<p>Right now, D is a senior (2080 SAT's, 30 ACT, 103 GPA, 1/153 rank) who thinks she may be interested in Public Policy or Communications or Foregin Language (but she's far from set in her course). She's applied to several schools (Naz, Scranton, HWS, Ithaca, Syracuse, Geneseo), and right now, Hobart and William Smith is her first choice. She fell in love with the campus the second she saw it, loves the atmosphere, the courses, she's met students and professors... However, we've gotten the impression from others that HWS isn't a "great" school, or at least that others are better- which we know is true. Syracuse, which has several very highly ranked programs that she's interested in is generally viewed as a "better" school. We visited yesterday- and she hated it. She thought it was too big, and hated the idea of TA's and large classes. Fin aid is obviously a concern, but just for kicks, say it wasn't. What is more important? Is she better off going to a lower quality school she loves, or should we tell her that she needs to go to the better school and risk her being unhappy for four years?</p>
<p>Why not a better school that she also loves? She has strong stats and could get into schools that meet 100% of need which these don’t. I would call both less stellar than what she can probably hope for.</p>
<p>Schools such as… (I’m not being rude, D is our oldest, so we’re a little out of our comfort zone here)</p>
<p>It sounds like she’s attracted to small colleges with nice campuses. Mount Holyoke and Wellesley come to mind, as do Colgate, Trinity in CT, and Conn College if she’s trying to stay near NY. Why not get a Fiske Guide, print out a list of schools that meet 100% of need, and start reading.</p>
<p>Yes, correct, Cornell accepted my nephew but did not give him the needed aid. They may as well just have rejected him, the outcome is the same.</p>
<p>OP, there is a “sticky” thread at the top of the Parents forum called, “Schools known for good merit aid.” Then there is the Financial Aid forum with lots of good info.</p>
<p>Your daughter has high stats. If she’s your first, it always helps to seek input from others who’ve “been there, done that.” You might find more help on the Parents forum, just because that’s where parents are known to hang out. There are many longtime, experienced posters there who have a lot of experience with merit and financial aid for top kids.</p>
<p>Interesting data point about Cornell (assuming you mean the university) since they claim to meet need. [did someone delete their post between yours 2college? seems like you’re posting to yourself]</p>
<p>[Affording</a> Wesleyan, Admission - Wesleyan University](<a href=“http://www.wesleyan.edu/admission/affording_wes/index.html]Affording”>http://www.wesleyan.edu/admission/affording_wes/index.html)</p>
<p>[Office</a> of Academic Affairs - Wesleyan University](<a href=“http://www.wesleyan.edu/acaf/dept.html]Office”>http://www.wesleyan.edu/acaf/dept.html)</p>
<p>Wesleyan University (CT)</p>
<p>Both factors are important. It’s one thing to go to a school that you’re not thrilled but okay with, but a school that she thought was too large and impersonal? Why compromise when there are so many good options that fit the bill?</p>
<p>Check out the midwestern LACs-Oberlin, Macalester, Grinnell, Kenyon, Lawrence, Beloit, Hendrix, etc…Small classes, no TAs, top academics and, in some cases, excellent financial and merit aid.</p>
<p>“…they claim to meet need”</p>
<p>All colleges that “claim to meet need” have their own particular computation of what that “need” is, that they are claiming to meet. </p>
<p>And families have their own concept of “the needed aid”, based on the realities as they see it.</p>
<p>In all cases, there is no guarantee that these two definitions of “need” will come out to be the same number. And frequently they don’t.</p>
<p>I would add Bates, Dickinson, Muhlenberg, Hamilton, Haverford and agree with Conn College. Basically, expand to look at the liberal arts colleges in the Northeast! If she’s willing to travel farther, then the Midwest schools open up a whole range of options as well.</p>
<p>
Learning styles differ; some kids want smaller classes and will be miserable if placed in large lectures where the only instructor they talk to is a TA 4 years older than they are. If she knows the large format class isn’t right for her, and has actually attended a few classes and talked to students so its a feeling based on some experiences, then you should look for smaller schools.</p>
<p>^^^ I agree with you Monydad. However in post #4 2college stated look at the colleges that meet need and then in post #5 said Cornell didn’t do a good job of meeting need. I didn’t think an Ivy league school with its resources would do an admit/deny.</p>
<p>I doubt they did. My guess is there were different definitions of need in play.</p>
<p>I think we deparately need financial aid, yet two different institutions just gave us some stupid loans.</p>
<p>Sorry, the confusing post was mine which I posted on the wrong thread. The other thread was in regards to international applicants.</p>
<p>Oh that’s different. They don’t claim to meet need for international applicants.</p>
<p>The OP didn’t say they need 100% aid. He’s just asking about quality of programs.</p>
<p>I’d think Dickinson would be a great fit for her. Excellent languages and international focus, good merit and financial aid, beautiful school, welcoming community.</p>
<p>
To answer the OP’s initial question, I think it’s better to attend the school you love. If a student is miserable there is a chance they will do poorly. And quality of the school is debatable. The best school for an individual is the one where they are most engaged. YMMV.</p>
<p>My daughter is currently a freshman at Muhlenberg and loves it! She likes the small classes and the kids are all really nice. She has no problem talking with her professors when she has wanted to. The campus is compact compard to H & WS. As a Hobart alum I will say it is a great place to go to college. It’s reputation is on the rise and the facilities are very good and getting better. The only reason my daughter chose not to go there was it was “too far”. Both Muhlenberg and H&WS are great liberal arts colleges that are fairly generous with merit and need based scholarships. With your daughters grades she would very likley recieve both. She has the stats to get in to schools a bit higher on the reputation chain. One of the most important things for your child college education is that they are happy where they are attending college. Being excited and glad she is attending the college that she wants makes the transition to college life much easier.</p>