<p>Now that our son will be a junior this year, I can see that things have worked out in his choice of colleges. But I didn't know that going into this two years ago....</p>
<p>He attends a private college of about 9,000 students. It was pricier than others. He's received several scholarships, and hubby and I have some college savings set aside for him. I still cringe a bit at tuition bills and we watch our money. By the time he's graduated, he will have about $12,000 in loans to pay off. Still, at this point in the game, I think it's been worth it.</p>
<p>The college is in a big city, which he wanted. The school seems to be the right size for him. He's made friends and does great with his academics. All of his classes have been taught by professors, not teaching assistants, and he is glad of that. Another big plus was that one of his professors recommended him for an internship for a business in that city and that's worked out nicely. My son learned so much through it this summer and was paid well. They even want him to continue to work through the school year and told him they will work around his college schedule. In a larger school, like Ohio State, he may not have had a professor helping him make those kinds of business connections.</p>
<p>With these things in mind, I feel like I can breath somewhat of a sigh of relief. Since our son is bright when it comes to academics, it seems like paying for this private college was a good choice. I'd have loved it if he'd gone for free to the community college where we live, but maybe that's not in the cards for everyone. Maybe sometimes you do have to pay more to get more.</p>
<p>So I'd like to know, especially from those of you who've sent your children to colleges where you had to pay a bit more, what are your thoughts on that choice?</p>
<p>S1 is a rising senior and it’s worked out beautifully. He’s happy with his major and worked hard to move ahead with it. He’s made wonderful friends and has had some fun adventures and is much happier and more independent than I was at his age. He was a little disappointed at staying in-state in the city were his grandparents live - not “new” enough - but once he settled in he never looked back.</p>
<p>Hi - my older son will be a junior this year as well. He too chose well for himself and it’s been worth the bit extra that we’ve ended up paying. Our son was born with a profound hearing loss so we guided him to smaller colleges thinking smaller classes = better for him accommodation wise and that’s been very true. He’s also at a school that’s part of a consortium and has benefitted from that arrangement too. He’s found a fabulous mentor in one of the professors at one of the consortium schools and has really blossomed. I’m very pleased that he’s where he is.</p>
<p>We send Little Cat B off on Monday - our youngest son. I’m truly hoping that he finds the match that our older son has found. He’s also deaf (yes, we hit the genetic jackpot) and has also chosen a smaller LAC that I think will be a good fit all the way around.</p>
<p>Oldest son - small Christian LAC - senior year - business major - loves it.</p>
<p>Middle son - small/medium private research U - sophomore year - brain and cognitive science major + pre-med - loves it.</p>
<p>Both have had great opportunities for what they wanted and neither have regrets (I recently asked).</p>
<p>Youngest will be applying this year. I hope he finds as nice of a fit for him (won’t be either of the other schools as he has different desires).</p>
<p>From my observations at our local public high school, unless a student picked a bad fit for themselves (academic or location) or has massive loans, they almost always end up loving their school.</p>
<p>D2 - Junior at a public regional college, small town, enrollment about 13,000 - Music Education Major.</p>
<p>We and She could not be more pleased. She loves it. She has been able to be in the opera and in the top ensemble and is doing really well, making good grades, fits in, lots of friends, met a GUY…will probably wind up married.</p>
<p>It’s been perfect for her.</p>
<p>I have asked her if she has felt cheated, not going to an elite conservatory or private school…and she says, “Mom, don’t be silly! I love it here, and it wouldn’t have made sense economically, and I couldn’t be happier with the way things are going for me.”</p>
<p>I transferred to my current school (senior year starts Monday) and it was definitely a mistake, but I’ve had to bite the bullet per se. I will be thankful to be done with my current school, and will hopefully advise my children better than the self guidance I gave myself. My school had been a constant rotation if disappointment, but I’ll be glad to be done after this year.</p>
