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<p>As it happens, the reason why the student I mentioned could not double major at the higher-ranked school was not because the school didn’t permit it. It was because the school did not have a department in one of the two subjects that the student wanted to pursue. So the student could not study this subject at that university. </p>
<p>That changes things a bit, perhaps.</p>
<p>Note that the feasability of double majoring is often based on the number of non-overlapping requirements for each major at the particular school. Double majoring in math and statistics is likely easy to do at most schools that offer both, but double majoring in chemical engineering and music is likely very difficult to do.</p>
<p>A school not offering a subject that interests a student is a whole different ball of wax, and a very good reason to go to a lower-ranked school that does.</p>
<p>Everyone has given excellent advice. If the schools on the list are relatively similar in quality and acceptable to the parent and child, then it should be the child’s decision. </p>
<p>I do agree that some schools may be better values/long term investments than others, with respect not only to the quality of the education but with connections made, alumni resources, job connections/placement and, well, prestige is nice too. But if they are relatively equal, then it really isnt a factor in the equation.</p>
<p>Older s wanted to major in physics, but thought about engineering as a possibility. He loved many of the LACs he visited, but several didnt offer engineering. He did have that “bingo, this is it” experience wwhen he visited the school he ultimately attended. And he did end up changing to engineering, which would not have been possible if hed chosen some of the LACs. Similarly, younger s changed his major also to engineering, and had he taken the slightly higher ranked, perhaps slightly higher “prestige” school, it wouldnt have been an option. </p>
<p>Let your kid choose.</p>
<p>Also, a “lower ranked” school may have a higher reputation in the student’s intended major. For example, Delaware in chemical engineering, Rutgers in philosophy.</p>
<p>Many times ranking is determined by research grants. Do you want a prof focusing on his research, classes run by TA’s or you want a prof. focusing on UG students as his number one priority. I do not care if a prof is re-known scintist, I want him to be a good instructor and be available for his students. Sometime it is not the case at higher ranking school. this is a general statement, not specific to any schools.</p>
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<p>The feasibility of the latter may depend on university rules (which may or may not allow students to double major in subjects taught in different colleges – in this case, engineering and liberal arts).</p>
<p>It also depends – to a surprising extent – on the college’s policies about accepting AP or IB credits in fulfillment of graduation requirements. A student who can satisfy general education requirements with AP or IB credits (something that state universities tend to allow but many private colleges do not) may find it possible to double or triple major in totally unrelated subjects. Why not? If the general education requirements have already been fulfilled, the student usually has a lot more room in his/her schedule than would be needed to complete a single major.</p>
<p>We ultimately leave the decision to our children. But we play a lot of devil’s advocate. </p>
<p>In the case of D1, she chose what was then a lower ranked school over one commonly thought of as uber prestigious. We discussed the differences, and why someone might choose one over the other. Ultimately it came down to what was more important for what she wanted out of her education. </p>
<p>Many other parents congratulated me when she got in to the prize school and then were surprised and inquired why she chose the lower ranked one, assuming it was a scholarship or something. Nope, no scholarship, full pay, she just liked it better and had good reasons. She did her due diligence and thought it through carefully in a way that made me proud. It’s been terrific for her. </p>
<p>Well wouldn’t you know that NOW they are ranked the same. Now other parents are asking me HOW she knew? Chuckle, chuckle. It doesn’t matter either way, but it’s pretty funny. </p>
<p>Ultimately, we want our children to be able make the big decisions, under great uncertainty, that impact the course of their lives, and in the process of choosing a college, they have a great opportunity to learn a lot about themselves and what they value. THAT in and of itself is of great value. </p>
<p>So put me down in the “fit” column. No regrets.</p>
<p>Score one for classicrockerdad!!</p>
<p>Check the transfer thread…plenty of kids transferring and I’d say fit is one of the big reasons. If a student is not happy they will probably become somewhat depressed and not work to their full potential. My son chose a school that we all liked, but I was afraid it would be too small. It was too small…it didn’t “fit”. He is happy knowing he won’t be going back there and will be going to the bigger school closer to home. We sort of pushed him to the smaller school because we thought the other one was too close to home. I guess we should have paid more attention to fit at that point, but somehow convinced ourselves it would be fine. He liked certain things about it so he/we overlooked the one thing that turned out to be a problem. </p>
<p>If you can find a school that your kid loves, and doesn’t have to compromise or be talked into, go for it. If he/she is a great a student as you think they are, they will shine anywhere and the school listed on the resume probably won’t matter in the long run. (unless it’s a LOT lower)</p>
<p>I’m just a student, but wanted to chime in. I think fit is important if the student is mature about his/her selection, and it actually IS fit. A lot of kids I know pick–or choose to apply to–lower ranked schools for reasons such as “nightlife” or “party scene.” Parents shouldn’t blindly say that since the kid says School X is a better “fit” for them than more pretigious School Y that they should go to X. Most of the kids on CC are good kids, but otherwise, parents should look closely at what the “fit” exactly is.</p>
