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<p>I had to chuckle at this, too. While I understand our daughter’s desires to find like-minded people, one of the things our kids learn in college is that they can find like-minded people who may all dress differently, from the very conservative dresser to the punk. It’s what’s in the head, not on the head, that counts. Many college students like to display their individuality in their dress, but that’s just it–dress.</p>
<p>If the choices are a UC or an out-of-state public, it really does depend on the schools in question. Schools like Michigan, Illinois, UVA, are all excellent choices and might even be better for a particular student. All public schools are somewhat bureaucratic relative to smaller LACs, of course, but it doesn’t sound like that is an option she is considering. If your daughter is eligible for the honors program with Regents at one of the UCs, I would seriously consider it. If UCSD is too blond and conventional for her, she could look into Berkeley or Davis. I hope she applied to a wide variety so she has some choices.</p>