<p>My daughter has several wonderful choices.
She has merit scholarships to Rutgers University and Ithaca College</p>
<p>SHe is also accepted to Skidmore and Connecticut College with no scholarships</p>
<p>There is a huge cost difference. Skidmore and Connecticut are both in small towns.</p>
<p>I think my daughter would do well at a small school but I wish it wasn't in such a small town. Any help or reflections about the specific schools, big v. small, and the value of paying so much for an education is appreciated.</p>
<p>The towns of New London and Saratoga are about the same size as Ithaca. Size-wise, why is Ithaca College more acceptable to you than Skidmore or Connecticut? </p>
<p>Not knowing anything about your D, in general there is no added value with Skidmore or Connecticut over Ithaca. Unless there is a unique reason (i.e. specific major), spending significantly more than Ithaca is probably a waste.</p>
<p>And then the two of you should go spend some time in the Financial Aid Forum reading up on the implications of your family’s financial options.</p>
<p>One question to ask yourself: Does the financial aid offered even make Ithaca or Rutgers affordable. If money is a serious issue for your family, it is possible that none of these four make the cut.</p>
<p>I went to undergrad at a college that was bigger than the town, and to graduate school in a big city. For the most part, size of the college was more of a factor since most of what you do is with other students.</p>
<p>Ithaca is a fine college in a great town. My daughter goes to school nearby. It is very expensive ( to me), but they gave your daughter a scholarship to help bring down the price. Rutgers is also a good school, plus she has the scholarship. It is very big- does she mind the size? Skidmore is a tiny school in a beautiful area with a great town. We went there last summer for a long weekend and I was pleasantly surprised by the town- it was amazing. I did not find the town to be small at all. The price of Skidmore is far from amazing, and there is no scholarship. I do not know anything about Connecticur College except that there is no merit. I would narrow it down to Ithaca and Rutgers. Ithaca is a good school in a great college town. Rutgers is also a good school, although much bigger. I would make a list of the pros and cons of each and make a choice.</p>
<p>I just re- read your post and noted that your daughter may do well in a small school. If she likes Ithaca that would be my choice. Rutgers is too big and the others are too expensive. It should not be difficult to make Ithaca feel like a smaller school.</p>