<p>I thought this forum would be good to discuss thoughts on where and why the class of 2011 colleges acceptances are leaning to attending. Post all thoughts, questions, concerns here.</p>
<p>My dd has a very varied list of schools. Would like thoughts. If you d or s is not going to an ivy, and they are offered money, and schools are similar, why would your d or s choose one over another? Any thoughts?</p>
<p>My D too has a tremendous variance in her list of schools. I think for her the decisions will be more based on whether she goes to a school that offers courses/majors in what she is interested in now, or one that may not have that specific major, but is perhaps a "better" school. She also comes from the perspective of having an older brother who has changed his major 5 times in 4 years and might not have had such flexibility if he had chosen his school solely based on the availability of a certain program. Interesting times ahead....</p>
<p>There's an ED application outstanding, so of course that would make the decision moot. If he doesn't get accepted ED, and looking at the current acceptances and assuming he gets accepted to 2 more schools that have decisions outstanding, I would guess that he would choose Bridgewater in Virginia. All of the schools have a lot in common. Under 5000 students, in the NC-SC-VA area. Differences are in suburban vs. rural, greek life vs. not, and some things like that. Fortunately, it does not look like $$$ will be a huge discussion. We won't qualify for need-based aid, and I have a pretty good idea what type of merit aid will be available based on the schools' literature and questions during visits. So far my guesses have been accurate for the 3 offers he's received. Bottom line, it looks like all of his non-ED opportunities will be in the same financial ballpark.</p>
<p>So it's all good and he can simply focus on where he feels most comfortable. All in all, I feel really good right now. I like his ED school a lot and hope he gets accepted. But if not, he'll have a number of good options to choose from. </p>
<p>This site has been unbelievably helpful in getting me to this state of calm. And, honestly, having a son who is wonderful and bright but not a candidate for Ivy/Elite admissions is looking pretty good to me right now.</p>
<p>lderochi, you've got it down . Looking good.:)</p>
<p>Well, at least one person bought that "I'm so calm" BS I was selling . . . :)</p>
<p>Hey, if you can fake that you're more than halfway home. ;)</p>
<p>In re-reading the original post, I realized that my ramblings left a lot to be desired. The specific question of "how to decide among similar schools", IMHO focuses on two things. $$ and fit. I think I'm like most parents who are looking at a major financial outlay -- if two schools seem very similar to me but there is a significant financial difference, and the kid wanted to attend the more expensive school? The kid has the burden of proof to convince me why the more expensive school is the better choice. And the burden of proof goes up as the price difference goes up. </p>
<p>But the burden isn't insurmountable, which is why issue number 2, fit, is so important. If two schools seem very similar on paper, then just about the only way you're going to convince me that the more expensive choice is acceptable is to focus on fit. And that means the student has to do his/her homework and if at all possible, visit the campus, go on overnights, etc. One of my son's acceptances was to a school that, on paper, looks like several other schools on his list. And they offered him a nice scholarship. But a post-acceptance visit was a disaster, and it came off the list. Hypothetically, even if that school had ended up being the least expensive option and looked good on paper, I think my son would have been able to convince me that it wasn't the right choice.</p>
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One of my son's acceptances was to a school that, on paper, looks like several other schools on his list. And they offered him a nice scholarship. But a post-acceptance visit was a disaster, and it came off the list.
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<p>We had the same experience; the first acceptance is now last on the list. Unfortunately, she decided it was just too small; however, she did say if they gave her enough $$$ she would go there.</p>
<p>Does anybody have this problem: DD is now asking if there's any other schools I know of that she should apply to! This after seeing over 15 schools in 6 months, which was quite a feat with my schedule! She thinks that "perfect" school is still out there, we have yet to find it. (Unfortunately, there is also a boyfriend in the picture, who's stats are nowhere near in line with hers--don't worry, she's been told this he is not one of the criteria in selecting a college!)</p>
<p>Where do I think my son will go? Well, this is a hahahahahahahahaha question...he's going to Purdue. To go anywhere else, he'd actually have to fill out an application - it's not like the college acceptance fairy is going to magically find our house! He applied there because I made him apply to one in-state school. All his friends are going there. They have the major (landscape architecture with an eye towards becoming a golf course designer) he's quasi-interested in. He's in. Done deal. Although he has been telling me recently that he's sad he won't be able to play college golf. The dilemna is that he's only good enough for DIII but those schools don't have landscape architecture. So Purdue it will be - and I'm very happy with the education he'll get and the cost of in-state tuition.</p>
<p>And to SpringfieldMom: my daughter went through that exact same dilemna. Applied to 9 schools and didn't feel anyone was perfect. She literally laid down on the floor at my feet in December crying hysterically about how she didn't know where she was going to go to school (all her other friends had already made up their minds i.e. IU or Purdue) and she was totally lost about the whole college thing. I suggested one more school to consider...and that's where she eventually ended up going! Of the private universities she applied to, it was the cheapest (after merit $$) but costs more than the state u's. It's been the right fit for her - and she's getting a good education.</p>
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And to SpringfieldMom: my daughter went through that exact same dilemna. Applied to 9 schools and didn't feel anyone was perfect.
