<p>I applied to a slew of schools, mostly "financial safeties" with EA or rolling, so I heard back quickly. Now, I'm stick with a bunch of third rate acceptances that I can afford and two low-rate first tier ones that I can't without going into a decent amount of debt. I just don't see why I worked so hard in high school, got perfect grades, and an SAT equivalent to the upper 1400's to wind up a third tier schoo1. It seems like a waste. Alll my friends are going to big name schools (Emory, Vandy, Rice, Washington and Lee, to name a few), even though I have better grades and/or scores than some of them. I'm happy for them, really, but it seems sort of odd that I worked just as hard, if not harder, and they get the "names." In retrospect, all my hard work doesn't seem worth it when I sacrifice it for a thousand bucks at a no-name that only requires a 1100 and 2.5 for acceptance, even if it is a decent school in other respects. I THOUGHT I knew what I was going into when I sent out my apps.; guess I was wrong. I know I shouldn't covet them, but right noow, I just feel like an idiot.</p>
<p>First of all, your hard work wasn't a waste. You learned alot and you learned how to be a good student. It is better to be the top of the heap where you are than to be wallowing in mediocrity somewhere else. Just do a great job and if you go to grad or professional school, the money you saved will be well worth it.</p>
<p>OTOH, if you feel that you made a mistake and can't find a nitch at this college, you can always transfer...sometimes even mid-first year.</p>
<p>Kind of a similiar thing going on for my son. His search strategy focused on merit aid acceptances so he also is in at third tier schools (with full-ride scholarships) where his stats are much much higher than the average. And he also is hearing other students at his high school talking about their more prestigious acceptances and is thus feeling a little down about this now.</p>
<p>But remember back to why you made the college list you did. I bet it was very well thought out. There is great value in graduating with no debt. If you go to graduate school then the school reputation matters a lot more than undergraduate. With no debt and with less pressure, you will be able to explore academically and have opportunities at the third tier schools that are closed to your friends at their expensive ranked name brand choices. It is hard to drive off the lot in a Honda Civic when your buddies are in brand new Mustangs and BMW's, but remember that your Civic is paid for and it can take you everywhere that the BMW goes without the huge monthly loan payments.</p>
<p>I guess I should have said that I speak from experience, too. My son also was accepted into schools in the top 20 last year, but went to one ranked more like 50ish. The top choices were just too expensive and he didn't get enough financial aid. But you know what? This year is going great for him. He has a 4.0 and there are lots of other really smart and dedicated students who went with the money. I suspect we'll all be really, really glad when we have to pay for graduate studies! If he could change now, I'm quite sure he would not. </p>
<p>I know it's hard when your classmates are bragging about their acceptances. But after commencement in June, nobody will care! Going to a lower ranked college doesn't make you any less intelligent than you were in high school, and you will be successful where ever you go because the thing that is important is in you. </p>
<p>momfromtexas, I love the new car analogy...it's exactly right!</p>
<p>Lkf725 is exactly right. There is a much better than even chance that you will be very happy, come next spring.</p>
<p>My experience is many, many moons ago, but I think that it really holds some value for you. I went to college where my abilities and test scores were way above the average for the school. There were many reasons why I picked that school, but I actually gave up a scholarship at a slightly better school, so money wasn't a particular issue. Based on my experience, I would give this advice - a residential school or school in a college town with lots of kids in nearby apartments/trailers etc, will be a better experience than a true commuter school with a large population of adult students, partime students, etc. Find an EC that you enjoy and become active day one, it gives you an instant group of friends - I was in the marching band for example. Professors, even at larger 3rd tier schools, are often very excited to get a good student who is engaged in learning, and will lavish extra attention and mentoring. The big research opportunities may not be there, but truly at a lot of research universities only the undergrad stars get any research time, most goes to the grad students. At my 3rd tier school in a small major, I knew all the profs VERY well, went to eat Chinese with them, babysat their kids, my future husband was one prof's rose gardener and handyman - very much the LAClike experience.
