Not quite the same thing as an HCBU but after being wholly unwilling to consider an all-women’s college in my youth, I now see the value, and would consider same for one of my kids. Certainly not for everyone, but if the idea sings to her, why not?
There is a wonderful scholarship at Smith ($20k/yr plus, I believe, a $4k stipend, for the student to do research with faculty. https://www.smith.edu/academics/applied-learning-research/stride-program. But she doesn’t want cold. And Agnes Scott is too close to home. Did she apply to chapel hill and Thor big scholarship? Or UGA’s foundation fellows?
@ucbalumnus I will be ecstatic if she goes through for a PhD, but I am just a little bit nervous that she will not want that level of commitment (10 years of undergrad and grad school that she is choosing at age 17). But I am confident she would make it through her master degree but that probably won’t be free.
Is she interested in chemistry or chemical engineering? Chemical engineering bachelor’s graduates should be able to find related career-track employment unless there is an industry or economic downturn. Chemistry appears to be more difficult at all degree levels.
@calmom Thank you for the words of encouragement.
@jym626 She didn’t apply to Chapel Hill or the Big Thor Scholarship. She missed UGA Foundation’s deadline (lot of applications where being submitted around that time). She got the OneUGA Scholarship ($1500) a year
@ucbalumnus Chemistry is her chosen major which is a tough major to make money. I am hopeful however, because she is taking AP Computer Science and she is showing a gift for coding. Working on my Jedi Mind tricks to get my daughter to find a more lucrative major that will make her happy.
Apologies for the typo- that should say “The big scholarships” (not thor big scholarships-- that’s a new one on me 
) at UNC (e.g. Robertson, Morehead-Cain), etc.
“Working on my Jedi Mind tricks to get my daughter to find a more lucrative major that will make her happy.”
It’s awesome that you’re resisting the dark side using your powers for good! 
Jumping in late here. My kids go to a high school where there are a handful of the “right schools” (Harvard, MIT, Yale, Stanford, Princeton, CalTech) and everything else is considered meh. (I was at a local Starbucks a few months ago and overheard “I’m afraid my daughter is going to shame the family by only getting accepted at a lower Ivy” which was received by the other parents with nods of understanding.) It is FAR more important for a kid to attend a college where they will learn, thrive, and be happy. You and your daughter are doing the right thing.
How many of the graduates of that high school actually do go to the “right schools”?
@milee30 I just need to be careful. Daughter is “Force sensitive” so I will have to be a Master.
@SwimmingDad Thank you for the supporting comments. I am now at peace (was really just worried about failing her but I am supporting her choices that she has made after her own due diligence)
@ChangeTheGame Most likely she is Jyn Erso and she’ll actually be the one in control of the force.
I’m betting on the young Padawan.
I’ve gotta say this whole thread has really made me smile. As a parent of a kid who attended the same kind of high school SwimmingDad’s kids attend, I so appreciate reading about a parent who is letting the child take the lead while still providing guidance and support. Bravo to you @ChangeTheGame and to all of the CC posters who have shown support. Pretty awesome.
@ChangeTheGame I’ve also found this thread inspiring. We’ve been primarily concerned with the bottom line financially, but this thread is a reminder that we need to consider the overall college experience, as well.
@ChangeTheGame - I hope you were being tongue-in-cheek about choice of major, because students often change majors and I think that more often than not people end up with careers that are not tied closely to undergraduate major in any case. My daughter-in-law was a literature major; now she is a doctor. (But a well-read doctor!)
If your daughter majors in chemistry it doesn’t mean that she will necessarily have a career as a chemist-- and if she decides to change majors midway through and chooses to major in the humanities … same deal. A college education is only the beginning. It lays a foundation or the future, but doesn’t lock anyone in. Plus life throws up a lot of surprises along the way in any case.
@ucbalumnus About 10-12 for Harvard, 10 for MIT, 1-2 each for Princeton, Yale, CalTech…usually 0-1 for Stanford. The ridiculous thing is about 75-100 from each class applies to Harvard and MIT.
Another fun fact: 200+ seniors out of 500 are taking AP Physics this year. So I expect the numbers that apply to Harvard and MIT to rise even further which will put even more parental pressure on these kids…and teachers.
It’s a very, very unhealthy environment.
Does your kid got to TJ, @SwimmingDad ? Here, its often the opposite. Its often hard to get kids o look outside of the region, or away from the flagship U.
So about 25 (5%) out of 500 matriculate to those “right schools”… do the other 95% and their families have to suffer in shame as you suggested from the coffee shop conversation you heard?
Sounds like it if 95% are seen as shameful embarrassments for not getting into the “right schools”…
@gearmom You are probably right.
@crimsonmom2019 Thank you for the support. The CC community’s knowledge and opinions have helped me immensely.
@jazzymomof7 I met my soulmate, my best friends in the world, became resilient, got my education, and gained a measure of purpose for my life in college. My hope for my daughter and all students is that college does those same things for them (for the right price). I believe you can have it all…