<p>I'm not a parent, but I thought parents might have some wiser insight on this.</p>
<p>I'm thinking that if I don't get into one of my two favorite schools (Dartmouth or Harvard- both huge reaches), I might just go to the State University. I feel like it'd be a cop-out to do it, but it seems like maybe it's the most practical thing to do. With a 1450/3.6/top 8% I ought to get some good merit aid from them (maybe even a full scholarship), so financially it's the wisest choice for a family that probably didn't prepare for college expenses as well as we might have. What bothers me is wondering if I'll feel jealous/disappointed when I see many of my friends going off to schools that are so much more prestigious and well ranked. Our state school isn't bad, but it's no UMich or UNC-CH or anything. Do you think it's a good decision to do it, or do you think I'd be miserable and wonder if I could have done better?</p>
<p>I think you should put in more applications and see if you can get a good deal elsewhere.
It's not that there is anything wrong with a state u. it's just that you may not fit in well there. Now, however, there are honors dorms and honors programs which offer smaller classes and individual attention by PROFESSORS. You want the best education if you are looking to go on to grad school (like medicine or law).If you go this route visit the campus, and check out and visit their honors programs. Talk to students and profs to see how comfortable you feel there.</p>
<p>hey I am in somewhat of the same situation except my standards are lower. I go to a very prestigous high school in New York and there are at leat 100 kids (out of about 210-220) applying to Ivy Leagues, UMich and other great schools while I applied to UMiami (which isn't bad at all) and other colleges down south (Utampa, Florida Atlantic, UCentral FLorida...) (I hate the cold up here). I really don't think you should worry about anything. If you could get a full scholarship, that would be amazing! Just think about it 10 years down the road...You wouldn't be stuck with college bills that maybe your parents would not have been able to pay now. That's all I have to say.</p>
<p>Elizabeth:
There is a wide range between Dartmouth and Harvard and your state university in terms of academics, student experience and financial costs. You may be eligible for merit aid at some LACs and mid-sized universities, such as Rochester, or larger ones such as BU. have you investigated that possibility? Are Bowdoin, Bates, or Colby out of the picture entirely? I liked them all myself, and my S nearly decided to go to Bowdoin. But, of course, your family may need to consider affordability. </p>
<p>I'm not familiar with U of Maine. It is not as prestigious as some other state universities; that does not mean, however, that it is not good. Look into things such as offerings in your intended major, advising, research, internship opportunities as well as school climate.</p>
<p>Another possibility to consider is to attend U of Maine for a year or two and seek a transfer to another school later on if you find that it does not suit your needs. That would reduce the financial burden on your family. Now, however, is a good time to look for schools that are matches both in terms of academics and financials. Good Luck.</p>
<p>My sister was a less than stellar student in high school, and went to the University of Maine for her undergrad. She's now at Columbia working on her Ph.D. I hear that it's an alright school, but I do worry about not fitting in well there. I'm not interested in Colby or Bates, but Bowdoin isn't out of the question, except I'm not sure how great their financial aid is. To be honest, I'm partially worried about what my friends will say if I settle for a school that's not what I could have had. I realize that that's a terrible way to pick a school. I guess it just seems simple to go to UMaine, and it seems like maybe cheap and easy is the way to go.</p>
<p>It is too early to settle for your state u. If you love your state u, then by all means, CHOOSE it. But don't settle for it. That is the difference between regret and contentment with your college choice. It seems like you have violated the cardinal rule of college selection-start from the bottom , not the top. The hard part is finding that academic and financial safety that you would LOVE to attend. Then you are free as a bird to fly high on your other apps. If they don't come through or if the finances aren't there you are content with your safety. </p>
<p>You have great but not overpowering stats. My personal opinion would be for you to seriously look at the top of the merit schools. There are wonderful top 50 schools , both universities and LAC's out there that will give you merit aid if the rest of your app is as nice as what you have posted. Think about the Midwest or South, and you can move a few rungs up the ladder. If you tell us more about your likes and dislikes , I am sure someone can suggest some appropriate and exciting choices.</p>
<p>I agree with what Marite and Curmudgeon wrote. </p>
<p>There is nothing wrong with going to UMaine but I don't think you are going about this the way you could. Going to UMaine because you really like it plus it saves money is one thing. But you don't sound like you like it or feel you would fit in and would be "settling". There are safety schools out there that you would indeed like. </p>
