<p>Well, now that it is all done I can only say that what I had hoped would be a great experience for D turned out to be one of the most disappointing times of her young life. Being from a school that NEVER recognizes academic achievements we always told D that the payoff would come at graduation with great rewards for all of her hard work. She would get into a great school that her classmates (who spent all their time partying) would never be able to get into. Imagine my surprise when she couldn't get in either. As background here are the results of 12 years of blood, sweat and tears and doing everything that she thought she was supposed to do:</p>
<p>RICE: accepted ($11,000 grant - VERY surprised.. HIGH EFC)
Emory: accepted (no award letter yet)
U of Miami: accepted (with 3/4 tuition scholarship)
Southwestern: accepted (with $48,000/4 years scholarship)
UNC - Chapel Hill: waitlisted
DUKE (DREAM school): Denied
Brown: Denied</p>
<p>Okay, so looking at the list overall it seems okay, right? BUT just not what she expected. Duke was a TERRIBLE letdown and she has really been in the dumps for two days.. I would really appreciate any positive comments I could share with her so she will put her head up and look forward to what she has rather than what she hasn't. She is going to Owl Weekend at Rice and I am hoping that she falls in love with the school.. but don't know what to do if she doesn't. Miami would probably be her second choice (because of $$) but she visited and didn't seem to thrilled.. although she did say she didn't get to check into a lot that she now wishes she had..(she went to visit a friend - who lives in Miami and I think that they pretty much just walked around campus and not much else). She wants to major in English and eventually become an English professor (and hopefully write). I would appreciate anyones thoughts on these schools in this regard as well...</p>
<p>Islandin, my daughter was not admitted into Brown or Columbia either. But we just count our blessings for the acceptances we have, because we went into this knowing how random the process is with some schools.</p>
<p>That said,
CONGRATULATIONS</p>
<p>Rice is TOP-notch, and not easy to get into, and she got $$$!!! there. You can go anywhere from Rice. I really wanted my D to apply to Rice.
Emory is also excellent, very competitive. Both schools have rejected tons of qualified students, so :) go celebrate, get excited, take the family out to dinner.</p>
<p>First, I just want to say I am sorry to hear of your D's disappointment. I hope she does fall in love with Rice; if Emory is financially feasible, I would strongly suggest a visit there as well. The older sister of one of my D's friends went there several years ago after not getting into to several Ivy's etc, and absolutely loved it--did well and had a wonderful time socially. One of my D's classmates (graduated from HS last year) is at Emory too, in similar circumstances, and I believe is also happy. I think that Emory or Rice would offer both outstanding academics and great social options with likeminded (that is, very bright) classmates. I don't know U of Miami, so don't want ot prejudge, but Rice and Emory are both national-level schools and so would seem to offer the widest opportunities of all kinds.</p>
<p>WOW! Thank you chocoholic.. I think I just needed to hear this from someone else... someone objective... You made someone smile today. Thank you.</p>
<p>It is pretty darn difficult for a female to get into Duke these days regular decision, much more difficult then males. Rice is quite a feet.Congratulations. My S last year only had 1 denial, is at pomona now and his one denial was from Duke. He is so much much happier where he is!! It will work out in the end. Congratulations to your D!!!!</p>
<p>Take Rice and run!! Emory is a wonderful school, but Rice is, well it's Rice. Your daughter has something that these schools recognized. Forget the rejections and move on. Your daughter can not go wrong with any of her accepted schools. I am not familar with Southwestern, but U of Miami is a school that our GC favors.</p>
<p>That Rice acceptance with grant money is AMAZING, and the Emory acceptance is another terrific accomplishment. Aside from the high-profile sports aspect, it's hard to see any difference between the education available at Duke and those two excellent schools. Wherever your d goes, I'll bet she won't pine long for Duke.</p>
<p>
[quote]
we always told D that the payoff would come at graduation with great rewards for all of her hard work. She would get into a great school that her classmates (who spent all their time partying) would never be able to get into.
