<p>For child #3 it was;</p>
<p>1.Large Research University
2.</p>
<p>sorry. Child #3</p>
<p>1.Large Research University
2.In a nice college town
3.With a good high tech computer science department
4. Within a day's drive from home (due to follow up othodontic work after surgery)
5. And not too expensive so he can come out debt free</p>
<p>and child #2 it was;
1. Wherever she wants to go
2. That is not too expensive so she can come out debt free</p>
<p>which turned out to be ;
1.A large university in the South with a top football team
2. which had a friendly and not tense feeling</p>
<p>With child #1 we were not making lists. Our college search was local as he went to college as a high school senior due to high SAT scores and general dissatisfaction with the high school curriculum. He attended a local college 2 1/2 years but dropped out to pursue first work in a rare bookstore and later years of volunteer and travel in South America.He now at 25 works for a labor union.</p>
<p>Son received a great deal of help from his College Guidance Counselor, who presented him with a list of suggested options in late Spring of his Jr year - based on his GPA and SAT score thus far. She told us to begin visiting - "get onto campuses as much as you can" she advised. She wanted him to start getting a "feel" for campus life and size of schools.</p>
<p>The visits proved to be a great help because what he liked early on changed as we visited more schools. </p>
<p>Eventually, his choice was based on:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Selectivity (this was a given as a first consideration...once we had an idea of where he fell within the realm of selectivity, we knew where he could focus)</p></li>
<li><p>Size (he wanted a larger mid sized school - this became more and more evident as we visited and he turned up his nose at the smaller LACs because of their size)</p></li>
<li><p>Location (had to be Urban! Again, the visits helped flesh this out...this is how he ruled out Williams and Amherst after a visit)</p></li>
<li><p>Location (couldn't be in a "natural disaster" prone area. People laughed about this when he came up with this rule, but now he laughs at us and says he has one word for us "Katrina"....this ruled out Stanford and some of the very Southern schools)</p></li>
<li><p>Location again (couldn't be in a snow belt or somewhere too cold...again, ruling out some of the more Northern schools)</p></li>
<li><p>Couldn't be HYP - he visited P (walked out on the tour midway through with eyes rolling - we had a big fight in the car on the way home) (wouldn't step on H's campus, though we were in Cambridge - another fight in the car) and actually liked his tour of Y, telling me he planned to apply - until he learned Y is spoken of in the same breath of H and P....)....that ended that. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>In the end, the choice really wasn't that hard. So many of the schools for which he was academically matched were ruled out for other reasons (whether rational or not). </p>
<p>An overnight visit at his first choice secured the ED app decision...and there he is today. Actually, his ED school was his first choice from Sophomore year.</p>
<p>momsdream; Concerning the 'selectivity' factor, how did you know where your son fell? Was it cut and dry, like he was a Nat. Merit Scholar?</p>
<p>I only know what not to do. Have S come home a day before mid-year break, while a junior, and announce he's ready for college. Seems principal objected to paying for his classes at local U, and.....
Ran to B & N, got college book, tried to figure out good schools in math/science, download forms for teacher recs, type in general info, make calls to alumni, etc. Next day calling schools to see if could arrange local interviews, altho late. First application went out 3 days later, when due. Didn't know to track, and thankfully, teachers and GC rushed to deliver within days!
Certainly missed some excellent schools (who knew P so good? Or that other schools wouldn't grant interview, even with dozen of family alumni?). Never visited until admitted.
I've posted this saga before, but I hope it helps people to relax and try to enjoy the process of choosing among so many wonderful schools.