<p>As far as finances go, your family is willing to send you to Harvard or Dartmouth and so I can't imagine saying it is only worth that amount of money if you go to Ivy, otherwise let's save on the tuition. Further, there are MANY schools out there that offer merit aid to a student like you. </p>
<p>There are a ton of schools BETWEEN the Ivies (which are big reaches for you based on the little you shared so far) and UMaine. It would be a shame for such an excellent student to not have explored MATCH/REALISTIC schools but only far reaches and the easiest safety school that does not interest her. You have great stats and there are so many schools out there for a good student like you that are not Ivy league but are selective and challenging for you. Some offer merit aid. That is where I think you should spend your energy searching for schools you TRULY like that you could POSSIBLY or REALISTICALLY get into. As far as safeties, keep UMaine but add another safety that you could see yourself liking and attending. </p>
<p>I don't know enough about your college criteria or preferences to suggest colleges. Perhaps if you indicate some, people here can make suggestions. </p>
<p>I hate to see the choice be between far reach Ivies and your state university that you are not excited or interested in attending. Too much out there in between and you belong in between. You are cutting out all the schools that are matches for you. I would rethink this strategy. Dartmouth and Harvard are unpredicatable far reaches for most any student even for a val with a 1550, so they are for you too. Apply to them but right now you don't have any realistic schools you LIKE on your list. If you want the schools to be cheaper than the Ivies, find merit aid schools. Still I am not sure the reasoning to pay for Ivy but no other school but state. There are other schools worth the expenditure if not Ivy. Just my view. However, there are cheaper alternatives than Ivy that are not state as well. </p>
<p>Your stats are good, but dime-a-dozen for schools like Harvard and Dartmouth. I agree that you should look at schools the next level down from high reaches--there are lots of schools that are highly regarded, academically challenging and provide a satisfying undergrad experience. </p>
<p>Having said that, going to your State U and doing fabulously will most likely get you into graduate degree program at an Ivy. That would give you the validation that you seek.</p>
<p>I'm interested in a small to mid-sized school, not in a huge city (Boston's fine, anything a lot bigger is out), and I'd like to study Classics. After college I think I want to go on to Law School. I'd prefer to go to school somewhere in the Northeast, but I wouldn't rule out the Mid-Atlantic either. I've visited Brandeis (which was alright), Williams (which was too rural and small), NYU (which was too big and lacked the community feel I'm looking for), and Tufts (which I liked) in addition to the schools I mentioned above.</p>
<p>Would Chicago, Northwestern, WUSTL or Duke, or Rochester appeal? I know none are in the Northeast, except perhaps Rochester, but they might be a match and all should have decent classics programs. Chicago's is excellent. I know a recent graduate who was very enthusiastic about majoring in Classics there.</p>
<p>Elizabeth, if you go to the state U. you will make friends there -- plus there are probably a lot of kids from your high school who will end up there -- and you aren't going to give much thought as to what your friends who went to more prestigious schools think.</p>
<p>The truth is that YOU will feel better if you are at Maine because you chose it, rather than going there because you were rejected from all of the reach schools you really wanted, and then find yourself choosing between Maine and some safeties that you feel really ambivalent about.</p>
<p>There is no harm in keeping options open by applying to more colleges... but don't do it for the sake of what your friends will think. You are going to be surprised come spring -- the friends who get into their dream schools will be so wrapped up in their own excitement that they will hardly pay attention to where anyone else is going.... and the ones who get rejection letters and have to settle for their safeties won't want to talk to anyone at all about colleges.</p>
<p>Elizabeth, You say in your very first sentence that it would be a cop-out. I don't think that would be a great attitude to take to that school with you. Even if it is a practical choice, it may well not be the only practical choice. You should look to see if there are any other schools which may excite you more and which, with merit aid, might be equally practical.</p>
<p>Often kids with you scores and grades can get a merit award from some of the less known LAC's so that the difference in cost from your state U would be nil.</p>
<p>Based on your reactions to your first visits it would appear that a mid-sized school in most settings outside NYC or a small school in a decent-sized metro area might be your best bets. </p>
<p>1450/3.6 UW . . .classics and then law school. . .northeast or mid-Atlantic. . .Trinity? (pretty small department though). . .maybe Vanderbilt? </p>
<p>Kenyon also comes to mind but it's pretty small, rural and a bit west of your areas of interest.</p>
<p>If you are interested in law school, being careful financially undergrad is not a cop out. You're not going to get a lot of grant money in law school. I agree with the others - looking at merit schools is a good plan so you will have many options come April.</p>