<p>donpon-
Yes it did-- it cost MY private school tuition (Vassar) to figure it out :)</p>
<p>I think students can learn as much from their peers as their professors fromthose late night dorm room conversations, but it is not an easy choice. It depends a lot on the student. Both my kids could have free rides at our state schools but having experienced 2 years at a state school before transferring to a private college my junior year I could not see them thriving in that environment. We are all sold on a LAC for undergrad and then a larger school for grad school BUT that being said I have friends who have done the free ride at state schools been the shinning star and then gone to an Ivy for grad school with scholarships. They too were happy and are quite succesful in their careers. It is such an individual thing and takes knowing your child's needs and learning style well. We agonized over the decision with my S but seeing how he is thriving the decision is a lot easier this year with my D.</p>
<p>arizona - id like to have those late night conversations every night haha, thats all i do at home. What are you saying about that in regards to college selection?</p>
<p>Jym- Vassar! I unfortuantely never took sat2s, but had i done so Vassar wouldve been my first choice (but a definate reach). I visited it and absolutely loved it. Its perfect</p>
<p>I'm also in a similar situation questioning what I should do. I applied to some pricey "elite" schools and some schools I either know I can get scholarships at or are relatively affordable. I think that your major really does have some force on whether or not you should go to a pricey elite school or a cheaper state school. When the economy is bad and companies are offering fewer people jobs in a certain field, they usually go to the Ivies and small elite schools... it's the truth.</p>
<p>Donpon-
I take Arizonamoms note to mean that a lot of education takes place outside of the classroom, and that you can get an excellent education in a large U or a small LAC. So, make your decision based on what is best for you- and that sounds like it will mean taking many variables into consideration. I went from the small LAC (that had a population of 2,100 when I was there) to a grad school of over 30,000. Granted, the grad program (department) I was in was, by nature, small, but the university was huge. Both school environments were learning experiences in their own right, and I had great opportunities at both places. You will do well wherever you land.</p>
<p>ahhh! brain overload! Oh how i wish to just be an adult and give MY advice to other seniors who are as confused as i was! </p>
<p>I have to remind myself how typical everything im feeling is, because as i said in a previous post its very easy to fall into the teenage narcisism trap and start whining about how hard everything is!</p>
<p>I appreciate your help jym!</p>
<p>This was a common theme last year at this time, try to do a search. I remember studies posted about the SAT score of your roomate and how it related to future success.I know it does sound a little far fetched but it was a long involved study. Maybe someone who was around last year can reference it. There were numerous other studies posted on this topic which I can only vaguely remember now. It boiled down to us just being very undecided for a long time with my S.We all agonized about it and were right where you are donpon. It took the admitted students day at Pomona and my S's overnight visit there to make the decision , as well as a talk with finaid who promished better things with 2 in college the following year. I think everyone just has to go through the process. Things will eventually become clear, just be open to all possibilities and keep gathering information.</p>
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<p>For those who are curious, I do know something of how Stanford Med school admissions works, at least for deciding who gets preliminary applications. Stanford's computer adds 0.15 to the GPA of students from high calibur schools. Adds nothing to average schools. And subtracts 0.15 from poorer quality schools. Therefore, and not taking into acount grade inflation, a 4.0 from Podunk U. is equivalent to a 3.7 from Harvard, at least in terms of who gets prelim med school applications at Stanford med.</p>
<p>ArizonaMom, the peer factor of education in the broadest sense is one thing that nudged my opinion, as a UC graduate, toward the elite school direction for $$$ over free in a less-elite school. </p>
<p>My D turned her search upside down by becoming entranced with the benefits of an LAC over larger schools, so the point was moot...I'm sure there may be some public LAC's but I'm not sure I can think of any of significance.</p>
<p>Actually, Dad, St.Mary's in Maryland is supposed to be an excellent public LAC, though I can't say I know a lot about it. I believe VMI is also a good public LAC, but as a military institute, it may draw a slightly different crowd than the typical LAC.</p>
<p>Jym, I knew there was at least one but couldn't summon the name to save my life. St. Mary's it is...and it may be the exception that proves the rule. I knew that I had heard of one, I know that I haven't heard of two. Urrr...no, I would classify VMI as Something Else.</p>
<p>For what it's worth, USNews lists Virginia Military Institute, St. Mary's College, U of Minnesota- Morris, UNC-Asheville (a very pretty area, by the way) and Richard Stockton Coll. of NJ as the top 5 public LACs. Can anyone shed some light on these institutions???</p>