<p>Thank goodness for CC.
D is taking a gap year ( she had planned to take a whole year to volunteer- but is now working for half to support her volunteer time).</p>
<p>Last year, she was interested in colleges that were academic/financial reaches- didn't apply.
The schools she * did* apply to , she was accepted to, but while they are good schools & I have met/know quite a few people who have attended/are attending them who love it ( as has she- ), she is not happy with her choices and is resigned to attending a school she doesn't really like.
I've mentioned to her, she could apply elsewhere- doesn't want to.
I am crossing my fingers she can at least keep an open mind especially as to assume the people who are attending , are only doing it because they can't go someplace else, is a little - shall we say negative?</p>
<p>I know there have been many students who ended up attending schools that were 3rd or 4th choices & have come back to say how it was working out well for them.</p>
<p>I would show her those threads- but don't want her to think I am obsessed with CC :o</p>
<p>ek4 - D2 was one of those who ended up at her not first choice school, but I'd say she can't imagine being anywhere else now. What she told me was that (and I thought it very mature at the time) she wanted to give it six weeks before she even placed herself in the position of thinking transfer, and if I didn't hear from her by six weeks, consider her permanent. She didn't think it was fair to enter a school already thinking of transferring, which I admire. To be fair, it was an unknown school on the east coast, and I think she wanted to say she was going somewhere people (well, at least in the midwest) had at least heard of. Once she got there, it mattered not one iota.</p>
<p>I attended a less reputable school my first two years out of high school (Texas State University), thinking it was the perfect fit for me. Junior year I transferred to UT-Austin, and was much, much happier. Although it's tempting to project what those four years will be like, there's absolutely nothing that can guarantee accuracy on this matter.</p>
<p>I have had several students who did not get into their top choices. They recovered and now thrive in that second, third or fourth choice. For example, the girl who finished No. 2 a couple of years ago wanted to go so badly to one of the top schools in the nation. Always had wanted that. She was rejected. She was devastated and went to her No. 2 choice. Today, she cannot imagine going anywhere else. Another student -- same school, same story. Got nearly a full ride to the backup and loves it. The valedictorian who did not get into an Ivy but loves another New England school. She cannot see herself any other place. </p>
<p>Things have a way of working out. They did for some of my former students.</p>
<p>In the spring of his senior yr., S2 was heard muttering that "everybody knows anybody can go to Directional State U." which was of course the school he was planning to attend.<br>
I told him that with an enrollment of over 25,000, I seriously doubted that all those students were there because it was the only place they could go and that the school is known (in our state anyway) for having lots of school spirit so they are prob. not all sitting around wringing their hands about not going somewhere else. </p>
<p>It helped his attitude when he found out others (who he considered cool people) fr. his h.s were planning to attend and they started talking it up and making plans.
He went to Orientation in June and really liked it and after the first football game, was hooked for good. </p>
<p>I thought it funny that he visited some h.s friends in the fall who attend a bigger name state u. (that he would not have been accepted to) and went on and on when he called me about how he didn't like that sch. at all and that his sch. was so much nicer! Now he wouldn't want to be anywhere else.</p>
<p>ek4, as other have said, let her spend sometime in school first.</p>
<p>I don't know how much you remember my DD's story. She had her eyes locked on a program at WashU, her best friend is going there, they treated her very well during her visit as one of the few invited students and the program director promised to take her in. Well, lack of aid $$ from WashU and the generous aid $$ from Stanford made it very difficult for her to go to WashU. Even during the admitted student week at S, DD was still thinking about WashU.</p>
<p>About one month at S, DD started to tell us how much she likes the school. During the winter break, she was shouting out loud - "I love my school" and she can't wait to get back there. </p>
<p>So, it may take a while. Give her some time.</p>
<p>My cousin's D grew up dreaming of going to UNC. She applied there and to other equally prestigious schools such as UVA and William & Mary. She didn't get into UNC but got in to all the others. She was devastated - couldn't eat, sleep, or function for a while. She researched the schools in North Carolina that had good transfer rates to UNC, applied to Appalachian State and went there with the sole plan of transferring. Instead, she fell in love with App State and soon completely forgot about UNC. She still visits friends and teachers in Boone and says that going there was the best thing she ever did. Even though she went with the intention of transferring, things still worked out well.</p>