I guess those who spend a year planning a wedding would think this last minute process horrendous, but I've learned the value of running off to Vegas.</p>
<p>BHG-
In response to your question, the NMSC scores were in, but we didn't know whether or not he would be a Scholar. He had received the notice that he <em>may</em> qualify. He had already taken the SATs, which were good - not stratospheric (he later prepped and boosted the score significantly). He did have some impressive and unique ECs. </p>
<p>We relied on what his GC suggested. I'm not sure what criteria she used to arrive at the list and we never asked. His school has a history of incredible success with Ivy&Co. admission, so we just trusted in that. The list he was given included about 40 colleges - from the top down. In this meeting ,the GC crossed off some of the school and highlighted others (making reference to my son's personal interests and desires). She was realistic in telling him what he needed to do to improve chances at certain schools (get the math SAT score up, get your GPA up by X). She never made any guarantees, but she told him where he had a shot. </p>
<p>Keep in mind that my son is African American. I think his GC knew what we didn't at that point - he was in the top 1% SAT of AA applicants (top 5% of all test takers, which doesn't mean too much if you're a BWRK - but means a lot for URM with a story). She never mentioned that to us - never making any reference to the URM situation. I only learned of that from this board, but never told S. I say this because I acknowledge that this situation is a little different and doesn't apply to everyone. I do believe parents/students can get a good feel by late Spring of Jr year.</p>
<p>momsdream, I think you had an outstanding GC -- she seems to have been quite knowledgeable, and had good, practical ideas about how to choose a college. Is this a public or private school? In any case, what a treasure she is!</p>
<p>sjmom-</p>
<p>I hate to brag so much about this GC, but she was really wonderful to work with. At the end of last year, she moved to the role of head of College Guidance at the school (last year there was a ratio of about 6 students to every GC - not sure if that fluctuates from year to year) so there's a guidance staff under her now. It's a relatively small private school (appx. 80 in the senior class).</p>
<p>She never recommended ED and never suggested any particular schools. However, once S made his list and decided to apply ED, she kept us focused. </p>
<p>I always tell the story of her approach to outside recommendations - in this school, a teacher writes one rec and the GC writes the other. She told son to get an outside rec for one of his ECs (this EC was the "theme" of his app - so she understood and valued the idea of using application "themes" and maximizing them). The rec was glowing and contained a few quotes that she thought would grab the reader, but she feared the college wouldn't bother to read it since it was a third rec and was from an outside source. So, she said she would weave the quotes into her own rec so as to give the reader a hint of what is written in the outside rec. Even if the reader decided against reading the outside rec, they get the salient points of the outside rec because they have to read hers. </p>
<p>It's the little things like this that can make all the difference. Every student's situation is unique and there's no mass-strategy for admissions. Last year was an unusually difficult year in admissions and our school had less success than in years prior. </p>
<p>My S is lucky. Had we been left to go it alone (without a strong guidance program), I don't know how this would have played out.</p>
<p>Many of us - especially with kids in public schools - have not been so fortunate with GC's. At many schools, the GC's mainly process the paperwork and are not knowledgeable. We got mainly warnings about applying to selective schools. Even if the intentions were good, the advice was not helpful.</p>
<p>edad-</p>
<p>I know what you mean. Seems that the "warnings" are common, as we hear about so many them here on CC. I can imagine how intimidating it must be for a GC who doesn't have a track record with the ultra-selective schools. I mean, here you have this student who really wants something and depends on you to help make it happen (not to mention some of the parents who will make your life miserable if their child is deferred or denied).</p>
<p>Even those of us at small private schools have not been so lucky. My D's GC is the head of guidance. He has NEVER met with her to discuss her college lists. WE met with him as her parents last spring because we made an appoinment with him. Otherwise, he has been strictly hands off. I suspect this is because so many of the parents at the school are so "high maintenance" that, if he is not bugged, he views it with relief. I've been fortunate to have the advice of so many of you on the boards.</p>
<p>"My D's GC is the head of guidance. He has NEVER met with her to discuss her college lists. "</p>
<p>He needs to be moved out of that role. He should at least give her a basic level of support.</p>
<p>Our DS did essentially all the work in this regard, with us providing a general parameter on our financial contrubution, so I suppose he should be providing an answer here. But since he does not do CC, I will give it a stab.</p>
<p>First priority was the prospects for merit aid. With no need aid in the cards and with him solely responsible for tuition/spending money/books, merit aid was important to him.</p>
<p>Second priority was programs in his anticipated major. This became a very high priority when he stumbled on the interdisciplinary AI program which excited him.</p>
<p>Third priority was relative strength of the CompSci department and program.</p>
<p>Fourth priority was location. He wanted to stay within a days drive of home, about 600 miles or less.</p>
<p>Fifth priority was size. While he applied to our flagship university, he preferred smaller. And while he applied to some LAC's, he preferred larger.</p>
<p>That was about it. His final three choices were Rensselaer, Case and Oberlin. He chose Rensselaer because of merit aid and program.</p>
<p>Our S is just beginning to formulate his desires, even though he's a senior.</p>
<ol>
<li>Good track/cross country program</li>
<li>Good track/cross country program in the Northeast</li>
<li>Good track/cross country program in the Northeast that needs a distance runner (see a pattern here??)</li>
<li>Have a variety of majors...hasn't yet formulated what he wants to do (phys ed? business? something else?)</li>
<li>Nice "college feel" to it, but in an area where there's something to do off campus. (Although we only drove through, he was impressed with UConn)</li>
<li>Not too big, not too small</li>
<li>Cost...needs lots of need aid</li>
</ol>
<p>My daughter's parameters:</p>
<ul>
<li>small (preferrably under 2,000), strong sense of community, mainly residential campus</li>
<li>accessible faculty and emphasis on discussion rather than lecture classes; emphasis on interdisciplinary and experiential learning</li>
<li>Strong in social sciences. Advanced art classes open to non-majors; some creative writing classes in the English department. </li>
<li>strong school sponsored study abroad programs of various lengths and to unusual places</li>
<li>sense that students care about and are involved with community service, political issues, creative pursuits rather than conspicuous consumption</li>
<li>no girls carrying designer pocketbooks or wearing high heels to class - She disqualified several great schools on this factor alone.</li>
<li>no frats/sororities, or very limited participation</li>
<li>no outside roads directly through campus</li>
<li>real closets in the dorms</li>
<li>preferrably somewhere outside of California, with a change of seasons</li>
</ul>
<p>Out of the 8 schools she's applied to, four satisfy her requirements exactly (they're her top choices), the other four meet most of her requirements. No girls with designer bags and high heels seen at any of them. :)</p>
<p>3 kids - and like others on here, 3 different stories. Starting from scratch each time, I'm afraid.</p>
<h1>1 list:</h1>
<ol>
<li>major -- rejected schools where econ dept. had only a few teachers, or school reputation for major wasn't strong.</li>
<li>fit -- he's a one-sided academic, brainy type, who also enjoys social things. Spent his HS years feeling square-peggish, looking for others like him.
