friend of mine enrolled at UT from Maryville High School. She only found out that she would have been eligible to test out of most of her first-year-classes after she had already paid for those classes and completed them. Much $$$ and time spent needlessly

[Roxy Hodge]

Has anyone picked up a flyer from the high schools and the scholarship offers available? I looked at it last year,(don't have it handy now) but I was shocked at some of offers, a Skate Boarding scholarship was one I remember, nothing against Skate Boarders or any other sport, I just remember shaking my head at some of the offers. I do not ask that anyone else pay my kids college fees, but with all the opps out there, I do think there is some help for most students who strive to attend any college on academic, athletic or a work your back side off, path. I will have 2 in college at the same time, don't know how I will do it, I don't play the lottery, wish I could afford it, both kids honor students & in sports, but I don't bank on that paying for college, but do hope it helps. One wants Vandy law school, other wants Harvard, I hope to pay the bills next week...

[granma2]

Whew! I feel your pain. I had two in college at the same time also...right before the lottery scholarships started!

[Ginevra]

A few years back, one of my kids was offered an excellent scholarship to attend Mars Hill College near Asheville, NC. The location is one of the most beautiful I can imagine.

She ended up accepting another offer (which worked out very well). However, other students with good grades and athletic interests may be interested in applying. Some generous person gave Mars Hill a huge amount of money for scholarships, and they have made some generous offers.

It's a Baptist-background school, and we aren't Baptist. I was impressed and grateful, and promised myself I'd promote them at some point, so here's a link:

http://www.mhc.edu/

[Angela Wilder]

To Ginevra: I do not know about other Tennessee colleges but Pellissippi has something similar to the clep. It is called credit by examination. You have to get permission from the head of the department, but it is done all the time. I personally prefer this to the Clep because it prepares me more for the subject matter I will need to know for the next level class.