<p>Ds has a full-ride to a top-20 LAC. FULL-RIDE! But there's a catch -- ds has a full-tuition scholarship to a top-75 State U (with Honors College).</p>
<p>He prefers the State U. He wants the larger size, access to more research, and what he feels is a stronger program for his desired major (economics).</p>
<p>Our older dd is already at the LAC and having a wonderful time -- profs who know her, help her, encourage her. A prof lined up an absolutely incredible internship for her this summer -- and she is only a freshman! I love the LAC and the individual attention. It even has a debate team, which State U does not. (Ds is passionate about debate.) </p>
<p>I do agree with ds, though, that the econ program could be stronger....</p>
<p>1) How do I find out about the relative strengths of the econ departments?</p>
<p>2) This is ds's decision. But I would love any thoughts folks have -- his preference for Sate U makes no sense to me!</p>
<p>"He prefers the State U. He wants the larger size, access to more research, and what he feels is a stronger program for his desired major (economics)."</p>
<p>2) This is ds's decision. But I would love any thoughts folks have -- his preference for Sate U makes no sense to me!</p>
<p>If your son has concerns about the relative strength of the Econ departments, he can (among other things; I'm sure there are threads/posts on this kind of thing):
1. Look at course offerings - breadth and depth - at each school.
2. Look at ACTUAL course offerings - how often are courses offered/how many haven't been offered for a while.
3. Look at prof research interests compared to student interests
4. Look into opportunities for student research, if this interests him, which it seems it does. How many students get these opportunities? If it is the select few, does he tend to fit the criteria?
5. How do graduates fare in terms of where he wants to head - grad school placements? employment placements?</p>
<p>If your son doesn't have these concerns, but you do, I would leave it alone. Or quietly check on some of these things and bring them up ONLY if you see major red flags.</p>
<p>Imagine how it would feel if you steered him to the LAC and he was miserable. I often think of it that way. My S really didn't like a school he was at and I thanked the stars every day that he had self-identified it as his top choice, not that <em>I</em> had identified it as such. I felt guilty enough that I might have unconsciously affected that choice.</p>
<p>It may be that he is worried about sis cramping his style, or keeping him from forging his own identity! How small is the LAC? My kids are at the same U (3000 undergrads), and they would not see each other much if it were not for playing the same club sport and deliberately arranging to meet for some meals, etc. (They like each other.) He should definitely attend the accepted student's weekend or visits, and see how it feels to be there residentially (and sister should make herself scarce..) That being said, if you can afford the room and board costs at big state U, I do think you should allow your son to make that decision.</p>
<p>D turned down an admit to Williams (received the early "likely" letter and several personal letters from profs) to attend UMD. Lots and lots of reasons, which made sense (and were HER decisions). In the end, she felt like she'd fit in much better at the big U.<br>
1) Education would have been more individualized at Williams, but much broader in terms of research possibilities, different courses offered, and much broader faculty choices at UMD. We DID look at when course offerings were given....just looking at course catalogs isn't enough....when you only can take a particular class in your major in spring of "even" numbered years, it significantly lessons options. State U had something like 30 profs on staff for one of her majors; Williams had 7. No doubt, 7 great ones, but personality differences can easily arise at any time.
2) Although I really doubt that she'll change majors, if she's among the huge % of students who do, there are unlimited possibilities at UMD.
3) She can be as anonymous (or NOT) as she chooses to be at UMD. That wouldn't really be an option at a LAC. In her first semester, all of her profs knew her by name, except the old senile guy who taught one of her honors seminars---and it was a class of 18 kids (he didn't know anyone's names). She's involved in an undergrad research project now, as a 2nd semester freshman, and feels very much "at home", due to her involvement in several outside clubs and activities.</p>
<p>These are just a few...there are a lot more. In the end, no matter how objective you try to make it, it comes down to how your son "feels" and where he can best imagine himself living and learning for 4 years.</p>
<p>No, oddly enough, his desired school is the flagship U for a neighboring state. He was also accepted into the honors program at our state U, which is one of the more prestigious state U's, but money is an issue there.....</p>