Result: UPenn - graduated last spring, now employed in DC. Excellent fit all around.</li>
</ol>
<h1>2 list:</h1>
<ol>
<li> Quality / Reputation of music program</li>
<li> Reputation / Fit of music teacher.
Result: Sophomore at Juilliard, and loving it.</li>
</ol>
<h1>3 list:</h1>
<ol>
<li> Strong languages (foreign, English, linguistics)</li>
<li> Amenable to unusual HS experience (3 years in Germany, will be graduating in US.)</li>
<li> Not flaming liberal. Gets enough of that here.</li>
<li> Music program open to non-majors.
Result: A HS junior now, still formulating list. So far (tho' early in the game), list includes:
REACH -- William & Mary
REACH--Grinnell
MATCH/REACH--Middlebury
MATCH--St. Olaf
MATCH--Furman
MATCH/SAFETY--Indiana U
SAFETY -- Mercer</li>
</ol>
<p>Carolyn,
Your D had some interesting parameters. I am curious as to the schools where high heels were common. I don't think I remember any schools with students who dress up for classes. I remember few with real closets, but maybe I just did not pay attention.</p>
<p>If I knew then what I know now I could have hired my sister to be D's college counselor because when D was 5 years old she told me to save my money becasue D would probably end up attending some expensive LAC (she came pretty darn close).</p>
<p>We began looking at schools (locally) just so she could get a feel of what she wanted.</p>
<p>For D these were her parameters:</p>
<p>After attending elementary, middle and high school in NYC she did not want her whole educational career to take place on the island of manhattan. She also had the opportunity to try out NYU, Columbia and Barnard by taking classes there for herself. </p>
<p>She wanted to go away but not too far away. She did not want to be dependent on having to fly home. After talking about Duke for almost 2 years, she said the furthest south she was willing to go was Virginia. She eliminated most southern schools, west coast and midwest schools.</p>
<p>She wanted a "real college campus like college on TV". Green grass and space was important (this eliminated most urban schools or schools with in her worlds no real campus). An attractive school was a big plus.</p>
<p>She wanted a school that was small but not to small 2000-5000 students.</p>
<p>There had to be a real warm fuzzy factor where professors "knew" students, were approachable and she wasn't just a number</p>
<p>Study abroad was a big thing for her as she would not consider attending any school without a study abroad program.</p>
<p>She liked high school but she wanted to love her college and college experience and wanted to go to school with people who loved being at their school and had a strong sense of community.</p>
<p>Being with people who were pretty down to earth was important to her.</p>
<p>She did change her thoughts and views concerning going to an "all girls school" and did apply to 3 women's colleges.</p>
<p>Diversity was a big thing because she really wanted to know that at the school she attended she would be valued, supported and embraced as a person of color. </p>
<p>Since she was undecided as a major and knew that she wanted to do a pre-med track, she wanted a school with a good placement for med school.</p>
<p>She fell in love quite a bit when looking at schools. The last place she visted, she came home and said this is the place, this is where I need to be.</p>
<p>Money was a factor, so ED was not an option because we needt ot compare packages. We looked at schools that met 100% of demonstrated need with a small amount of loans.</p>
<p>High school allowed them to apply to 8 schools, she chose 7 schools with the mindset that if she only got accepted into one school she would still be happy : Amherst, Barnard, Bryn Maw, Dartmouth, Mount Holyoke, Tufts, Williams.</p>
<p>I would have never thought my "there's NYC and there's everywhere else" kid would be happy as a clam in rural NH, but she she absolutely loves being there and has never looked back.</p>
<ol>
<li>Not too cold and no more than 4 hours from home</li>
<li>Good theater dept. coupled with good academics</li>
<li>Between 2000-5000 students</li>
</ol>
<p>Why she chose the college she did (even though it was six hours from home and very chilly in the winter):</p>
<ol>
<li>They offered the most the most money</li>
<li>They had a strong academic reputation and a decent, if not phenomenal, theater scene</li>
</ol>