<p>hmom, I think you're wrong, for example say I go to Duke or Vanderbilt and even though academically I get straight A's, I get really ticked off by the attitude of people in the south and the really rich and preppy people on campus. I would immediately transfer the following year to a school back up north. So in conclusion, yes fit does matter and even though there is no thing as "one perfect school", I think that there are some schools that just don't fit each person well.</p>
<p>^^^pierre0913, my son is not a southerner, is not rich and is most definitely not preppy, but he is a happy and successful student at one of the two schools you just mentioned.</p>
<p>Narrow-mindedness has a cost. If my son had shared your attitude, the cost would have been 40K per year in a lost merit scholarship. I guess you can afford to be real picky!</p>
<p>Or perhaps you are like one of those flowers that requires a "just so" hot-house environment.</p>
<p>midmo, I was just giving an example, I was just saying IF I was not happy because of that. Personally, I'm not rich and preppy too but I think I would be happy at Duke and Vanderbitl but unfortunately not everyone has the same opinion as us.</p>
<p>^^^ pierre, first let me apologize for the snide tone of my comment above. It was definitely uncalled for.</p>
<p>The point I should have made is that it is my son's experience that has convinced me that the standard notion of "fit" is over-rated. No one who knows him thought his school was a particularly good social fit for him, based on common stereotypical portrayal of southern universities. (As the poster unalove may remember, his long-time first choice school has a very different kind of reputation.) After a few in-depth visits, son came to the conclusion that the positives outweighed potential negatives, and made his choice with about one day to spare. As it happens, all the social issues came to nothing, and the choice was a very good one.</p>
<p>So, I think hs students and their parents are well-served by keeping an open mind, while doing their homework on the academic-related issues.</p>
<p>Hmmm...Ds approached the college selection process very methodically. They had a goal and kept open minds during research, application, scholarship interviews and visits. However, after a visit to one particular school, I saw the definition of "fit" in their eyes. </p>
<p>I can't put it into words and believe it is different for everyone. Perhaps more important for some than others. There is no doubt in my mind that they could have excelled at many other schools on their list. But, the fire and passion that they have for this particular school...I know they will hit the ground running. So fit, yes, I believe it is important. But IMHO the true determination of the "fit" happens during visits, not during research or from other's opinions.</p>
<p>
[quote]
No one who knows him thought his school was a particularly good social fit for him, based on common stereotypical portrayal of southern universities. (As the poster unalove may remember, his long-time first choice school has a very different kind of reputation.) After a few in-depth visits, son came to the conclusion that the positives outweighed potential negatives, and made his choice with about one day to spare.
[/quote]
Ah, and there's the rub - your son made his decision based on in-depth visits during which he found that the stereotypes didn't hold and that he would feel comfortable at those schools. Isn't that the very definition of "fit"? Would you have suggested to him that he go to one of these schools without the in-depth visits? And what's the point of the visits if not to determine fit and whether the student can picture him- or herself on campus for four years?</p>
<p>Midmo's son was able to see a college without the viewbook gloss and without the comments from others. He was able to see beneath the surface. I don't think that's as much an issue as fit as it was realizing that people are people and colleges are colleges, no? The person who complains that everybody is too "preppy" or "snobby probably hasn't had the opportunity to make good friends. Do stereotypes ever really hold?</p>
<p>(FWIW: I come from a strongly stereotyped region of the country... and I learned about my region's stereotypes when I moved away from the region!)</p>
<p>I think fit is overrated if you go by the stereotypes, especially social stereotypes. A good way to evaluate fit is to focuse on academic fit/extracurricular fit the specifics, go through your mind what type of learning environment you want to be in, what type of activities you want to get involved with, and finding out if the school fits those criterias. This should be fairly easy to accomplish online these days. </p>
<p>Also this concept of "fit" socially, has the negative impact of people who want greek life will goto a large greek school, geeks going to chicago or MIT, it's a self-perpetuating cycle that must drive colleges nuts.</p>
<p>Chedva, son arranged his visits to investigate what the campus had to offer him academically. He sat in on classes, talked to professors and administrators about research opportunities, looked into how much AP credit and already-taken university courses could be used to move into advanced coursework quickly, that sort of thing. No doubt if he had met a bunch of obnoxious students he would have taken that into account, but he met a bunch of students with similar interests, talents and aspirations. </p>
<p>Would he have attended without the visits? No, he would not have. He did apply without ever visiting, however, figuring that if there were a good reason to investigate further, he would visit then.</p>
<p>I'm not suggesting anyone send in a deposit and make plans to attend a school they have questions about but have never even visited. Certainly my hs junior will not be doing that. I am suggesting that families take into account the reality that even campuses with strong stereotypes house a wide variety of students and activities, and it may be a mistake to overlook schools based on assumptions that they have not personally investigated. And I am also suggesting that people keep in mind that the main reason to choose a program should be the academic opportunities.</p>