You won't be the only person who is there for the money. But you will have a lot of money left at the end :).</p>
<p>I guess I would have to ask why your choices were so far down the "food chain"? Our DS's HS record, while very good, was not up to yours yet he ended up at Rensselaer, a "first tier" university which is known for its academic excellence by other universities and prospective employers.</p>
<p>And you should stop the pity party. If you are going to attend a private college, all that hard work resulted in merit aid in excess of $100,000! Not a bad ROI if you ask me.</p>
<p>And if you did your research well you should be attending a college which will provide excelent academics and allow you to be the big fish in the small pond. Our son received substantial merit scholarships from the likes of RPI, Case, Allegheny and Wooster. Because he did oodles of research I am sure he would have received a superb education from any of these. Both Alllegheny ad Wooster graduate a higher %age of students who go on to earn PhD's than many very highly ranked colleges and universities.</p>
<p>So hopefully you considered much more than just the potential of a free ride when choosing your final application list.</p>
<p>So what schools have you been accepted to?</p>
<p>originaloog - how much did your DS get from RPI?</p>
<p>And maybe I'm not reading carefully - did OP say he got $100000 in merit aid?</p>
<p>You worked hard and the result is you will be getting substantial merit aid at a college so you can avoid going into debt. Many would call that an ideal investment. Assume, instead, that you got into a big name, expensive school where you would have to incur $50,000 or more in debt to attend four years, with the hope that, when you get out, the college's name will quickly carry you to big bucks so you can easily pay off that debt. Many would call that investment, in the words of Alan Greenspan, "irrational exuberance."</p>
<p>I want to assure you that you will be FINE!!!! I was in your position when I went to college many years ago. I had the stats to get into more prestigious schools, but I didn't apply to them. I applied to an in state, an out of state, and one LAC. I got into all three and was offered merit aid at all three. The thought of attending an Ivy League school or even somewhere like Emory never crossed my mind. I went to an in state school and don't regret it for one second. I had four fantastic years in college and I wouldn't trade one of them. I loved everything about the school I chose even though it will never have anybody drooling over its name. My friends from my in state school have gotten great jobs in a variety of fields. Chances are you will have the same experience!</p>
<p>It's easy to let the name game get you in an uproar but the reality is that there are so many schools where students can find success and a great education. Work hard at your undergrad school and sleep easily at night knowing you won't owe a penny for it. I graduated without one cent of debt because of my decision which made options for grad school a lot easier. I actually had a lot of friends who went to out of state schools or to fancy name schools and ended up transferring closer to home after a year or so. Sometimes it happens. I also have friends who went to schools with much better name recognition than mine who don't make as much money as I do and I'm a teacher! The important thing is not the name of your school but what YOU do and accomplish. I think you'll be fine!!!</p>
<p>You are experiencing a little less glitz right now, but fast forward to the Thanksgiving to Christmas timeframe. This is a low point for many freshmen- first midterms, first finals to think about, missed Thanksgivings in some cases. The novelty is gone but the pressure is there. The expensive schools may not seem so desirable once your friends are there. You may be happier with your choice then. Your peers may not be worried about the ongoing expenses yet- but that will creep in soon enough. You have given yourself options. You have the option to transfer and take on more debt if you try this and decide that it is not right for you. (Way back when, my expensive school did not seem as desirable a couple months into the experience. I had believed all of the PR, which is advertising when you come right down to it.)</p>
<p>More important than what school you go to is how you do in college.</p>
<p>Just wondering ... do none of your safeties have honors programs?</p>
<p>Dear HMChoices - I'd say you are a very fortunate person -- you still have choices! You made a decision, and you now recognize that you MIGHT have made the wrong decision. OK, no problem -- you have a limitless number of ways to deal with this. You could take a gap year or apply for midyear admission or even wait until August and check into colleges/universities that haven't filled their freshman classes. But I'm with those contributors who suggest attending at least the fall semester at one of the schools you've been accepted at. After all, there were good reasons you choose those schools in the first place. Give one a chance, and if it lacks academic challenge for you then surely you can transfer. Good luck!</p>
<p>My son is a junior and may end up having the same concerns as you have. He has top stats but we fall into that range of not qualifying for much FA but can't afford private college. I worry that next year that he will be lamenting that some of his wealthier classmates with lower stats will be going to Vandy, Emory, Georgetown, Notre Dame, etc and he will not. </p>
<p>We have focused on honors programs at lesser expensive schools and that seems to cheer him up. Since those programs have higher qualifying stats than the universities at large do, hopefully he'll feel that he got into something that more reflects his abilities. </p>
<p>Have you looked into your colleges' honor programs? Where have you been accepted to? I have the Peterson's honors book and can look up info for you if you'd like.</p>
<p>
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but remember that your Civic is paid for and it can take you everywhere that the BMW goes without the huge monthly loan payments
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</p>
<p>That's very good advice....</p>
<p>The bottom line is, life is unfair: some kids can afford to attend schools you cannot afford. (Though some of them really can't afford these schools, and will graduate with a mountain of debt...)</p>
