Parents of CC, I could use some help.

Parents Forum
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<p>I posted a similar thread on the college search/selection forum...but I would really appreciate some adult viewpoints. A different perspective would be extremely helpful in making this difficult decision.</p>

<p>3 years ago, I was a wide eyed sophomore with aspirations of going to college. Over the years I read CC and contributed avidly, took tests, applied to college, and landed myself in my current conundrum.</p>

<p>April 1 came and went, the ivies all rejecting me in a span of 10 minutes. I was upset, but not crushed. I wasn't attached. However, the lack of acceptances from these universities left me with a (good) problem. I am deciding between 4 schools who are all fantastic, but none of which were my "top choice". Since they are all wonderful, but I am not in giddy love with any of them, I am trying to make my decision pragmatically.</p>

<p>Some information about myself:
White male from a rural Maryland community. Not particularly wealthy. Type A personality, but very laid back at the same time (does that make any sense at all?). Loves to learn and ask "why", but at the same time cannot stand intellectual pretense. Nice guy.</p>

<p>During the college admissions process, I thought I wanted to be a medical researcher or something similar. Since then I have wavered on that career plan (wondering if it would be too isolated from human interaction), and have toyed with the idea of going into more general medicine, law, or even finance. I really just do not know what I want to do with my life. I want to choose the school that will give me the best opportunity to be successful, happy, and enlightened. However, I do know that college will truly be what I make of it.</p>

<p>The choice: UVA vs. Rice vs. Vanderbilt vs. Notre Dame</p>

<p>The money is fairly equal, although Vanderbilt is slightly cheaper than the rest.</p>

<p>I have visited all four universities. I went to UVA and for some reason just didn't like the vibe (although I couldn't discount the academics). Rice was for me, amazing. The campus is fantastic, the people interesting, and the academics (in Medical/engineering pursuits) outstanding. However, I have heard that it is a very regional university, and Houston was pretty awful.</p>

<p>Notre Dame was very polarizing for me. On one hand, I absolutely loved the campus, vibe (football!), and traditions that it brought. I also got into the honors program. Additionally, the alumni network seems to be a huge plus. On the other hand, I am not Catholic (and it felt sorta oppressively religious), it is kinda expensive (3-5k more/yr than the rest), the weather is freeeezing, and the AP credit policy is kind of (quite) restrictive (I have 10 AP 4/5's).</p>

<p>Vanderbilt was the big enigma for me. There was not anything I really LOVED there (like the Notre Dame tradition or the Rice Residential college system), but there wasn't anything I strongly disliked (save for the greekishness, but I can deal). The only thing I heard negative was that the student body is pretty strongly apathetic to intellectual pursuits. However, I didn't really SEE any of that on my visit. Vandy is also the least expensive of any of the universities I was accepted to (even UMD, which I left off the list).</p>

<p>I know this is a ton of stuff, but I would really really appreciate some help from the parent community on college confidential.</p>

<p>As an addendum:
I was also accepted to...</p>

<p>Tulane (with 25k/yr in Merit aid)-but their total financial aid package was still more expensive than any of the above 4.
UMD College Park- More expensive than everywhere but UVA even with 8k/yr in merit aid (wow, way to keep your kids instate UMD)
Claremont McKenna (Parents think it is a little far away, and I'm not hugely keen on a LAC)
USouthCarolina
UAlabama (Apparently I didn't qualify for the complete full ride, although I would have strongly considered it)</p>

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<p>what stands out in your post is this: “Rice was for me, amazing. The campus is fantastic, the people interesting, and the academics (in Medical/engineering pursuits) outstanding.”
Amazing. Fantastic. Interesting. Outstanding. Those were your adjectives. You didn’t use them for the other schools.
So, as an outsider looking at only this one post, it sounds like Rice would be a great choice for you - go back and read what your wrote: your only concerns seemed to be about the city of Houston and “regionality” - but the other schools are equally “regional” or the equivalent by some standard or other that is really not particularly relevant for you, and all are fine schools where you would get a great education.</p>

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<p>I guess I should add that Notre Dame pretty much intoxicated me with good vibes.</p>

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<p>Notre Dame is a fine school. It is more conservative socially and politically (you won’t find co-ed dorm rooms), so be sure you have fully investigated that. It is also hard to get to and cold.</p>

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<p>^ What you’ve heard about Rice is not correct. Perhaps this is the result of some Northeastern bias. Speaking as a Californian, Rice has a national reputation, as do the other three universities on your list. Houston will provide you with lots of internship opportunities. It sounds as if you could narrow this list to Rice and Vanderbilt, based on what you’ve written here. Given the career choices you’re thinking about now, either school would be a great place for you. </p>

<p>Where do you want to live? At which school can you see yourself? Maybe you can answer your question that way.</p>

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<p>I’ve pretty much crossed off UVA in my mind.</p>

<p>I loved Notre Dame too CalAlum. That’s my problem!</p>

<p>@mamenyu: Yes, I drove 12 hours to get there, and parietals were kinda eh. However, I loved my visit! </p>

<p>I don’t know where I want to live, and I could see myself at all four places (although I’m not too sure I would fit in with the fratosphere at UVA/Vandy (although I could make friends). I’m a pretty gregarious person.</p>

