<p>I started posting here a few months ago about my son who has very little interest in the college selection process. We have taken him to a few local universities and he seems to have settled on Michigan Tech. He seems very excited about it! (MSU & U of M are too big for his liking.)</p>
<p>I don't usually pay much attention to what other people think/say, but this past weekend a good (and very successful) friend said, "Why are you letting him go to Michigan Tech - when he could get into much better schools?"</p>
<p>My son is fortunate that he doesn't have to work too hard for his grades - but if he put the effort in he would be top of his class. His stats are:
GPA 4.3 weighted (3.95 or above unweighted on 4.0 scale)
ACT 32</p>
<p>He is perfectly happy with his 32 and has no motivation to retake it. He is very strong in math/science and will likely go into engineering/physics...something along those lines. He doesn't have much interest in anything outside of music and video games - so the engineering direction concerns me a bit.</p>
<p>He will get a nice merit scholarship from Tech and (barring anything unforeseen) we can afford to send him there without any student loans. I just feel like this should be a safety/match school for him and he should look for some reach schools (that give good merit scholarships). </p>
<p>Do I let this go and consider our college search complete? I just feel like I am harping on him about this and it's not accomplishing anything.</p>
<p>I don’t usually pay much attention to what other people think/say, but this past weekend a good (and very successful) friend said, “Why are you letting him go to Michigan Tech - when he could get into much better schools?”</p>
<p>Ugh…why do people say these things??? Smile and nod.</p>
<p>That said…I did insist that my kids each apply to 6-10 schools. Some families have a rule that the parents get to pick 1-2 schools for the child to apply to. </p>
<p>Which schools has your son VISITED (and I mean more than just a drive by/drive thru experience)?</p>
<p>(did you pm me awhile back???)</p>
<p>*he should look for some reach schools (that give good merit scholarships). *</p>
<p>Frankly, I don’t know of many “reach” schools that give good merit for an ACT 32. There are mid-tiers that do, but I can’t think of any “reach” schools that give good merit for an ACT 32 because an ACT 32 isn’t high for a reach school.</p>
<p>First of all Michigan Tech has an excellent engineering reputation among those in the know. Graduates starting salaries are extremely competitive. That he can get merit aid and you won’t have to sell your soul to pay for the remainder is a huge advantage. </p>
<p>The school’s biggest disadvantage is it’s location which is so far north you can see Santa’s workshop on clear nights. If he’s happy with the place and you can afford it, what’s the problem? If you really want to visit some more schools think about places like Purdue, Rochester, Rensselaer or Carnegie-Mellon. Just realize that you’re not going to get the price deal you have a chance for now.</p>
<p>As for the music and video game obsession, that would make him a typical teenager. Plus given that Houghton Michigan is snow-bound 18 months out of the year, they’ll be good hobbies to have.</p>
<p>*The school’s biggest disadvantage is it’s location which is so far north you can see Santa’s workshop on clear nights. *</p>
<p>lol</p>
<p>Also, unless your son isn’t one who would likely date much or have much interest in girls while in college, I don’t like the male/female ratio at MichTech. </p>
<p>I haven’t been on its campus in recent years, but…(don’t slam me)…but, oftentimes at schools that are heavy male like that, they don’t have many good looking girls. For some guys, that’s an issue (it is to my boys…lol)…to other guys, it’s not a concern.</p>
<p>FYI:
My D is a NU grad, and now works for a large chemical company in MI, and among her peers are grads of NU, U of MI, MSU, Carnegie Mellon, Vanderbilt, U of I and MI Tech. They all hang out together, play on the same or competing athletic teams, and visit together and go to the same bars on week ends. So good luck to your son, and tell him to study hard and play hard.</p>
<p>My Iowa farmer nephew had really good grades, and decent ACT scores, and couldn’t be bothered to apply anywhere except Iowa State. Drove his mother nearly mad, because she was all ready to help him dig into the whole college search process. He applied online and had his letter of acceptance two weeks later. He has been very happy there.</p>
<p>His sister was a completely different story. She took the ACT three times, and dragged her mother around several dozen college campuses before settling on a list of about ten. She chose the one that offered her the biggest merit-aid package, and has been very happy there.</p>
<p>One family. Two very different kids. The important thing is that both of them were happy with their own college application process, and both have been very happy with their schools. I say if your kid only wants to apply to one or two places, provided that he is an automatic admit at at least one of those places, and your family can afford that place, then you are good to go. Your kid’s process belongs to him, not to anyone else.</p>
<p>*Your kid’s process belongs to him, not to anyone else. *</p>
<p>I agree that as long as finances aren’t an issue, then the process is largely the kid’s…but many of us (especially parents of sons) find that their kids need to be pushed a bit to further explore other options as well. </p>
<p>One of my kids is currently doing a summer research program at another university that he wouldn’t have even known about (or considered) if I hadn’t shown it to him and strongly encourage him to apply. He calls every few days to say how much he’s LOVING the program.</p>
<p>I think it’s important to SHOW our kids other options…take them to campus visits, have them tour the facilities, etc…and then the kid can make an informed decision…not one made from fear/insecurities/etc that sometimes comes into play. </p>