[/quote]
Absolutely true! Many congratulations to you both.</p>
<p>I second everyone else's thoughts. Your daughter should be congratulated for her success in getting admitted into several great schools and on the wonderful financial news from Rice. Think of it this way - she could just as easily have been admitted to Duke and denied at Rice, since the admissions process seems to be very random in some ways. That's why she applied to more than one selective school, after all.</p>
<p>Folks differ of course, but I'd pick Rice over Duke virtually any day of the week, WITHOUT the merit grant. So the extra $44k means Rice plus no loans (?) plus two trips to Europe, a new car, and an unpaid but exciting summer at Breadloaf at Middlebury or the summer writers institute at Iowa State.. Compared with Duke without the $44k and I don't think it's even close!</p>
<p>My heart goes out to your fabulous daughter whose unfaltering dedication and academic accomplishments should have resulted in her fondest dreams being realized. She sounds like a truly awesome girl!</p>
<p>Rice, WITH MONEY, is beyond fabulous!! I hope that when she attends Owl Weekend, she is happily surprised to find a great fit. My son, too, was accepted to UMiami with a 3/4 tuition scholarship~~That your daughter has been offered this is a testament to her wonderful abilities. </p>
<p>I know that she is disappointed right now, and rightfully so, but with the marvelous list of schools to which she has been accepted, I hope that she doesn't stay down for long.</p>
<p>Here's wishing your D much happiness and success in her upcoming college career!</p>
<p>My neice was in almost exactly the same situation 10 years ago. Now says, regularly, how glad she is it all worked out the way it did. She went to Rice--loved it, excelled, easily made it into law school, onto clerkships, a law firm, partnership--along the way married to a great guy who was a good friend through Rice. Now practicing very successfully in a career she loves with two terrific kids. Her education at Rice and her connections with close friends she made there all speak to it being an outstanding experience. It just wasn't what she thought she wanted when the conventional elite said no. If you daughter can accomplish the shift to a new view, after a little grief, she has wonderful opportunities before her...</p>
<p>Isandin- my D is a soph at Rice and picked it over many other schools. I know your D will fall in love with it. If you want any info, or your D wants to contact mine, let me know. Emory is on S's list (we haven't visited yet). You have GREAT choices! I know it is disappointing to be rejected from a dream school (which is why it is best not to have just one). It will all be fine.</p>
<p>My neighbor went to Rice. It is a personal, connected school with incredible alumni support. I am sorry abou tthe Duke disappointment. But by Oct 1 your daughter will be in 7th heaven at Rice or at any of the other fine schools on her list.</p>
<p>IMHO the dice simply rolled one way at Duke, the other way at Rice... the nature of reach schools!</p>
<p>Isandin - My father was a professor of English for many years at a HPYS. He thinks the world of Rice. It is a place for people who genuinely value academics. We didn't look there because a) I didn't know what I didn't know b) I worried about the Texas sun and my D's redhead skin. (I am not kidding you). As people know, we're in the same situation in my house as you - just substitute Berkeley for Rice and Columbia for Duke. One of the best things someone said to me is that I ought to be whacked on the head with a 2x4 for my disappointment:) I am not saying you need whacking, but take a close look at Rice. If she wants to be an English professor it will be about the grad school anyway - so plenty of time for Duke at that point.</p>
<p>Thanks so much everyone.. you're right.. I actually didn't say much to D at the time but when we were researching schools I felt that Rice seemed better suited to "her".. i.e. Duke was more noted to be frat oriented (not her thing) and sports played such a big role on campus.. though D loves sports (played soccer and ran track all four high school years) I don't think she would like to see the money some universities spend on such sports programs (although I know this is also a big issue at Rice right now) I get the feeling the actual Rice student body isn't thrilled with being a part of Div. 1 because of the money spent there. I also felt that it was more academically focused than Duke.. which is my daughter to a T. (not that Duke isn't academically focused.. more that the kids tend to be bigger "partiers" so don't get mad Dukies, LOL!) She is also more of an introvert in large situations..though her personality shines through in small groups.. and everything I have read says Duke is a perfect place for the extroverted.. D is very content to let others go to parties while she goes to her room and reads a good book, LOL! BUT, when she feels like it.. if she feels like being around people.. then she goes, but if not, you can't budge her!! I just got the feeling that there was more "pressure" at Duke to join in and party, etc and she isn't one who would enjoy that.. she needs her alone time.. I also liked the Rice residential colleges though a bit concerned about the room drawings. I am just feeling much more positive today and hope she is too. I think that maybe things happen for a reason..and if not..there is always grad school, right? I enjoy this board so much and am grateful that there are so many people out there to share the frustrations, and of course, the joys of raising such wonderful, talented children. Good luck everyone with the decision making over the next month and keep posting - I can't wait to hear where everyone ends up!</p>
<p>:) I said that Rice is a great school. Duke is also a great school. I hope that this does not become a Duke bashing thread (particularly for Berurah and others who still consider it to be a Dream.) :)</p>
<p>NOONOONO!! Definitely NOT.. our family still loves Duke (in fact my H said to my youngest D - a very talented basketball player - if Duke decides to recruit you when you get older you can't go there now that they rejected your sister and youngest D said.. if I get recruited by Duke, Dad.. I AM THERE< LOL!)
SO, you see, nothing against Duke.. just disappointment that D wasn't selected. I am thrilled for all of those OTHER wonderful students who did get in!! And I will still root for their basketball team.. because my youngest is "in love" with JJ Redick!</p>
<p>Islandin,
Sounds like an easy choice to me. I have a junior at Rice and the last 3 years have been fantastic. The residential college system is far superior to any Greek system. Stusents really develop a loyalty to their residential college - even if they live off campus. The college is the center of a wide variety of social and intermural activity. By the end of his freshman year he had been to dinner at a multitude of profesors homes. His interaction with his teachers has been fabulous to the point where he feels he has a personal relationship with many of them. He has absolutely thrived at Rice, becoming involved in a wide variety of clubs and activities. He had many top schools to chose from - but after 3 years both he and I are glad he chose Rice.</p>