if your parents disagree with your college decision...

<p>parents, your input on this one would be good. i've fallen in love with whitman college in washington state, but my parents are bent on me going to a more "prestigious" school. specifically, my dad has told me i'd be "dumbing myself down" if i went to whitman. i think he's wrong, but don't know how to convince him that a whitman education is just as good as a bowdoin/tufts/williams education. thoughts? is it worth it to try and convince him, or am i better off forgetting about my dream school?</p>

<p>try going to each website and type in "common data set" (at tufts's you'll have to use "institutional research") in their SEARCH function. open the most current year's data (probably 2005-06) and you can compare stats for each institution. Whitman's stats are a bit lower than the others, but not by too much. Perhaps your parents really object to your going so far away? anyway, good luck...</p>

<p>beat them down by being relentlessly understanding and rational ... ask your Dad a lot of questions to understand exactly what he means by "Dumbing down" ... the students at the school aren't as good, the profs, the majors offered, etc ... understand exactly what his issue is (and on no information I bet he might not know himself what his concern is). Then given this info research it and answer his questions. In this case Whitman is a great school and certainly within shouting distance of the schools he mentioned on all academic fronts. Then you also need to describe why you see Whitman as different and better FOR YOU than the schools he is favoring. Bottom line if you can understand his viewpoint and answer his questions and get him to understand your viewpoint your odds go way up!</p>

<p>(PS - my best friend from engineering grad school was an undergrad at Whitman and absolutely LOVED it!)</p>

<p>Your parents should support your decision, assuming the cost of attendence is reasonable and that you aren't putting yourseld in harm's way. Your dad may feel like you should go for a more prestigious university, but at the end of the day, he just wants what's best for you and what's best for you is a university where you can fit in and be happy.</p>

<p>If you could persuade your parents to visit Whitman with you, that might do the trick. My parents were sold on Whitman after our visit this weekend. Definitely get them hooked up with the admissions people to talk because they can be very persuasive.</p>

<p>Other than that, good luck!</p>

<p>See you at Whitman, hopefully!</p>

<p>I guess the question would be would you be willing to go there if they didn't pay for it? If it's yes, you'll have more power in the conversation. If no, then dad will get what he wants to pay for. You might be surprized though if they see your determination to attend, they might decide to help you anyway. That's the risk to the situation. If you feel strongly enough to go it alone. It's your education, but it may not be your money, but down the road it's your kids and their grandkids.. if they're thinking ahead. :) </p>

<p>If it is where you want to go, be mature about it, but be willing to fund it yourself. Then you will be taken seriously.</p>

<p>Your peers would not be the same at Whitman as at Williams or Tufts, your parents have a point. If you have the stats for those schools a regional school in the PNW may not be your best choice depending on what you want to do.</p>