<p>@mibsprincess Oh, the whole “pool party” thing was more of a comic exaggeration on her part (though, admittedly, it was more angry than comedic at the time). Just before, I was gushing to my father about the Week of Welcome at Alabama, where a few events involve their outdoor pool, and I suppose that it upset her.</p>
<p>Hillsdale is quite far away from where we live - we’re completely and totally southern. She has offered to help me pay for a car, though, if I choose that school. I feel a little bad for being so critical of her!</p>
<p>Hmm. I’ve never even heard of Hilllsdale. I looked up the stats and they are somewhat better than Alabama, but not overwhelmingly so. A large University has a lot to offer educationally which you may not find at a small school. You may also have access to a large and possibly helpful alum network and better job placement/recruiting at a place like Alabama. I cannot see any logical reason why Hilllsdale is such a clear choice based on academics. I’d send my own daughter to Alabama in a heartbeat if those were the only choices. They do have an honors college and some serious students there; I’m sure it’s not all pool parties. I rather suspect that the real reason behind this inexplicable insistence is that your mom doesn’t really trust you and feels you would be less likely to get in to some kind of trouble in a rather restrictive religious environment than at a big state school. Perhaps you should ask @mom2collegekids to write a note to your mom on your behalf explaining some of the opportunities–she seems to enjoy promoting Alabama.</p>
<p>My concern is that she seems to be pushing so hard for it if something doesn’t work out while you are there you will resent her and dream of how it could have been if you only went to the school of your choice. I’m guessing that no matter how bad it may turn out she will never allow you to transfer either.</p>
<p>If you do end up going you should try to make it as social as you possibly can. Join clubs. Create your own - maybe ones that can get you off campus and meeting people. Make sure you get a good computer because you will be doing online socializing I bet. Find others that seem to want to go out and get together for day trips on the week end. Don’t let the percieved solitude do a psychological attack on your mind or you will go nuts. You may end up being the ‘wild one’ on campus having parties just to migle with people that are not in your class.</p>
<p>Before you get the car you better check to see if freshmen are allowed them.</p>
<p>Point out that your career prospects will be improved if you go to a big school like UA, which has great recruiting potential. Also, you’re more likely to make better friends there if you like it more, which leads to networking opportunities. Say that you could better hone your social skills at a big school.</p>
<p>And maybe you could say that you want to save money for grad school, so getting a full scholarship is important to you. Or point out that UA is much stronger in a certain major than Hillsdale. Perhaps there are research opportunities you want that are available at UA but not Hillsdale? I’m sure there are many ways UA is better for you.</p>
<p>If you like the environment at Alabama, I can’t imagine you will be happy at such a tiny school as Hillsdale. The two schools are extreme opposites. I would really hold out for Alabama. Since you are receiving full tuition, your Mom really shouldn’t have any objections. You are the one attending college, not your Mom. Will you be part of the honors program at Bama? If so, you will be getting a very good education and will have the advantage of great alumni connections, more intern opportunities, more clubs and more community involvement. My son is also very social and loves all of the activity on his large campus. He would be very unhappy at a tiny school. I think you will be miserable at Hillsdale. </p>
<p>What do you plan on majoring in?
What do you want to do after undergrad? </p>
<p>From what it looks like so far, you’ll hate a small school like Hillsdale, and would flourish at a big school like Alabama. You can either have the small village where everyone knows everyone (where, if you don’t fit, it may actually be very, very difficult to find your niche or people a lot like you), or you can go to the big city where you can easily find a great fit and people just like you. Before you decide on Hillsdale, make sure you rethink this. You’ll be independent in less than a year. The beginning of that independence is in your decision as to where you will spend the next four years of your life. </p>
<p>We are looking at some bigger schools for my son. The bigger school helps to fund study abroad and guarantees the same tuition at the school while the small lac makes you completely on your own and is very expensive. This is a selling point for me.</p>