<p>In general, do the parents who went to private Universities and LACS want the same for their kids?</p>
<p>I am a grad of a public U--University of Michigan. I wanted my kids to have the same or better level of school, didn't matter if it was public or private, LAC or U. (I transfered from a private LAC to get there, so I know that public/private doesn't determine quality of academics.)</p>
<p>I steered my daughter towards LACs based on my understanding of her personality and learning style. Although she has only made one "official" college visit, that LAC at least strongly appealed to her. She has also been in situations this year which have shown her that she really wants personal interaction with her instructors. So I think we're on the right track. I have, however, steered her clear of my alma mater, but only because its located in an area too much like home. I would like her to experience something different.</p>
<p>I have friends who went to an LAC for undergrad. They steered their son to an LAC--the threat was that if he didn't put more work into getting in his applications, he would have to go to big State U.</p>
<p>Neither I nor my husband have attended a 4 year college, our daughter is attending a private LAC, based on what she was looking for in a school. ( academic, west coast, quirky)</p>
<p>My wife and I are both grads of a public university - U of Michigan. Our D applied to UM and also a number of privates, including EA to Yale. She was accepted in late November in the rolling admissions process to UM and EA to Yale. She will be attending Yale. Our feeling was that she had to find the right place for her. We did not even try to steer her to UM, although it would save us a lot of money, because we are in-state and she received some small scholarship money from UM, unrequested.</p>
<p>However, my wife has told our youngest S that he will be attending UM, because neither our older S nor this D attended and one of our children will go there!</p>
<p>Hubby and I both graduated from the same LAC. We definitely have a bias that direction, but we are trying hard to let the kids choose what is best for them. Oldest attends a music conservatory. Middle one attends an LAC. He applied and was accepted at our alma mater but chose to go elsewhere which was fine with us. Youngest is currently all over the place in the schools he is looking at, but I think he will end up at a smaller rather than larger school. However, we will take him to visit a few of the big ones so he can decide for himself.</p>
<p>My parents both went to a large state school. They didn't really like it, and they really tried to convince my sister and me that small schools have a lot of advantages - and now we both go to undergrad focused schools with less than 3,000 undergrads. So I guess they made an impression.</p>
<p>I graduated from a public university Baruch College CUNY as a commuter student, and did my graduate work at 2 large private schools. I knew that my child had specific interest in mind that did help to narrow down her choices (likes small schools, suburban/ rural setting wanted to be away from the city for a while)</p>
<p>I gone to school 3 times ... each time at a "top" private school. I will not push my kids to a private school per sea ... however, my advise will be go to the best school that feels like a great fit. Not because of the prestige but because I have a big bias to going to school with the highest caliber classmates possible ... I believe it helps drive a student's learning. BTW - this experience can happen at a LAC, a private U, or a state U.</p>
<p>I graduated from a large public university. 3 of 4 children also went to large universities. The consideration was always the major. There are certain instances where a LAC will better prepare a student and others where a larger university is the best approach. That is what motivates us to a decision. We have to put the 'pretty campus, well dressed students' business aside. That can not motivate us to the decision. We don't have the luxury to think like that.</p>
<p>BHG, where have you seen any proponent of LAC's base their stance on "pretty campus, well-dressed students?"</p>
<p>Virtually everyone I can think of is looking for best "fit" and a good education. We are converts...both TheMom and I graduated from large universities and she has worked at UCLA for nearly a quarter-century.</p>
<p>Yeah, the LAC my D went to gets called "ugly" all the time on these boards (though I didn't think it was so bad), and the students pride themselves on not being particularly well-dressed (in the conventional sense.)</p>
<p>well pretty campus I would agree with but not well dressed students ROFL
I think your average high school is much more fashion conscious, students at the LAC will be lucky if their clothes are moderately clean. wearing flip flops ( I know we used to call them "thongs" but now of course thongs are something completely different!), flannel pajama bottoms and tank tops seem to be standard for girls, while boys wear shorts and teeshirts ( well yes one of my daughters friends wears kilts most of the time and he is lucky to be able to get away with that, but most students aren't so spiffy looking)</p>
<p>My H went to a LAC and I went to a large private. My D went to a LAC and S went to a large private. Both schools were selected based on my children's personality and learning style. Had they not been admitted to their first choice schools, they would have attended their backups, UC Berkeley or UCLA.</p>
<p>H and I went to private universities and both boys went to private elem/hs. The oldest is at a private university and the youngest intends to apply. They can matriculate at private universities (incl grad schools) as long as they keep their grades up. </p>
<p>btw; Ekitty; Can you enlighten me on US dress trends? I visited last month but didn't do a visual survey.</p>
<p>S claims 'everyone' is wearing board shorts below the hip bone so that a substantial swath of boxer short can be displayed. Also, he claims that 'everyone' keeps their board short fly slightly undone. I say he's behind the fashion times and the velcro patch looks like pubic hair--sounding SO much like my parents. Crikey.</p>
<p>Cheers, sing along with me:</p>
<p>o/~</p>
<p>Boy the way Glenn Miller played
Songs that were on the Hit Parade
Gee, our old LaSalle ran great
Those were the days....</p>
<p>Well Cheers, I've got a kid on the east coast in Boston and a kid on the west coast in Portland--and they match every single cliche about the two cities to a T. My son bought himself a suit and several ties, and asked for new white dress shirts for Christmas. My D (the one in Portland) has pink hair, wears clothes from thrift shops (she goes every week to check the new stuff)--vintage t-shirts and old jeans, with Doc Martens boots.</p>
<p>I can't remember what school your son is at, but from the description, I'd assume southern CA, where that style is (indeed) trendy. Don't worry, in another year it'll be history. I hope.</p>
<p>I attended a liberal arts college (one that DMD77 and EmeraldKity4 are very familiar with), and my wife attended a large state university (one that Shennie is very familiar with). We were both inclined to support the kids in a more intensive academic environment with (comparatively) few distractions.</p>
<p>My son applied to our large state U's as backups but his basic list included several LAC's and a larger "academically oriented" university. He ended up at the latter. My daughter applied only to art schools as well as to one larger university with a strong studio art program. She ended up attending an art school.</p>
<p>:p LOL. My biggest, worst, blow-out arguments with my parents were about my hippy clothes, my non-fashion sense, my aversion to Sunday clothes.</p>
<p>I offended my parents, that's for sure, but I don't think I offended the general public. </p>
<p>Anyway, on the theme of apologies:</p>
<p>If you happen to fly cross country, trans-atlantic or trans-pacific with a tall kid wearing flip flops, flashing his boxers while his board shorts dangle precariously from his pubic bone, I'm sorry. I did try to explain it to him...but all I got was 'the look'.</p>