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<p>From what I am picking up on your personality, coupled with your need to explore your various interests and have the latitude to do that, I would recommend Rice. I would have also said Tulane, but you have ruled that out based on money. Vandy would be good too, I am sure it is not apathetic to intellectual pursuits. However, Rice will be more focused in this regard. Houston is not my favorite city either, but the area around Rice is very nice. Plus you will like it when it is in the 60’s and 70’s in the winter. It just seems to me the vibe at Rice and the vibe you project are in sync.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

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<p>Rice indeed has a national reputation. I also have never liked Houston, but I know a few people who feel the same way who attended Rice and loved it (Rice).</p>

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<p>Congrats on having such fine choices, OP. I love your description of yourself as a “nice guy.”</p>

<p>It sounds like you really do love Rice, aside from that worry about the lack of a national reputation. Of your choices, I think of Notre Dame as the most regional (and I’m from the Midwest). Rice definitely is nationally known, and its reputation and visibility are growing fast. I think you can discard that concern about Rice. Houston, unfortunately, will still have giant cockroaches.</p>

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<p>One of my major concerns with Rice was that if I wanted to go into any sort of finance (assuming a rebound over the next 4 years), it would hamstring my opportunities.</p>

<p>You don’t really see large banks or investment firms recruiting at Rice the way they do at UVA or Notre Dame (apparently)</p>

<p>@ Wjb: I try to be :)</p>

<p>@Fallenchemist: I really liked Tulane too. It kinda bummed me out. The package was basically 25k in scholarships and the other 25k in loans. Really bummed me out considering my EFC is around 10k.</p>

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<p>Go with the school you are most comfortable. The rest will fall into place with internships. Ir sounds like Rice is the one you have said the greatest number of positives about. D has two friends attending Rice (one in music, the other undecided). Both love it. If Rice had been small, D would have followed up on their mail.</p>

<p>UVa and Vandy are both very southern schools-great academically with fairly diverse students origins. Both seemed a little too Greek for D though, given the size of the schools, I imagine you could probably fine plenty of non-Greek folks. I know nothing about Notre Dame other than the folks I have met that went there are incredibly loyal to ND.</p>

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<p>Tilgaham – I’m a Maryland native and have lived in Houston for over 20 years now. Houston is actually a terrific city to live in – welcoming to outsiders, full of friendly people, very multicultural, lots of Fortune 500 companies, tons and tons of affordable restaurants, major league sports teams, top-notch cultural activities (theatre, museums, symphony, ballet), large public parks, etc. As a student, I don’t know what more you could want. And on top of that, Rice has a gorgeous campus with easy access via light rail to downtown and walking distance to Rice Village (a 16-block shopping area). Rice is not just regional. My son, who is a junior at Rice, has a great internship this summer with a financial company in NYC. It’s a great school with an abundance of resources and opportunities. I say, go for it!</p>

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<p>Often when people say they live in Houston, they really mean they live in the 'burbs outside of Houston. I did some consulting in downtown Houston and after work it’s ‘white flight.’ That said, Rice is a top school and certainly we have had many posters on this site discuss significant research opportunities offered at the school. </p>

<p>So, if you had a great vibe about the Rice campus, you may have found your school.</p>

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<p>^^^ ctyankee – not sure what you mean by that statement, but I live 10 minutes from the Rice campus and less than 10 miles from downtown.</p>

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<p>My nephew has flourished at Rice. He’s been applying to grad school and got accepted everywhere, including several that had rejected him for undergrad. He had his doubts about Houston, but it’s grown on him. Rice has a very good national reputation.</p>

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<p>The place is just so damn dead when compared to the vibe at Notre Dame (football obsession). =/</p>

<p>I am so indecisive.</p>

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<p>I am so glad that you have actually visited your options. You have arrived at a great spot. You have options. They are all good ones. There is no option that is absolutely “perfect” and there is no option that is horrid. </p>

<p>Go with your heart. If Rice speaks to your heart, then embrace it! Yes, there are down sides (wow, hot and muggy at times) – but there’s down sides to everything, including being rich and thin (not that I would know from personal experience!). </p>

<p>I would not worry about the internship stuff. Think about it. If you are happy and enthusiastic, that is going to open doors. You don’t need a gazillion internship opportunities – you need ONE that is “you” sized. Houston is a major city. I think you can trust that a smart, happy, go-getter can find an internship in Houston. </p>

<p>Jump in. The water’s fine.</p>

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<p>OK, the Rice Owls are not the football team that Notre Dame is. So, you have a combo you have to decide on: Football plus religion? </p>

<p>You might want to post over on the colleges site and read more about what it is like to be a non Catholic at Notre Dame. </p>

<p>I have to laugh. Houston is never dead. You just need to learn to two-step! Learn the Cotton Eyed Joe and life is always a party.</p>

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<p>I think Rice will be a great place for you. It has a great reputation nationally (especially in sciences), it is not too big, very friendly, and rigorous at the same time.</p>

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<p>Gosh, what a nice dilemma to have! :)</p>

<p>Sounds like you really like Rice. ND is terrific - I know a Catholic guy there who is most decidedly liberal (doesn’t quite fit into the “Catholic” mode that many ND students fit) - he is happy there. Yes, it’s cold in the midwest … but we love our seasons! South Bend isn’t a metropolis, but it’s got all the trappings of a real civilization. My D goes to Vandy & really likes it, but I sort of sense from your posts that you might want to concentrate on Rice vs. ND - which is absolutely fine.</p>

<p>I don’t think any of your choices would be disappointing. Not very helpful of me. Sorry.</p>