<p>Hmm. Didn't financial aid have a significant impact on the decision process for anyone on this thread? My daughter got into several good schools and got nice aid packages at all of them. However, going to her first choice would have been a major financial stretch for us, and that's with her taking out substantial loans over four years. Ultimately she did get to make a choice: between the LAC that offered her the best package (no loans needed) and the honors program at our state university. She chose the former, and we're all hoping for the best. It's hard to say "No" to a kid who's worked so hard, but sometimes ya gotta do it.</p>
<p>College I wish my son attended: The Free One.</p>
<p>(with a choice of three full rides and one with no FA--guess which school my kid picked?)</p>
<p>I loved Notre Dame, I thought Villanova was a great fit, I'm really glad that Duke never really came to the table, but Cornell is an awesome place. He picked it -- and he is living the dream! GO BIG RED!</p>
<p>I only wish it was closer ... the road trips to Ithaca are forever!</p>
<p>We went from college to college thinking, "How can he say no to this wonderful place?" In the end, he had to say no to 9 wonderful places. And I think he picked a total winner for him. My son will be 19 in November. It maybe gives me a greater trust in his ability to choose. I was 16 when I chose a college for myself and I was right. Dare to trust your child! JMHO.</p>
<p>
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College I wish my son attended: The Free One.
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LOL! That's what I was going to say. ;) Except I would have said "College I wish my son and daughter attended: the free one" Oh well..... They both ended up at a great place. (I really DID love Carleton, but it might have been a bit far removed from the real world for DD.)</p>
<p>D knows herself better than anyone. She turned down a couple schools that might have been more appropriate for her academically, but she knew that she needed some things socially that she could best get at the school she chose. She is very shy, and developing herself socially is as important as developing herself academically. As long as she is prepared for dental school, which it appears she will be, it's all good.</p>
<p>kelsmom</p>
<p>I totally agree that the social fit makes the academic one easier.</p>
<p>I bit my tongue about Colgate for my dd; she chose Villanova. I was worried that the academics weren't strong enough. Quite the contrary, she found every single professor and class she took this past freshman year to be excellent, and ultimately found her "people" (sweats and running shoes to class/no heels and name brand clothes, lol!) and activities to suit her, not to mention the country girl discovering the joys of a big city (oh, the "art museum ecstatsy", e.g., to quote her!) Colgate would have been too isolated for her, and no Irish studies- she was right.</p>
<p>Although both kids liked Brown well enough it was not the top pick for either (though they both liked the option of pass/no credit. One was rejected; one wasn't. I think both wanted more of an immersion in a strong culture -- one urban, one rural, and Brown seemed more familiar. (I know some would argue that Providence is a city, but not for kids who spent entire childhood visiting in Manhattan.</p>
<p>My daughter is going to Ohio State. I wish she was going to a smaller school. She was accepted at three other schools, but chose not to attend for various reasons. Sigh . . .</p>
<p>"But, at the end of the day, it's their choice." </p>
<p>I wish that was the way it was. I really wanted to go to a small school up north and have cold winters and the whole LAC thing. But we just couldn't afford it. So I'm going to UF. I never had dreams of a huge in-state public school... but sometimes reality is harsh.</p>
<p>I had always hoped my S1 would go to UChicago. It was nip-n-tuck, but he did indeed pick it, wish fulfilled, ...and he loves it. Now to work on S2.</p>
<p>"there's," not "their's."</p>
<p>St. Olaf, with the wonderful music and values oriented education was the place that really impressed me. The feeling of the white stone buildings on the hill did something lovely for my soul. Were I to live life over again...One daughter applied, but moved on to other places that spoke to her more emphatically.</p>
<p>We liked the tradition of UVA, D chose the wilds of Berkeley. It was the right place for her, she needs to be close enough to visit home and have visitors and would not have been happy back east. She just stays connected to her old places and people and she knew what was right for her.</p>
<p>Money will definitely play a role for us. In fact I've tried NOT to visit places that as a matter of practice don't give much merit aid. Some do give generous financial aid but our EFC is high and many of these top tier places can afford to pick and chose amongst Ivy class applicants, which my D, frankly, is not. I think she would garner decent packages from Mount Holyoke... (she does not want single sex school) and perhaps some engineering/science type schools, ie., WPI, Rensselaer, owed to the under-representation of females at those type schools, but thus far she won't bite on those either.</p>
<p>The college I WISH my S attended? Probably one he didn't get into.</p>
<p>The last school we visited (Case) became my favorite while we were there. But I knew my techy kid wouldn't choose it over the engineering sandbox called RPI, and I would be fine with his decision. Surprise! He chose Case within a couple of hours after we arrived (but I think he was afraid we wouldn't approve).</p>
<p>No regrets here. Both sons are happy with their choices, and thus so am I.</p>
<p>Me, on the other hand, I wish I had gone somewhere smaller.</p>
<p>I wanted my son to attend a small liberal arts college, but he is going to a large university. Now that I see the breadth of offerings and that he still seems to be getting individual attention, I am coming around to his point of view.</p>
<p>S, a rising sophomore, told us for years that he was going to live in a van by the side of the river (shades of a Chris Farley character?). He finally admits that he hopes to go to a medium-sized, private university. Given his history, I will be happy with any school he chooses!!!</p>