<p>My son is waiting to hear from several schhols now. I will allow him to choose whichever seems like the right fit, but don't want to ignore the fact that school reputation is important. So how do you compare schools? These are the possibilities, and he is very bright 4.4 gpa top 10% great EC's :
Any help?? Thanks!
NC State Univ. ( ranked 85 USNWR)
Elon University (ranked 2 Southern Masters) ( already accepted)
UNC Wilmington
Appalcahian State
U Richmond
Virginia Tech</p>
<p>he's really not sure of what he wants to major in. Is thinking chem/pre-dental, maybe engineering.....also likes Poli-sci, so what do you do?</p>
<p>Just curious....the EA notification date for Elon is December 19. The ED notification is December 1. How did your son get accepted?</p>
<br>
<blockquote>
<p>don't want to ignore the fact that school reputation is important>></p>
</blockquote>
<br>
<p>The schools you have listed are known primarily in the region of the country where they are located...the southeast. Elon is a "go to" place for kids from the northeast...but I don't think it has a better reputation overall than the others on your list.</p>
<p>If I were to guess...I'd say that VA Tech has the best "reputation" of all the schools on your son's list.</p>
<p>But...here's my opinion. Forget about the reputation now. You allowed your son to apply to these schools. If you were concerned about the reputation, you should have discussed that BEFORE the applications were sent. At this point...all of those colleges will offer your son a fine college education. Let him choose, as you say you are going to do...without the "burden" of thinking about the reputation.</p>
<p>"I will allow him to choose whichever seems like the right fit, but don't want to ignore the fact that school reputation is important."</p>
<p>I wonder how much of your concern is about how people who aren't you or your son will look at his list, and whether those other people are reputation-crazy. In which case the real answer to any implied (or direct question) about why he ultimately chose College A over College B when College B in at least someone's mind is "better" for whatever reason goes something like this:</p>
<p>DS looked at a number of colleges and universities and has thought long and hard about which would be good fits for him. He believes that College A is the best place for him to study. I think it is a wonderful choice, and I've already got the "My kid and my money go to College A" bumpersticker for the car!</p>
<p>"I will allow him to choose whichever seems like the right fit, but don't want to ignore the fact that school reputation is important."</p>
<p>I wonder how much of your concern is about how people who aren't you or your son will look at his list, and whether those other people are reputation-crazy. In which case the real answer to any implied (or direct question) about why he ultimately chose College A over College B when College B in at least someone's mind is "better" for whatever reason goes something like this:</p>
<p>DS looked at a number of colleges and universities and has thought long and hard about which would be good fits for him. He believes that College A is the best place for him to study. I think it is a wonderful choice, and I've already got the "My kid and my money go to College A" bumpersticker for the car!</p>
<p>Well, my father graduated from NC State, D#2 was admitted to Elon, and D#1 refused to apply to URichmond because it was "too preppy." Does this history make me biased? I don't know. With exception of Appalachian State, which I know nothing about, I'd say all of the schools on this list are well thought of. I agree Lafalum, let the boy go to the place he likes best.</p>
<p>thumper 1 --He was accepted at Elon in september. His admit was based on the fact that he won the NC Junior Elon Scholarship, and was considered for priority admissions.
We have discussed these things about UNCW, APP State , he plans to go there only if he is accepted into Honors. ( Depending on where else he is accepted, of course)
The only "persons" I care about how they see the schools reputation are the professional schools he may one day apply to ( med, dental , law) .
I am certain that we all want our kids to go to the school that best suits them academically as well as socially. He has liked all of the schools he has seen, and has said he will be happy at any of them, so why not consider where he will get the best education to continue his career pursuits??? </p>
<p>This is 1st time around for our family, and having been raised in NY, we don't know much of the area schools.
His hope is to get into UNC -CH, and there will be no decision as it is his 1st choice , but should that not happen, I would like to offer guidance as requested. In addition, I am trying to decide if the cost of private is worth the price if I am comparing apples to apples..which I don't know and is why I am asking.
Thanks for everyones help!</p>
<p>If reputation is important to you, might want to think in terms ofwhich reputation matters (with which audiences?) National, regional, local? I just mention that as sometimes it varies. In some regions, a particular school will be considered the best (and that might matter say to getting hired by regional employers), but to those outside the region, another school seems like it's more recognized. Likewise, reputation can depend a lot on the specific school and major (a given school can have a highly regarded business school and a so-so science program; or is well known for producing journalists, but so so for engineering).</p>
<p>Here's an opinion from someone who's lived most of his life in NC and VA. All of these schools are solid; none are what you would think of as "prestigious" in the sense that they would open exclusive doors, provide unique opportunities, or make an employer take your resume and move it to the short list. There would be no reason to move one over another for the sake of reputation. As far as the private colleges, I'd say that Elon and Richmond would be worthwhile simply to the extent that your son liked either one more than the others. Bear in mind that the cost differential after aid may not be all that significant.</p>
<p>Generally speaking med, dent, and law school admissions are heavily GPA, recommendation, and MCAT/LSAT dependent. Admissions is not so heavily dependent on the particular undergraduate school. You can read more about these issues in the Grad and Professional schools forums. Click on "Discussion Home" in the upper left of this screen, and then scroll down until you find it.</p>
<p>IF you are pretty certain that your kid is headed to med/dent/law school, then you really do need to consider the cost of the undergraduate education. It may be important to save on the undergraduate degree so that there is money for the graduate degree.</p>
<p>Generally speaking med, dent, and law school admissions are heavily GPA, recommendation, and MCAT/LSAT dependent. Admissions is not so heavily dependent on the particular undergraduate school. You can read more about these issues in the Grad and Professional schools forums. Click on "Discussion Home" in the upper left of this screen, and then scroll down until you find it.</p>
<p>IF you are pretty certain that your kid is headed to med/dent/law school, then you really do need to consider the cost of the undergraduate education. It may be important to save on the undergraduate degree so that there is money for the graduate degree.</p>
<p>Does U of Richmond still have their undergrad/law school arrangement? When DD toured there, they spoke of an arrangement whereby students who graduate from U of Richmond with a certain GPA are automatically admitted to their law school. I don't remember the specifics because it was not relevant for our kid.</p>
<p>thanks for that tip, Thumper1. Apparently they do, but the website an entering freshman with 1350 SAT will be invited to attend. I'll give them a call, bt his SAT's were 1260 (1910), so we'll have to see if thats flexible! thanks again, worth a call!</p>