<p>would you let him/her CHOOSE to go to a "lower-ranked" school such as BU over "higher ranked" schools such as Princeton and Harvard if all schools would accept your son/daughter.</p>
<p>And assume finances are not an issue either.</p>
<p>Absolutely. The choice would be his/hers.</p>
<p>I agree with swimcatsmom. If my child felt happier there, I would not care about the rank.</p>
<p>Absolutely I would allow it.</p>
<p>Sure…why not?</p>
<p>I’m just curious because I’m not a parent and have no idea what they would think about this</p>
<p>among students most people would think that somebody would be stupid not to pick a school like Harvard</p>
<p>again I’m not singling out BU, just in general the question is:</p>
<p>If your son/daughter were valedictorian, would you let her choose a “higher ranked” school over a “lower ranked” school assuming that every school in the country would accept him/her and finances are not a problem.</p>
<p>Sure, I’d let me kids go where they wanted to.</p>
<p>My kid would go to the highest ranked school for the major she is going to major in. For me it is a business transaction. It has to be of best value. I am not one for “fit” as much because I believe for most well adjusted people, they could be happy almost anywhere. For me, college is a place for learning, not a place necessary to find the best 4 years of one’s life.</p>
<p>If by “finances are not a problem” you mean that he’d get a free ride at any college he’s looking at, then I’d let him pick any college he wanted within reason. If he were passing up a great school (not necessarily HYPS) with a good program in his area of interest in order to attend Local U. because that’s where his gf is going, then no, that wouldn’t fly. But rank in and of itself would have very little to do with it.</p>
<p>Ds isn’t interested in HYP but is interested in some top LACs, but I couldn’t tell you – and I’m sure he couldn’t either – what they are ranked. I only know that they’re top LACS because that’s how they’re listed on cc! LOL. Rank just isn’t a factor for us.</p>
<p>My son actually chose the lowest “ranked” school that accepted him. It had a great program in his main area of interest, a great location and the students were very involved in governing the school.</p>
<p>It’s my kid who is going to college, not me. Therefore, my kid gets to choose.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t let my kid pick a car by herself for 20,000, why would I let her pick a school by herself for 200,000+.</p>
<p>The val of S1’s class went to a well regarded private (mom is an alum). Val hated it.<br>
After one semester,she transferred to big state u. and has been very happy. She starts med. sch. in Aug. Luckily, her parents didn’t insist she stay at the original sch.</p>
<p>Why would I let my kid pick a school herself? Because she is not an idiot. She can think for herself & decide what is best for herself. If it doesn’t work out, she can figure out what to do for herself.</p>
<p>Sometimes I wonder if the children of some parents will ever stop being children and start being adults… seriously. Some parents really make every decision for their kids! I’m glad I have a mom that would let me go wherever best fit me, versus whatever best fit HER DEFINITION of college.</p>
<p>Get real, how many kids truly pick their schools by themselves? My husband and I don’t even make any financial commitment over $x amount without consulting each other, and we are not idiots and we are very mature adults. College is a huge financial investment, especially for full paying family. I would have a hard time leaving it to a 18 year old.</p>
<p>rank/fit this has been debated over and over.</p>
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<p>I wouldn’t buy my kid a car in the first place.</p>
<p>An education is not a “thing.” If my kid were so uneducated that he/she couldn’t make this decision for him/herself, then I think Harvard OR BU would be wasted on him/her.</p>
<p>I might be concerned if the school were too “low” or if I thought my kid had bad reasons for choosing it (say a girl or boyfriend there). But as it happens I did let my son choose the lower ranked school: Carnegie Mellon over Harvard. (Of course in Computer Science CMU is the stronger school.) He just finished his sophomore year, has a great internship in Silicon Valley and has no regrets.</p>
<p>I’d say my kids have the choice, but I have veto power.</p>