@madredos Thanks for more info. If the daughter interested in non-profit sustainable hunger relief is also the UNC Robertson, then I think taking the Robertson is a very very wise decision. A full ride will make her path so much easier and this is an area where UNC is really world class. You may not know this, but UNC has the #2 public health school in the nation (tied with Harvard, and just behind Johns Hopkins). http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-health-schools/public-health-rankings
There is an undergrad Nutrition major and a bunch of research she could get involved with. She will likely want to do a masters degree in a related field and there may be less financial support available then (where your financial support could come in handy). UNC would definitely set her up nicely. Her Robertson experiences will also allow her to explore this topic throughout the world. If this is the decision she makes, I think you can sleep easy at night that she made quite a smart one.
@madredos - I am curious what departments your daughters are considering at Stanford. There are certain majors which are great at Stanford but I am not sure what they are interested in makes a big difference at Stanford unless they have other serious choices for a major.
It sounds like they are leaning more towards accepting scholarships. Although I am a big time supporter of Stanford, there is something to be said in accepting prestigious merit scholarships because the kids feel they earned it and along with it, they are also earning their independence from being tied to parents/their income etc. Financial aid comes out different at each school and unless you have numbers from another school telling you otherwise, it would be hard to get one school to change their numbers. It is surprising that S is asking you to pay twice your efc and only they can tell you if they missed something like a twin.
@texaspg - It is Earth Systems. But I think you are right. On all counts. And I also think that in the last less than 24 hours, the CC folks have really helped me to gain perspective on my Ds choices. I think we move forward following their lead and we, as parents, let the Stanford part go. My kids are too old for Frozen but that is the song, right?
Thanks to everyone who was willing to share, question, poke and prod.
I was reading something recently ( I have no idea where), and it was a list of grads from Stanford and their various majors and what kinds of entry level jobs they got right out of school. I was blown away. You could major in basketweaving at Stanford and get a good consulting job when you graduated. Just graduating from this school seems to open all kinds of doors. However, since your daughters got these great scholarships AND got into Stanford, I am sure they will be huge successes wherever they go. I would push for Stanford if money was no object, but I know it’s because I’m impressed by the “name”. Out of curiousity, did you ever call Stanford about the EFC and ask if it was a mistake?
UNC Chapell Hill is an elite research university. Robertson Scholar makes this a simple decision in my mind.
In the Robertson program your both UNC/Duke, the opportunities are endless and the education quality is unmatched with the two universities.
I would take the Robertson in a heart beat! Congrats and Goodluck to your daughters!
Congrats to your daughters - not only on great acceptances and top scholarships but on having a good head on their shoulders. Sure, Stanford is an excellent school - but so are UNC, USC and UF. USC and UNC both have pretty elite status as well, and they know what they like. They won’t be burdened with the knowledge that their parents are pinching pennies for them to go and they’ll have lots of amazing opportunities there with those scholarships. They can do a lot - with my full scholarship I ate lunch with the president once a year and studied abroad for free and had lots of research and special class opportunities. And UNC and USC, both being elite schools, will give your daughters lots of connections and post-graduate opportunities.
I went to grad school at USC and worked at Stanford. In comparing the two, I decided that if I was a college student again, I’d be willing to pay a premium of about $15,000/year to attend Stanford over USC. So if it was a choice between USC with $50K/year Mork Scholarship vs. Stanford with no scholarship - Hello Tommy Trojan.
This would make my child reject Stanford in a minute. Would certainly make her father and me steer her in a different direction.
Not to leave it there and create angst, the entirety of the comment is one which, along with that of others who have given insight into the plus side of being in the named scholars programs, helps parents better understand and consider the long term value of such programs.
waiting2exhale
, I think juillet was referring to U of F Disney world], or perhaps USC [ Disneyland], whern she mad that remark, not Stanford, which has no Disney connection.
Chiming in late - let your daughters decide. Really, there is no wrong answer or bad decision in this, although when you mentioned their interests, I did wonder “uh, why Stanford?”. If you and your daughters figured out all the possibilities, then all is good.
OP - if I were you i would go with UNC/USC. They are both elite schools and have top academic programs.
I know its tough turning down Stanford but for a full ride at UNC/Duke with the Roberston is tough to pass up. It’s a very prestigious scholarship and you get two top schools on the resume. For me that’s a win-win and an easy decision.
If your replaced Stanford with Harvard, I would be inclined to say “Go Harvard no matter what the other offer is”. But for Stanford, I say take the money and go UNC/USC.
@ryanstark I said no to Harvard (even with aid) and took the UNC Rob offer instead. It does happen and I don’t think it’s that different of a decision.
@julliet was definitely responding to my Frozen comment! @glido - They do not want to go to the same school. They attend different high schools. @citymama9 - Contacting FA at Stanford is on the agenda this week although at this point I believe it is moot.
My D with the Robertson’s is 110% sure that she will commit to UNC this week. She loves every aspect of being a Tar Heel. It was her first choice school out of the gate and Stanford sort of snuck in at the beginning of her senior year.
My D with the Mork’s will be heading back to USC for a “not on the hot seat” visit. I feel like she should see it again now that she is not interviewing for money and has a chance to relax and REALLY see the school. Stanford is not completely out for her yet but financially it is not making a lot of sense. And UF has an excellent ag school, if she were to pursue straight ag.
