<p>Hi everyone thanks for all the insights. Like I said before, I appreciated hearing both sides to my question and whether the focus was on diversity or research opportunities (both discussions for which I was merely lurking but not posting ) I learned quite a few things. </p>
<p>Alas, it looks like I will be headed for OSU in the fall. While I’m thankful for the opportunity to graduate from college without debt, I’m kind of disappointed that my parents made it seem like it was the only viable option for me, especially since 12k was what the financial aid estimated our family should be decently able to contribute. But I understand the rationale that if my brother is going to college at the same time and I have the chance to go to college for free, I should take advantage of it. </p>
<p>I think Swarthmore would have been a better fit for me because the idea of an intense academic experience, the opportunity to become part of a tight-knit community, and close student teacher interaction are all appealing to me (though I don’t claim that at OSU I can’t find those things, just that Swat has its own kind of “signature spin” to them). However, I will definitely try to make the best of my experience at OSU, which I know offers lots of opportunities. And, as one parent suggested, I will definitely come back here to tell about my experience after four years or so. I can’t say for sure that I’ll love OSU immediately but I’ll try to make the best of my experiences.</p>
<p>briguy,
You sound like a very mature young man. Although you may be disappointed for the moment, you will doubtless find your place at OSU and carve out a wonderful college experience for yourself. I say this as the parent of a Swarthmore grad as well the parent of an incoming Swat freshman. I refused to interject myself into this conversation before today because I know my bias. ;)</p>
<p>briguy, I have attended OSU for a semester away when I was in college. I promise you that if you keep an open mind, you will get whatever you want from college out of OSU. I PROMISE! Yes, there are folks who aren’t as motivated as others, and you will find many top notch folks too. You can find anything that you want if you seek it out. </p>
<p>Also, being able to graduate debt free will be VERY, VERY nice in the future. You may not appreciate it now,but you will as time goes on. I wish you well in all your endeavors. You sound like a very nice, mature kid.</p>
<p>My S took a Japanese Immersion Program at OSU. Fantastic experience! He ended up going to home to Japan with one of the profs for 2 weeks. They all got to know each other quite well.</p>
<p>Libartsmom-Re:" The accessibility is amazing [at D’s LAC]; by contrast, at OSU, even honors undergrads are not going to have the attention of the professors, who will be focusing on the Ph.D. students."<br>
You are wrong. My son in honors engineering at OSU gets plenty of attention from professors and he is just and average honors engineering student in my opinion. </p>
<p>blossom - I was referring to friends, not every random acquaintance. I do have many friends going to/attending LACs, yes. But in any case, I didn’t count the many state-U acquaintances who never considered LACs and are not particularly ecstatic/distraught over their choice of school–those data points are irrelevant.</p>
<p>
If the a kid is a good fit for Swat and also NOT a good fit for OSU, Honors or not, then I would pity him/her. Because I sympathize with anyone who must, for financial or other reasons (such as failing to do sufficient research early enough in the process), attend a school that isn’t a good fit for their academic interests and learning style. Now, I happen to think that the OP is a good match for both Swat and OSU, with perhaps a slight preference to Swat–but as long as he would also be happy at OSU, there’s nothing to pity.</p>
<p>
But kids like the OP–smart, high achieving students who benefit from those same special opportunities–might still be miserable. Having opportunities available does not equal a good fit. For instance, some people will always be miserable at a school the size of OSU, no matter the size of their academic peer group. (I reiterate that I do NOT think the OP falls into this category.)</p>
<p>
I agree, quite obviously. But in fairness, I’d also like to say that if FA hadn’t worked out, I would have resigned myself to make the most of UDel, my state flagship. Would I have been disappointed? Probably, since I’ve done enough research to realize how well LACs fit me. But I think I still would have succeeded in the conventional sense of “success,” going to a top grad school and finding fulfillment in professorial interaction rather than peer interaction. It’s not a terrible fate; really, the only terrible fate is when this happens to a student who falls apart academically because of poor fit, as might happen to an “undecided” dabbler type that cptofthehouse worries about.</p>
<p>ETA: I wrote the above before seeing the OP’s final decision post, and I’m loath to erase all of it. But I reiterate the sentiment that I think he will do fine at OSU, with no regrets.</p>
<p>Hey Briguy, an idea just occured to me. Since you are saving your parents at least $52,000, maybe you can negotiate a car upon graduation? It doesn’t have to be a new car either. I bet they would go for it.</p>
<p>@Keilexandra: Thanks for the insights you contributed to this thread. I think I can say that you accurately summed up my situation. I guess I do have a “slight” (maybe more) preference for Swat, but I won’t and know I can’t do well at OSU if I’m determined to be miserable. </p>
<p>@taxguy: Thanks for the suggestion lol. I already have a car but would rather save the money for…some as of yet undetermined thing down the road. Perhaps grad school. And from my discussions with my parents, I am sure they would not allow me to spend a lump sum of money on some material object. :-P</p>
<p>Briguy: Did you mention in your earlier posts that you will have a brother in college at the same time? Do your parents understand that Swarthmore will divide the EFC, so that your aid will be higher in the years you and your brother are both in college?</p>
<p>I know that May 1st is not the day to be considering new information!</p>
<p>On the other hand I hope other people reading this thread in the future realize that going to a full-need school like Swarthmore has huge benefits if you have two kids in college.</p>
<p>@ 50isthenew40 (=]): Yes, my brother will be attending another public school in Ohio. My parents didn’t do much research into the financial aid process, but Swat’s financial aid office is aware that my brother will be attending a public school at the same I will. I’m assuming that’s calculated in my FA package, which now stands at 12k.</p>
<p>So your brother will be in college next year when you are a freshman?? Yes, your Swarthmore expected contribution should reflect that. They assume that the amount your parents can pay is divided. </p>
<p>I really hesitated to write that post-I was concerned that your brother would be starting one or two years later, and maybe your parent didn’t realize that their expected contribution would be much lower during those years of overlap.</p>
<p>I appreciate so much the very mature way you have conducted yourself on this thread. Your parents should be very proud of you!</p>
<p>I have no doubts you will thrive in college.</p>
<p>Good for you, briguy.
I have no doubt you will take advantage of all the opportunities at TOSU and that your future is very bright.
Along with the intellectual stuff, it could be very interesting year on the football front in Columbus.</p>
<p>He participated in the Chinese Flagship Program, and was awarded a Truman Scholarship as Junior and made the All-USA College Academic First Team in 2008. </p>
<p>His accomplishments on and off campus were many, his life at OSU highly involved and he took full advantage of his opportunities - I see you being that kind of student.</p>
<p>FWIW, I went to a state school on a merit scholarship, had a great experience, got multiple grad school acceptances, and am heading off to well-regarded, funded PhD program next Fall. </p>
<p>Like the others have said, I think you’d have done VERY well at either school!</p>
<p>I have no doubt Briguy will expand to fill the opportunities at OSU!</p>
<p>I have a similar situation…S will be a freshman in Engineering at U of Cinti. Some people raise their eyebrows and you can tell they are wondering why he didn’t go OOS somewhere. Anywhere but in town! </p>
<p>He has already contacted a prof and is looking forward to doing research as a UG. The co-op program will give him experience that will help him in this economy, and the free tuition, R& B and laptop aren’t bad, either. :)</p>
) I learned quite a few things. </p>