<p>So, I have a college-confidential-type dilemma. A few weeks ago I went on a crazy college tour including Emory, Rhodes, Vanderbilt, UNC - Chapel Hill, Wake Forest, and Duke. Although I liked everything I saw to some extent, I felt that special "something" at only one place - Wake Forest University. As soon as I stepped onto the campus, I knew that I wanted to study in the Z. Smith Reynolds library, eat in The Pit, and cheer on the Deamon Deacon basketball team. I just felt a visceral connection with the school that I'd felt nowhere else. Wake Forest met or exceeded all of my criteria in a school, and I found myself absolutely in love with the school.</p>
<p>Here's the problem: Wake Forest is not the "best" or most "prestigious" school on my list. I definitely have a shot at "better" places like Vandy, Duke, and Emory, and I liked them too and believe I could be happy there. I just don't find myself starry-eyed daydreaming about them the way I do about lovely Wake.</p>
<p>I don't want to waste my valuable ED at a school I have a great shot at RD, but I don't want to apply ED to anywhere else because I just don't want to go there as much. None of the schools I'm heavily considering, including Dartmouth, Vanderbilt, Villanova, Duke, USC, and Boston College, offer EA. What's your advice? A lesser prestigious school that I love or a highly prized school I merely like?</p>
<p>Semiserious, you have to be happy at the school or you won't do as well. If I were you, I would spend time at these schools. Sit in on some classes. If you can, stay in a dorm at the top 3 choices. Get some real world experiences at the school before you make your choices.</p>
<p>I visited a class at both Wake and Vandy, and I even visited a sorority party at Vandy (I have connections :) ) which was AWESOME. But I just have a love and connection with Wake I felt nowhere else. Even though the Vandy class was interesting and the party was a great time, I was fascinated by the Wake class and I just can't ignore the gut feel that Wake is "the one", the right place for me.</p>
<p>If you're that sure that you can get in to your favorite school RD, then ED is of no value to you. I don't see why you would use that route. Apply to wherever you want RD, then decide in April. It looks like you're pretty sure what you want, and Wake is by all accounts an excellent school. Doesn't seem worth second guessing yourself, or setting yourself up for stress by applying ED elsewhere.</p>
<p>I agree with Garland. Apply to Wake and 4-5 other schools RD and be done with it. If you have found the best fit for you, that is the most important thing. Wake is a great school. Why stress yourself out about it?</p>
<p>If the finances are not an issue, go to Wake. That "fit" issue is important. But don't be too set on one college. Sometimes you may find better financial and educational opportunities at your second or third choice. Try to keep an open mind until you get all of the information.</p>
<p>Wake is an excellent school--it is certainly prestigious. That being said, you seem to love it, so why not apply ED? You wouldn't be wasting an ED, you'd be using it as it is intended to be used. I just started college this week, and I would like to stress that fit is EXTREMELY important--if you don't like the campus culture or the type of people you go to school with, you'll be miserable and it will be hard to make friends and concentrate on adjusting to a new workload. Definitely apply to a school that you can really see yourself at--and if that's Wake, who cares if it's ranked a little bit below Vandy? No one at Wake is going to care about that when you get there, I can assure you</p>
<p>If you are certain that Wake is the place for you and you don't need to compare financial aid packages, applying ED would save you a lot of time and effort. My D applied ED last year to a school which was not as "prestigious" (according to US News rankings) as some of the others which we visited, and is totally happy there (so far). It was wonderful to be done with the process by mid-December.</p>
<p>Since you really like wake, and you dont think you'll have problems getting in RD, theres no reason to boost your application and apply ED to Wake or ED to another school, unless you want to get it over with early. Since you have a shot at more selective schools, I suggest you apply RD to wake, and see if you get any scholarships. Even if money isnt a concern for you, it never hurts to pay less!</p>
<p>I was in the same situation as you are. I love Wake Forest, but I had a lot of people including myself pressuring me to go to a more "selective" school. It comes down to what you want. I'd rather be in a school I love and have a great time than be at a "better" school simply because its better. Wake is still a great school. If you love it go for it. I'm applying ED there.</p>
<p>If you love it, and you can afford it, and you've researched the alternatives as well as you feel you need to, go ED to Wake. If you need financial aid, apply RD to 4 or 5 schools (with an eye toward leveraging the best offer against whatever Wake gives you.) The fact that a school may be more selective does not necessarily make it any better, and certainly not for you - and you're the only one that counts.</p>
<p>If you are sure, I'd say go ahead and apply ED to Wake. I disagree that this is in some way "wasting" ED. My kid applied ED to a school that his counselor said he was likely to get into, because he loved it, had done his research and was sure he preferred it to several more selective schools on his list. He's now a very happy freshman at his ED school. </p>
<p>The only caution: as others have said above, if financial aid is important, that should be weighed in this decision.</p>
<p>Apply to the one with a better employment rate within 6 months of college. You do want a job, right? I can't beleive the number of people on this board who care about "fit" and all that other crap. Suck it up and you'll get a job after college.</p>
<p>Finances are not a concern. Thanks for the advice, everyone!</p>
<p>Bananas, I hope you were joking. I really don't know what kind of job I want, but I can assure it isn't anything cutthroat like investment banking. In fact, my main goal in life is to get married and be a mother and have a family. I love to learn and I'm excited for the college experience with partying, sports games, and roomates. :) But even if I WAS focusing on my career, I still think it would be foolish to choose a school based on employment rates. You're going to fair far better out of college if you appear to be a happy, friendly, personable and intelligent person. When you choose a college, you're not just choosing an education--you're choosing a place to live for the next 4 YEARS. That's a huge chunk of your life, and I hope you don't just throw it away.</p>
<p>When you are 18, 4 years is a huge chunk of your life. When you are 38 or 48, college seems like ancient history. "Fit" is nice, but as bananas said, many people cannot afford that luxury and DO suck it up and go on to lead happy and productive lives. Most students are happy with their college, even if it wasn't their first choice best fit college. </p>
<p>You love Wake and you should probably go to Wake. But if another college offers you a full ride or a wonderful research opportunity, etc, you should give that offer its due consideration.</p>
<p>BTW, being a mom is great...the best and most important job you will ever do. But don't blow off your personal career development waiting for that to happen. First of all, it may not happen, or you may need two incomes to support your family, or you may become a divorce statistic. Also, you will be a far more interesting person if you have your own life and career goals, and are not spending your college years shopping for a husband. I intentionally chose a career (which I like) that would allow me to integrate my family and professional life. It's good that you know what's important to you!</p>
<p>show commitment, whether the school is most competitive or not. Most people wish they could feel about a college the way you do about Wake Forest. I'm personally looking for that magical feeling. It's obvious you want to be there.</p>
<p>If you really think you can get in RD, I'd do that instead. September to May is a long time and I know so many people who applied ED and later regretted it becasue they had changed their minds by May. If you have any doubt about getting in, apply ED.</p>