<p>Has he been to visit any of them?</p>
<p>Middle son’s choices 2 years back were MIT, Penn’s M&T program (BS from Wharton + BS in biochemical engineering in 4 years and Princeton. Since he was in EA at MIT we just thought that is where he would end up. Then with the M & T program it became not such an easy choice. And then his last acceptance was P’ton. (he had other choices but all led down a different path not relevant to this specific issue!)</p>
<p>He visited all 3 within a few days. Actually flew to MIT first, left early and went straight to Penn. Flew home for a track meet and left the next day for pton. He knew from the very beginning he did not want to be an engineer (opposite of your son) and wanted to pursue grad school afterwards but felt an engineering undergrad would be something he would enjoy and help prepare him for grad programs.</p>
<p>I was extremely surprised at his reactions to each school and their corresponding programs. I did not go with him, he went by himself. The “fit” for him ended up being at pton and yet Penn had a better financial aid offer, not a huge difference but noticeable.
He very much liked the M&T people/program and Philly but he really liked pton. He was supposed to be at MIT for 3.5 days and left after one overnight. He went thinking it was his first choice and after being there realized it wasn’t for him.</p>
<p>Just to show things can change in about a year, he did visit Harvard and came back with a big NO! And yet when he was at Harvard this past summer doing research through their med school he had a GREAT time. Loved everything about the school, the program, his dorms, the students, profs and the city itself and the “charlie” card.</p>
<p>I asked him when he came back if he would have enjoyed that more for undergrad and he said no that he is right where he “needed” to be. He felt that if he had matriculated to MIT and to Penn’s program he would have remained an engineering major and that is not where he would be happiest. He was not ready to make a decision that he felt would bind him into a particular field. I told him it wouldn’t but he said he would feel “obligated” to do so. (Same reason for declining his appointment to West Point! heart-breaking decision here)</p>
<p>At first I did not understand son’s decision, but he usually does a pretty good job making big decisions…as he so often reminds me at odds with me not making such great decisions! He has taken classes he has enjoyed and others not so much but he truly cherishes his days on campus. He has grown into so much more than I would have dreamed and has really inspired his brothers and sisters to do so much more (that is a whole 'nother story, got his bro to transfer from an LAC to a service academy…).</p>
<p>If your son is pursuing his passion of being an engineer then based on son’s journey I would suggest MIT. However, he needs to visit and THEN decide. Made the world of difference to my son. Also son had visited his sophomore year but visiting as an accepted student 2 years later made a HUGE difference.</p>
<p>And CONGRATS!!! He has many, many wonderful choices!!!</p>
<p>CONGRATS CONGRATS!</p>
<p>Kat
ps son is headed to Yale for the summer, so will get his grad school visit done at the same time! Your son has some terrific choices!</p>