<p>Damn, I'm glad our s is just 35 mins. away. I get to see him for football games, the occasional dinner out and now a home visit. He's incredibly happy with his choice at UMCP (Honors Humanities) and reported that he'd feel like a fool if he had chosen a $50K/yr Duke education knowing how much he loves MD (us too).</p>
<p>Yay for kids happy and saving money!</p>
<p>D chose our instate flagship honors program, too, and she made the same type of comment last weekend when she caught a ride home to get more clothes suited for cool weather. S went the other route (the $50k/yr private); he still says he's loved the academic environment but other parts of the private school culture he could do without.</p>
<p>Hopefully all of our children will be happy with their choices. I'm not sure I buy into all this dream school and perfect fit stuff. In the end won't a well adjusted kid be happy no matter what college they land at?</p>
<p>Likewise for son at flagship U. Since the majority of students at the public schools come from the state they share a lot of common background attitudes- such as sports, hometown cultures and those subtle state government laws that make how things are done the same for every state resident (think of recycling, traffic rules enforced, school holidays...). There is not the culture shock of leaving home territory and they are familiar with many of the places others come from. There is generally state pride generated by the hometowns that helps, and no need to justify one's choice to family or friends.</p>
<p>I have one (now graduated) who was happy at the state flagship school (the same one that Maximus's son is attending) and another who would have hated it there (even though she has several good friends on that campus) and is happy at a more selective private school a long way from home.</p>
<p>Different strokes for different folks.</p>
<p>Of course, the situation might have been different if it had been necessary to go into debt for the private college. But that wasn't the case.</p>
<p>Maximus, just make sure that your son never leaves his laptop or any luggage unattended and that if he has a bike, it's a cheap one and that he has a really good lock and uses it consistently. Although UMCP isn't a bad place in terms of personal safety, you can't count on your property being safe either on the campus or in the vicinity. Stuff disappears. My son had bikes stolen three times -- the only truly negative part of his UMCP experience.</p>
<p>I just wonder if hmom5 isn't right on target. Maybe the vast majority of well adjusted kids do well and are happy at any good school.</p>
<p>We've had a family weekend visit already, but no home visit until Thanksgiving. Isn't it great to see our young adults thriving in their new environments? After the stressful application year, it's a treat to take a deep breath and know that life is good for them.</p>
<p>My S is a freshman at a flagship state U, too, and loves it so far. Though no college is perfect for everyone, state U's deserve more credit for offering a wide variety of options--including options for academically talented kids. There are lots of misleading stereotypes out there.</p>
<p>There may very well be a new interest in great state universities with the struggling economy. However, notwithstanding the financial considerations, Honors programs at state universities offer great advising, curriculum, and challenge for even the most talented young scholars.</p>