Great timing on this thread. My son is currently a senior and will be making a decision in the upcoming months. His top three choices include a smaller University with an Honors program, and two LAC’s of which one has an Honors Program. Two of the three choices he would be in the top 10-15% and the other top 25-30%. Two schools have acceptance rates at or over 50%. Previously I downloaded stats on test scores, gpa, top 10%, and researched much more. I had the same questions as the OP.
In the end we are leaving the decision up to him (already met the general affordability test, he will know his portion after final merit/scholarship info is known). He believes everyone has something to offer, doesn’t matter the gpa or test score (we agree). We have given him some questions to think about and offered non-specific advice about finding his group. We’ve asked him to think about professors and the type of learning he will receive at all schools. He plans to attend Admitted Student Days and go to a few classes and/or overnights in the next 60 days to help make his decision.
To the OP, folks have offered some great advice. I would add to discuss some of this with your child. How does he/she learn and grow both academically and socially? What type of personality traits would they look for in friends/peers? How would they find this in potential schools? We found discussing with our son helped him to think about where he wants to spend the next four years. One last note, we have also told him there isn’t one right decision. We will support his decision and hope it will work out. If it doesn’t, we have told him we will support him in the next steps. This has taken a lot of pressure off. He has relaxed and appears to be managing these next steps of the process with maturity.
Best of luck to you and your child. It looks like he is a junior…enjoy the ride as the next year will fly!