<p>S1 just graduated from our state flagship. Loved it, wouldn’t have changed his choice, but would offer a few words of caution if D (HS junior) decides to attend. Pros: offers many opportunities, many majors, superior access to many internships due to proximity to DC. He feels he got an excellent education. Cons: Parking! All the issues that are part and parcel of any very large organization, primarily the need to be proactive and to be a self advocate. Nothing unexpected, but things for her to consider. (As a parent, the one issue I filed a complaint about was this spring when, after four years of meetings with the advisors for his two majors - in different colleges - and having been told he was on track to graduate on time, he was told he needed one more class… At a point when it was too far into his last semester to add. So we had to pony up an extra chunk of change for a single summer online course to complete one of his majors. I have since been told by other parents that this is not uncommon at this university. Not that it is a deliberate scam, but it is an example of how disorganized the administration can be.)</p>
<p>S2 Junior at OOS flagship. Loves it. Wouldn’t change his choice. Easier school to wade through the administrative layers than our own instate flagship, possibly because the university itself is smaller? Certainly the website is much, much clearer than our state flagship. Has traveled overseas twice now, once for credit, and once on his own while working on a project through the attached medical school. Both have been fantastic experiences. He has been given wonderful opportunities there. He would encourage anyone to attend, but it won’t be an option for my D, since the school caps OOS admission, and her stats aren’t of that caliber.</p>
<p>[I have heard from SO MANY parents that colleges have jerked their student around about needing one final class to graduate and having to pony up more cash. I’ve heard it enough and am cynical enough to think that yes, it IS a scam. Especially when you say your son checked with advisors throughout his years in college.]</p>
<p>Note to self - Remind S1 to do a grad check as soon as possible before it really is too late.
Two key words - for themselves. Sometimes the child has no choice in the matter - the parents will only pay for a certain school or a certain degree, and they end up in a school that may make sense economically or otherwise, but is still a bad fit for them. Graduating debt-free is nice, but so is having options.</p>
<p>“Certainly the website is much, much clearer than our state flagship.”</p>
<p>I’m just starting this journey but I have already nixed one college possibility (I told D) because of their website. It’s okay, D, a junior, has 20+ schools on her list right now.</p>
<p>eastcoascrazy - I can EASILY see that happening at D3’s university. Currently, there are only 3 advisers to go around for a HUGE engineering department.</p>
<p>I have warned my D that she needs to follow that degree plan closely and get into the advisers REGULARLY, not just at the prescribed times - to make sure she’s on track. How terrible to think you’re ready to enter the workforce, and then be held back by ONE class, part-time attendance means more money up front and you still have to manage room and board unless you can take the course on-line. Thank heavens your kid was able to do it online at least!</p>
<p>Both of the colleges I’ve attended offer free online degree auditors which allow students to see exactly which courses, electives, and gen eds are required to graduate with every possible degree other than the independent major option. At both of the schools, my advisors required me to print out the audit before I met them so we could go over which courses I needed to take and when. I’m surprised that other schools don’t have this option.</p>
<p>I agree. Kids love ownership. Most will listen to their parent’s advice/reasoning - even telling me all about it with pros/cons, etc, but they like to make the decisions themselves. Those who HAVE to do what mama and papa want rarely have enthusiasm for it. I can’t even prod it out of them.</p>
<p>One other thing that helps - have two safeties, not just one. The student who doesn’t get in elsewhere (this does happen) still loves having a choice when everyone else is contemplating choices.</p>
<p>Two DDs ironically ended up at the same mid-size highly-selective private in the city. Totally different kids, with totally different interests, both ecstatically happy with their choice. Seems to be true of the vast majority of their HS friends. Despite many dream schools missed and other disappointments they all seem quite happy in the end with their choices…and yes I agree it needs to be THEIR choice.</p>
<p>My two S’s chose instate big public universities. Both were very happy at their respective schools. Now that they’ve graduated they still love returning to their schools for weekend football games and meeting up with college friends. They were able to graduate debt free which was another big plus for them.</p>
<p>SlackerMom, I was put off by one college’s website. They fixed the website. D1 was a perfect match for the school and it for her. Just graduated.</p>
<p>For D2, it was a bit harder than she was ready for, but the stretch worked out well for her. Both girls grew in many ways. </p>
<p>Smallish LAC, highly selective. One thing that was good was being a reasonable drive from home- many times, they brought friends home during breaks.</p>