<p>lkf--I didn't get the scholarship, oh well, I'm still trying to decide between Notre Dame and Dartmouth (I'm at the latter as I type this, visited the former earlier this week). Best of luck to your son!</p>
<p>Chris,
I'm sorry you didn't win a CAA, but I guess my son didn't either since we heard nothing more. You might think they would send a letter saying "Thanks for applying for CAA, but...."</p>
<p>So I guess Case is out and you are deciding between ND and Dart? My son hasn't decided yet either. ARGH! Personally, I'd like to see him go to Penn State Honors College, but Case is still a possibility. He's at All-State Orchestra this week, so we were going to see Case on Monday, but I think rain and snow(!!??) is predicted. He could go to either with minimal debt, so I'm preferring them to CMU which would result in substantial loans. Gotta look at the BIG picture, right?</p>
<p>Good luck to you with your decision. I'd be curious to know where you decide upon after your visits!</p>
<p>If getting the CAA makes the difference for whether you'd go to Case or not, it would be worthwhile to call them and check the status. It couldn't hurt. I've heard that for waitlists (at other schools) that whoever happens to be on the phone asking at the time a spot opens often gets it.</p>
<p>I agree it's difficult to not get a letter one way or the other for a scholarship that you had an application process for. Perhaps from the school's point of view, they don't want to officially deny anyone until all their offers have been confirmed for enrollment.</p>
<p>lkf--I just got back from Dimensions at Darty and liked most of it--my host could have been friendlier, but his roommates were great people. I also overslept for my flight back :(</p>
<p>Other than that, though, I had a great time. Right now I'm leaning toward Dartmouth, but I'm going to do a lot of thinking over the next few days (and hopefully get ND's revised financial aid package too).</p>
<p>I've heard good things about Penn State's honors college. However, I think that a decision like the one awaiting him would best decided (IMHO) on two factors: 1. Where would he be happiest and fit in the most? 2. As a friend of mine put it, after you graduate from a more expensive school, would the difference in income (right after graduation) account for the higher tuition? My friend, by the way, had to decide between U of Toledo and Kettering, the latter is giving him terrible aid. He's ranked 9th in the class, but isn't a good test taker.</p>
<p>If CMU is where your son truly wants to go and where he feels he belongs, he may have to be willing to sacrifice a lot more, but I think it would be worth it in the long run to look back on your college experiences as being the best that were available to you.</p>
<p>-Chris</p>
<p>Chris,
Glad Dartmouth went well. ND is really keeping you in suspense, aren't they? There will certainly be some people joining you in serious last minute thought over the next few days, my son included. He got home last night, so today we're going to evaluate the big financial spreadsheet (ugh), as well as the non-financial aspects. Why can't it be easy???</p>
<p>(I really wish he hadn't become so emotionally invested in CMU all of these years, because I think that is really the source of our problem)</p>
<p>That's funny, because the schools I originally wanted to attend were Yale and U of M. Once I realized that the first was too preppy for my tastes, and the latter wouldn't give me financial aid, I dropped them from my list.</p>
<p>Although I'd heard of Dartmouth (I originally thought it was in Nova Scotia!), I never knew anything about the school until I filled out a college search thingie and Dartmouth came up as the closest match. After I looked into it, I realized it was the perfect school for me. Likewise, I never knew anything about Notre Dame except that they were big on football, and my grandpa was (and is) a huge fan.</p>
<p>Today I got Case's financial aid--I'd pay less going to Dartmouth. I guess that's in then for Case.</p>