<p>“plenty of kids transferring and I’d say fit is one of the big reasons. If a student is not happy they will probably become somewhat depressed and not work to their full potential” </p>
<p>I agree. But often it is hard to know for sure if the “fit” hunches are valid. There are pros/cons to every college. Certainly if things don’t work out it is easier on the parents if they did not force the choice.</p>
<p>I was talking about “fit” to my son today. He thinks fit is way overrated, that most colleges at least of a reasonably size will have whatever sorts of kids you are looking for.</p>
<p>For example he knows plenty of kids who party at frats on the weekend, but he hasn’t done it. (Though he says he will eventually just for the experience.) The last outing I heard about he went to hear a lecture at BU about arms control - he found out about it because one of his extra curricular activities is getting kids in military institutes (and ROTC I think) and the more peace and justice type kids together to talk about issues. I certainly don’t think that’s a typical weekend for most kids either. Meanwhile the weekend he had a friend spending the night who got a rather interesting perspective on typical Tufts students by my son’s roommates behavior. </p>
<p>My oldest chose a lower ranked school for academics, he was actually pleasantly surprised that his other choice had plenty of nerdy/games playing kids just like him.</p>
<p>Don’t discount “fit.”</p>
<p>Even if the student finds a group of likeminded friends, it’s still difficult to live outside the mainstream of campus culture (e.g. a nonpartier at a big party school).</p>
<p>Fit’s not Everything, but it is Something.</p>
<p>Certain aspects of fit are very important, like cost and financial aid, and offerings of courses and majors. Others are less important, or problems can be worked around or ignored (e.g. lots of fraternities and don’t like fraternities? don’t join one, and don’t live next to one).</p>
<p>I don’t define fit as cost, financial aid or academics. I’m talking about a perceived campus culture. i.e U Michigan big rahrah sports, or Reed serious students, but maybe serious drugs. My son’s point is that you can probably find serious student not interested in football at Michigan, or student who only drink at Reed. Sure some schools have a culture that’s so pervasive it’s hard to escape, but most really offer a lot of options.</p>
<p>I think fit is pretty important. The college will be the kid’s home for four years (or longer), and more than just academics will go into whether it’s a positive experience. I think it’s probably true that at a very large university, most kids will be able to find a happy niche, but it still might not be the best experience. I think you have to think very carefully about fit before going to a small, remote, or culturally distinctive school. It’s one thing to say that any student will find his niche at Michigan–it’s something else to say he’ll find it at Hampden-Sydney.</p>
<p>"Money is power, and if a parent funding their child’s education chooses to use that as an opportunity to exert influence over the child’s choice, so be it. That influence can range from polite suggestion (“have you considered a more practical minor to complement your major in Underwater Etruscan Basketweaving?”) to conditional funding (“only four years”) to ouright control (“we will only fund Major X at Prestigious U”). There are both short term and long term consequences to such decisions, for parent, for child, and for the relationship between them.</p>
<p>What to my family makes no sense at all might work perfectly well for someone else. And vice versa."</p>
<p>Very well said, that pretty much sums it up. I personally think that if I am going to pay $220K+ on education, it had better be what I consider “worth the money”. Many people are delaying retirement, working extra, loading up on debt to have the best college experience for their kid. If my kids thought the best “fit” for them happened to be a heavy partying, sports heavy, non-intellectual school, with low internship rates, a poorly rated school where they can skip class all the time and lie on the beach…not with my money. Thankfully part of the mix in what they think is a good “fit” is great job and internship opportunities, very motivated student body and the best education you can get for your money. Along with all the rest of it, feeling like they belong and would be happy there. Because really, if you just want to lounge around and party for 4 years, why also spend hundreds of thousands of your parents, (or your) money?</p>
<p>Sure, you can have a great warm fuzzy feeling at a school where some of your friends are going, where the kids don’t work very hard, and you can just spend years “finding yourself.” But at the end comes the reckoning. And your major, your school, your internship experiences, how you did—counts. If you can have that, and a great experience where the fit feels right, why not? There’s more than one school that works for most.</p>
<p>Parents know their kids, and they can guide and advise them without threatening or forcing them to do things, at least most parents can. I’ve listened to some seniors talking dreamily about their basket weaving majors at a low rated school, and how much fun they had…and I wonder, what economy did they think they were graduating into? What a surprise is coming for them after graduation, debt and no job, unless Daddy or Mommy owns a great company and they have a guaranteed job. My opinion is parents, if it’s your money, your debt, you have a BIG say in how it is spent. And you can influence without demanding.</p>
<p>Yea, fit is great, but how many kids at that age can really know if they’ll fit somewhere?</p>
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<p>I would guess quite a few. So far my two had very strong feelings about places and both were happy with their final choice. We’ll see with #3. I don’t think it’s a negative thing if a kid doesn’t have a strong sense and I think there are people that are happy wherever they are planted and some that misread a situation and are unhappy. Who knows the percentages of each type.</p>