<p>BTW there are people on CC who think merit aid-- any aid not based on need-- is bad, because 'rich' kids can get free rides due to good stats, which often result from high SES households they grew up in; not fair to poor kids. There are people on CC who think URMs and athletes should not be recruited; not fair to smart kids. And what about the CC'ers who have scrimped and saved for years and are "rewarded" with high EFCs, while profligate neighbors driving fancy cars and taking expensive vacations qualify for more aid?-- not fair to thrifty families. You see where I am going... Nearly EVERYONE can grouse about the disadvantages of their own particular situation. Instead, really try look at the glass half full. </p>
<p>You are smart and accomplished! You have the option of attending one of the schools you've got now with little debt. You also have the option to take a Gap year, work for pay, and reapply to a different list of merit aid schols you like better-- or 'high tier' schools that put you in debt. You have the option of transfering to a different merit aid school or a 'higher tier' school. </p>
<p>The only thing you don't have right now is a "trophy" acceptance to glow about along with your friends. And the reason you don't have one is that you decided you would not attend one of those high COA schools-- so why bother applying?</p>
<p>Please don't let someone else's "name" acceptance (that you could have, too) diminish your pride at what you have accomplished nor make you forget the sensible reasons you took this path.</p>
<p>I'm sorry if my last post made me sound like a brat; I was just feeling really low last night. Don't get me wrong, I AM greatful that I got into the schools I did with the money I did, but it just seems kind of wasteful. The main thing isn't the prestige, actually (People are very impressed by the money I've received, if not by the names), it's just that sometimes I wonder if I worked this hard for naught. The past four years have basically been running from ECs to homework and back again with minimal sleep (Granted, some of that is my choice.) I was happy, even joyous when I first got my acceptances, but now that the dust is settling I'm looking around and thinking that I should have just applied to WashU or Scripps ED and reeped the benefits of my hard work then and there. It just seems like I put in all the first tier work for schools with 40-something graduation six year rates and 2.7's in US News, and it makes me realize that ther must be a reason why these schools are ranked so low while others are ranked so high. So, as stupid and materialistic as it sounds, I keep wondering if wasted four years of my life for nothing but four years with a vast majority of the kids who just didn't try in HS and yet are going to greeping most of the same benefits (There are some Honors programs aat these schools, but there not totally self-enclosed like ASU's appears to be) as far as classes, research, resources, and quality of life as me. It just makes me wonder if I looked at the bottom line too much,</p>
<p>Thanks for listening.</p>
<p>First of all, you haven't mentioned anything about your financial situation, or that of your family. If your family is willing to work out something where they pay a certain amount and you assume a certain amount of debt, it might be worth it for you to spring for the better schools, given your obvious dissatisfaction with your current choices. Maybe you could even take a gap year in which you work to defray at least a small part of the cost, with the understanding that you will get a campus job and work summers as well throughout your time at college.</p>
<p>If this isn't an option, you could be eligible for discounted rates at better public universities. Right now, I'm a bit confused as to why you would have to go to a third tier school to avoid massive debt. Maybe your own state school is third tier, but a second tier school in another state might be willing to give you merit aid and admission to their honors program. Although application deadlines have passed, schools with openings would still likely admit you if you expressed interest in going and they wanted you. </p>
<p>If you do go to a lesser school, you may be very happy there anyway. Even if other students aren't everything you would want, there is such a glut of PhDs right now that even non-prestigious schools have scholars for professors. Wherever you are, you will find people who you can get along with and befriend, regardless of whether or not they had SAT scores equal to yours. I can also guarantee you that you aren't the only person at your chosen school who will be facing this situation. And, as others have mentioned, you can transfer pretty easily with good grades.</p>
<p>Please don't think your education was a waste. I like to think that there is a value to learning for its own sake - even forgetting the money you are saving on scholarships, hopefully you grew from your high school experience, which is worthwhile in itself.</p>
<p>I went to a "third rate" school (although this was back before they had the US News ranking) and found more than enough challenge to keep me happy and interested and invigorated. I later gained admission to a grad program ranked #1 for my field. </p>
<p>In comparing my experience to those who went to "name" schools, I don't see a lot of differences. For awhile in grad school I had my Yale-educated and my Dartmouth-educated housemates (both of them lit majors) coming to me for writing help (me, with my 3rd-tier education and an econ degree). Why? My little no-name school had a much better, hands-on, cross-discplinary writing emphasis, and it meant that I was doing a lot better on grad papers than they were. It's just one example--many people could chime in with how their lesser-known school gave them a fabulous education.</p>
<p>Going to a "lesser" school won't ruin your life--unless you let it. Your attitude about school matters a whole lot more than its place on the US News pecking order.</p>
<p>"I'm sorry if my last post made me sound like a brat; I was just feeling really low last night. Don't get me wrong, I AM greatful that I got into the schools I did with the money I did, but it just seems kind of wasteful.... it's just that sometimes I wonder if I worked this hard for naught. The past four years have basically been running from ECs to homework and back again with minimal sleep "</p>
<p>Believe it or not, the reason to take tough courses and to do ECs is to expand one's own intellectual, vocational and avocational options and to develop various aspectds of one's personality such as developing leadership and human relations skills that will serve one well for a lifetime.</p>
<p>What you did was definitely not a waste. The things that you've learned will always affect your life, options and your worldview. This would be true regardless of whether you attend an Ivy or a third tier college or no college at all.</p>