<p>There is some very helpful info about the med school and other prospects coming out of “less than Ivy/elite” schools, which hopefully the OP can use to help shape the conversation with her father. </p>
<p>To rebecca and others who asked about how this thread got onto UW – UW is very common choice for strong students from Chicago area, both public and private high school students. OOS UW costs run about $38k, not including travel (which, for a Chicago area student, is a less than a tank of gas or a $30 round trip bus). Tuition is about $27k and room and board is lower than at many privates, running us under $10k for freshman year on campus year, and less than that now that student is off campus. </p>
<p>While the overall stats of admitted students at UW are not impressive, as many folks have noted, there are all kinds of ways to self-select at larger schools to create a smaller environment of like-minded, serious students. It does take initiative and drive, for instance, for students to apply for and get freshman year research posts etc, but such opportunities are plentiful at a big school like UW, UIUC or U MN Twin Cities. </p>
<p>For students concerned about managing full pay costs, flagships can be an incredible experience – the faculty and opportunities are top notch. A student does need to be prepared to seek out opportunities which, at a smaller private university, might not take as much effort to identify – students need to actually go into their advisor, since no one will drag them or make sure they go, as opposed to a smaller private where it happens because of the way the institution is structured. A motivated, hard working student at publics can do very well, while managing costs.</p>
<p>And I agree that, while the OP, as a legacy at Yale may be a credible applicant, no one should have the illusion that they are a “lock” at an elite school. Most of us adults who have gone through college admissions cycles with our kids were astounded to learn how much the landscape had changed from our own application days. Every spring, we read about double legacies rejected from elite alma maters. </p>
<p>The OP sounds like a very grounded, thoughtful, sensible student, and I wish her well with the added stress of the divorce on top of college apps. </p>