Prestige vs. Fit?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I heard from a mother today whose daughter applied to one Ivy and was admitted. She was also accepted by several LAC's ... good schools but arguably a notch down in status from the Ivy. The mom feels that the smaller schools (also more rural) would be a better fit for her shy daughter. She asked me how often students turn down a "big-name" college for a somewhat less celebrated one. </p>

<p>Certainly in my orbit it does happen ... most often for financial reasons (i.e., in-state tuition and/or good merit aid); sometimes for fit.</p>

<p>I'm curious to hear from from current college students (or their parents) who already grappled with this choice. What was your final decision? With hindsight, do you think you made the right one?</p>

2

<p>My S chose Williams over Brown, and would have chosen it over Dartmouth if Dartmouth had accepted him. Yes, he’d make this decision again.</p>

<p>He loved the entry system at Williams and the wilderness orientation trip that led directly into classes, unlike the trip at Dartmouth. This made his frosh year very comfortable, and he had an immediate roster of friends.</p>

<p>For him, Williams was just a perfect fit.</p>

<p>He has benefited from its emphasis on EC’s. He’s a member of the orchestra, the choir, has done two Shakespeare plays, is in the environmental club and plans on doing debate/mock trial.</p>

<p>He adored both of his Winter Study courses.</p>

3

<p>Thanks, mythmom. That’s helpful, and I’m glad your son has found such a great fit. Some folks, I’m sure, will jump in and say that Williams is also highly prestigious so it doesn’t “count” as a “less celebrated” school. But certainly in many circles, Brown is widely known and Williams is completely unheard of. Just today, in fact, I mentioned Williams, Amherst, and Swarthmore to a high school junior with Ivy lust, and she stared at me blankly. She hadn’t heard of any of the three.</p>

4

<p>I actually face this decision…Pomona vs Columbia. Not really sure what to do right now except visit</p>

5

<p>Sally – search the thread last year on Pomona vs. Harvard. The poster chose Pomona, and posted again a couple of months ago saying it was a great decision… well not in so many words… I think she said “it’s awesome!”.</p>

6

<p>I transferred out of a ‘prestigious’ school because it was a bad fit. I’m at a much less prestigious school now, but I’m enjoying it MUCH more.</p>

7

<p>Sally – link is here: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/484896-rejecting-harvard.html?highlight=turning+harvard[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/484896-rejecting-harvard.html?highlight=turning+harvard&lt;/a&gt; OP’s awesome comment is on page 13.</p>

8

<p>Thanks, DunninLA. I hope that lolcats4 is checking out that old thread, too.</p>

9

<p>yes, I’ve already read it, and it was very helpful!</p>

10

<p>I’ll quote what I posted on another forum. This pertains to prep schools, but I think it is in the same realm of thought. For reference, HEADS GCM are basically like the ivies of such schools. I personally believe prestige should play a role in your decision, but how much depends on what you want… Also, you should not even apply to a school if you will not “fit” in it. After that point it becomes like applying to places for the hell of it.</p>

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