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<p>And my son seems scarily willing to take my advice - he seems to be prepared happy anywhere. So it's me thinking well if it were a choice between Caltech and Carnegie Mellon which should he choose? Caltech is a great fit, but it's far away and I am pretty disturbed by the lack of diversity there and I think you could argue CM has better computer science. He seems curiously unwilling to play these games - maybe in April when it's all more real to him!</p>
<p>My son is applying to 10 small LACs in West, Midwest and Northeast, all with student bodies that self-describe as "quirky, geeky, dorky and/or weird". The Insider's Guide was very informative in this quest. The 5 we've seen while in session all felt like fits to him. The 5 we visited in the summer, it's harder for him to judge. After he gets his acceptances, he may go back and re-visit some before deciding. </p>
<p>A big factor for him, beyond top-quality academics and social fit, is presence of a quiz bowl or college bowl team (like Jeopardy, but in teams). Only 4 of his schools have teams, so it's not a deal-breaker, but it will definitely be a tipping factor. His HS experience has been incredibly enriched by ECs, so I'm pretty sure he'll seek out a few ASAP in college as well.</p>
<p>Bethiesvt, can I PM you? I think we have the same son!</p>
<p>She just told me today that if she had to choose between the 3 schools she's already been accepted to, it's Pitt hands down...said she'd be perfectly happy there. Whew!</p>
<p>My son must be the long lost northern brother to Fredo's son. Although he has actually filled out TWO applications. Where will he go? No question -- University of Michigan.</p>
<p>My son says that if all the schools he applied to were free, he'd go to RPI. Ha. I guess that's an unlikely scenerio...</p>
<p>My son also says he doesn't care, so we've made a list of 11 schools, some local and some not, any of which he'll be happy to attend. (So he says now. As I recall, he said the same thing about cleaning his room and feeding his hamster.) Although we can stretch to pay for college, some of the free ride applications arriving in the mail are awfully attractive. We hope it'll work itself out by spring.</p>
<p>If Michigan takes him and gives some OOS money (unlikely, I know) I could certainly see him there. We also liked William and Mary a lot.</p>
<p>Whoops, sorry, just noticed that this thread is supposed to be "based on acceptances"...and S doesn't have any yet! My apologies.</p>
<p>CountingDown</p>
<p>By all means, pm me. This would explain S's protracted absences!</p>
<p>Hi, glad to see that there are other people interested in this discussion as well as me.</p>
<p>One poster mentioned a "boyfriend" issue I think. Unfortunately we are facing a similar situation with our dd. She visited Quinnipiac Friday, and absolutely loved it. Concern for us is that it is only a little over 2 hours away from "the boyfriend". Now it seems to me that it is the "perfect fit" with him in mind. We want her to go to school further away from home because of "the boyfriend". Not that he is a bad kid, but that she is too young to be committed, and want her to have the "full college experience". If she is going to be spending all of her weekends with him then that, in our opinion, will not give her the experience we want her to have. If she were out of college and atleast 25, we would probably have a different attitude.</p>
<p>I also understand what another poster said about looking great on paper and then visiting and being dissapointed. Our daughter wants a school with strong sciences - loves biology and is thinking about dentistry. She (before the boyfriend really wanted Florida, or atleast further south than where we are. Thought Eckerd had all of the prereqs she was looking for. Went to visit last spring and.....the area is great....the school facilities are an abomination! Most specifically the dorms. The laundry facilities are outside in a little "room" of the dorms. I could only imagine the saftey issue of her doing laundry late at night and being by herself and being attacked. I know that I might sound like a nervous nelly, but a real alarm went off inside of me. In addition, the campus was really unkept. She will get in there (she still wanted to apply as she had a great interview, and was afraid she would not have a choice of colleges - that has been a moot point now as she has been accepted to 5 schools so far, and Eckerd's has not even come yet)</p>
<p>I guess the question in our mind is where she got alot of money from University of Tampa and Guilford so far, would there really be a difference between that and let's say Indiana vs. Tampa or University of South Carolina at Columbia, or Quinnipia vs Guilford. Money will not be the deciding factor, however, spending an additional $20 - $30 thousand a year for similar types of schools is the question that I am thinking about in my mind. If anyone is familiar with any of these schools so far I would really like to hear them. College of Charleston, (hasn't heard yet) so far is high on her list for her. She also is very interested in Northeastern and Wheaton in Ma.</p>
<p>Good luck to everyone.</p>