<p>My son is a junior and now has to select schools to visit. He likes the same school over and over...U of M, Penn State, UConn, Univ. of Maryland. I understand he LOVES sports and wants a big school for all the built in socialization (you don't have to look too far or put much effort into mingling @ these schools), but I feel like we need to look at more than just this type of school. Any other campuses you all can suggest that may offer him what he's looking for but offer some differences? Someone suggested Vanderbilt.</p>
<p>Wake Forest,maybe.</p>
<p>Why fight it? If he has found a category of schools that he likes, great!</p>
<p>I would also add that Vanderbilt is considerably more expensive than even out-of-state costs at the schools he likes.</p>
<p>I don’t know what you mean by U of M, but among the other schools on his list, I would recommend the University of Maryland. Its proximity to a major city gives it an extra dimension that the others don’t have. Also, it has a lot of interesting honors and special interest programs for freshmen and sophomores that make the campus seem smaller for new students.</p>
<p>Besides, my son loved it there – so much so that almost two years after graduation, he’s still wearing Terp jackets and T-shirts and following Maryland sports.</p>
<p>But if you feel that your son really should look at other types of schools, why not Duke, if he has the academic qualifications? It has the heavy sports orientation that he seems to like, but it’s a different type of university.</p>
<p>Would help to have a few more parameters…</p>
<p>Any idea of potential major or career after college?</p>
<p>PSAT/SAT and GPA range?</p>
<p>Financial aid an issue?</p>
<p>Any geographic interests or limitations?</p>
<p>Why do you think he should look at more than that type of school? (I have a personal interest here…I have a kid who is only interested in that type of school, as well.)</p>
<p>His weighted GPA as of mid-way through junior year is 3.8 (honors and AP classes). His ACT score was 30. His SAT math 1 subject test was 730. His SAT Chem was 730. He just took the SAT. Potential business/Accounting major. Ultimately interested in law school and then Sports management.
I just feel like kids that go to these large school always talk about their activities and the sports and the social aspect of their university…rarely their classes, teachers, personal relationships withing departments, etc.</p>
<p>USC! big sports, lots of very smart students, [ # 3 nationwide in the # of MNF’s], lots of opportunity for merit scholarships- [he must apply by Dec 1 to meet the scholarship deadline], great UG business program and Calif sunshine!
and if his PSAT score puts him in NMSF range for your state, he will have an automatic 1/2 tuition scholarship at USC for 4 years.</p>
<p>Send him to whichever of the schools he likes is the flagship state school, pocket the savings (or set aside some for him) and thank heaven he is not obsessing about the college admissions process–very sane behavior for a good student who is not a superstar.</p>
<p>at USC In the Marshall School of Business they have an “Entertainment” concentration that includes professional sports. You must first be admitted to Marshall and they apply to the concentration beginning in freshman year.</p>
<p>About Vanderbilt: it’s considerably smaller than the other schools you list in your first post (about 6800 undergrads, with another 5700 grad/med/law). Sports are well-loved at Vandy, of course, but I don’t know if they’re as significant in determining the campus culture as they are at Michigan or Penn State. As Marian says, Vandy’s a private school and much more expensive than even OOS tuition at a public school. The ACT 25th/75th percentile for accepted students in 2009 was 30/34. </p>
<p>If your son wants a school where kids will be excited about their “classes, teachers, personal relationships within departments” he will find this at Vandy (as my daughter did) - and he’ll find kids who talk about activities, sports, and the social aspect of the school, as well.</p>
<p>Also - just did a quick search, and it doesn’t look as if Vanderbilt has an undergrad accounting major. There are a few undergrad accounting classes in the econ department.</p>