Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Yeah, so right now I'm in 10th grade, and I've started to get a little worried about college. The college I want to go to is only 15 minutes away from my house, so that would be an ideal situation, but I'm not sure if I'll have good enough grades and I'm worried I might screw up my audition (I want to go for music education, so I actually have to audition to get into a college). I'm starting to really try in school but I think it might be too little too late. I've got my math A exam coming up in two weeks, and I still can't seem to understand a lot of the stuff that's going to be on it.

So, even with my grades how they are (70's-80's...95-100 in band and jazz band...go figure), if I did a really really great audition I would most likely get in, but i can't depend on that. But vice versa, if I have good grades but do bad on the audition, there's little chance I'll get in. Plus, even if I do get in, tuition costs A LOT at that particular college, so of course no dorm living for me (I don't have a problem with that at all, I don't want to live in the dorm), and I would probably take out a student loan to help my parents.

Of course, there is a reason why I'm posting this here. I'm worried that i might have to go to a college that's far away and leave my precious Sydney (beardie) and Sam (mali uro) at home, along with whatever other animals I accumulate over the next two years. My mom doesn't have any problem taking care of them for me if I do have to go away, but I don't want to leave them. The years I'm in college will probably be Sydney's last, and who knows if they will be Sam's or not. I mean, Uros live a LONG time, but she was neglected for the first 2-3...possibly as long as 5 years before I got her. The only other music colleges that I have not been advised against going to are 2+ hours away, and of course I would be willing to drive more than 4 hours once or twice a week just to see my pets, family, friends, band (if we're still around), etc. I just am not sure how long I would be able to keep that up.

So you've heard my concerns, here's the questions:

1.Have any of you ever faced a position like this? If so, how did you overcome it?

2.I forgot what 2 was going to be. I guess I'll go work on some percussion stuff and homework, seeing as how my future depends on it.

Thanks in advance

I myself won't have to face this, though I did consider going far away. Now i've decided to stay at the community college and transfer. Next year is your most important one though. If you screwed up in 9th grade, don't worry too much. Worry about making a good come back.
My other advice is don't buy anything else. The more you have the harder it'll be to leave. If you have to find someone to take them also, it'll be easier to find homes for 2 then for 5 or 10. If you get into the school close to home, got out and buy yourself some new animal as a reward for having to hold out that long. If not you'll have to wait a bit longer, and then buy yourself something.
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4.0.0 Bearded Dragons (Yusuke- Fat Lazy type , Woodrow- Dragon with an attitude, asleep for the winter, Tehko- The baby, little dirt ball, Dexter- just a brat, also asleep for the winter)
1.0.0 Rankins Dragons (Erik-a midget)
1.0.0 Cat- the regular variety (Dominic- fat cat)
0.1.0 Dog- Lab mix(Betty- escape artist extraordinaire)
1.0.0 Beta - I can't remeber his name (just swims around)
0.0.1 Guinea Pig (Timothy)
1.0.0 Red Eared Slider (Franklin)

So basically the rest of this year and all of next year I should try to do the best that I possibly can? Sounds good. And then just keep it up through 12th I guess. Basically probably the same thing with music too, except I've pretty much always been good at that (with the exception of AP music theory, but I'm taking that over in college anyways...and as long as I pass it'll look good for me when applying to colleges). Sounds like a good idea.

I like your idea of waiting to see if I get into college to get any more animals. Hell, maybe if I do really good I could get a partial scholarship. Then maybe the parents would let me get something a little bigger than what I've got...Like maybe a tegu That would be pretty cool. But I like the idea of it being more of a reward for doing well. That will probably help me push myself more. I don't plan on getting anymore reptiles right now though anyways. But I didn't plan on getting the uro. I mean, if there was another severly neglected reptile that I came across that wouldn't have lived more than another year without my help, I'd have to take it in. I wouldn't buy another though. My mom can take care of the two reptiles I have if need be, but more than that would be pushing it.

Thanks for the suggestions

later

Grades & test scores aren't the only things that colleges look at. They look at your other involvments & activities, including volunteering & sports, so my advice would be to get involved in some clubs or organizations, or take up a sport. Out of curiousity, what college(s) are you looking at? If they are over here on the west coast, I could help you more.

About the animals question, I didn't have any herps of my own (besides the family dog, which doesn't count) until I was in college. I actually didn't get any until I was living alone with my boyfriend, which was my third year of college. Now I have about 10(?) herps in 5 different tanks, plus my free-roaming ig. I am graduating in 4 1/2 months (yay!!!) & plan to move & that is my current problem, trying to move with all these herps! I will have to get an extra bedroom just to put all their tanks in so I can get more, hehehe...

Anyway, the first year they tell you that you have to live in the dorms or with your parents, but there are many ways around it, like don't sign up for the dorms & get a nearby apartment instead. If admissions questions it (which they wont, they cannot question thousands of new students), then tell them you are living with an aunt. It's hard to find compatible roommates when you have pets, especially reptiles. It's not a good idea to leave them with your parents to take care of, as they will most likely soon get sick of doing it or even give them away behind your back (hey, that happened to a friend of mine). If I were you, I would look for either 1) a nice studio/1 bedroom apartment for you & your lizards in college or 2) a roommate who shares the love of animals & will not mind if you have lizards. If you absolutely have to live in the dorms, you might be able to get away with taking a tank or two with you, depending on your roommate, your dorm & your RA. Good luck!
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Danielle
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1.0 green water dragon (Dragon)
0.4 leos (Yoshi, Slizzard, Cream, Pokey)
1.0 iguana (Porfi)
0.1 beardie (Sobe)
2.0 green anoles (unnamed)
1.0 blue anole (Tiki)
1.0 rosy boa (Sneaker)
2.2 bettas (unnamed)
~My Pets~

Just out of curiosity (if you don't mind answering on a public forum), what school are you hoping to go to? I'm currently studying for a Bachelor of Music degree in Composition in Chicago, and it's sort of exciting to see another beardie lover studying music.

Art schools, especially music programs and conservatories often have a very wide ranging set of things they're looking for, and many times grades aren't all that important so long as they're decent (still depends on the school though)