<p>ojnamik - D1 ended up at a school she didn’t expect to go, certainly not her dream school. But once she arrived, what she loved about it was that students were very down to earth, they were very smart, but didn’t sit around to gab all the time. During their free time, kids went to the farmers market, hiking, skiing, a lot of what the area had to offer. At her large U, kids also had more options to participate in activities they enjoyed and have many different circle of friends.</p>
<p>Each of mine made it into their respective dream schools. One went to hers and it worked out as planned. The other two ended up choosing places other than their designated dream schools for various reasons and it’s worked out exceptionally well for them also. </p>
<p>I’m convinced that at least 80% of the formula is not the school, but the student. I wish more students recognized they are the greatest part of the equation. Far too much credit is given to schools for student success or failure.</p>
<p>I’m constantly struck on CC by how many of the 18-year-olds who are heading to college in order to experience a wider swath of the world and sense of their own potential, already think they have their world and themselves categorized. They need a liberal or conservative school, the other students have to dress this way and not that, they couldn’t possibly cope with classmates who wouldn’t validate their current religious views, they won’t consider such-and-such a college because it doesn’t offer the esoteric concentration in a particular major which on this particular day seems like the foundation of their future. The honest truth is that very, very few 18-year-olds have the experience or perspective to limit their future options in that way, which makes the whole concept of a “dream school” fairly random. Bright kids usually surprise themselves with their capacities to bloom where they’re planted.</p>
<p>Our two Ds grew up in a small town and yearned for the bright lights and dazzling peers. They set their sights on an Ivy and subsequently got in, but both had non-Ivy “dream schools” at with they’d have certainly been just as happy. Our last, a 12th-grade S, has similar stats but his dream school is his present HS. He doesn’t look forward to leaving his friends and HS activities, so he’s never been interested in looking at colleges. Now that he needs to make choices, he’s looking at flagship honors colleges which would provide him the chance to continue in a top-level marching band, and it’s fun to see him light up at the realization of how appealing all the various options are. I’m enjoying the college visits this time around without the stress and angst.</p>
<p>D wanted an upper Ivy. She was waitlisted then rejected. She accepted a combined ba/md program and has told me repeatedly she is happier there than her orignal dream school. They also accepted 29 credits from ap’s and summer programs ivies do not recognize.</p>
<p>Califa, if your daughter transfers which I agree with, she still has time to get a 3.5 gpa and get a 34 or above mcat score. At some little ivies they count 10 years after UG graduation as still part of their 50% acceptance rate to Med school. Many enter Peace Corps, get masters in public health etc first . Your D’s experience is why I was grateful my D did not ge into an ivy with grade deflation issues that only allow so many A’s per class.</p>
<p>Pizzagirl after going on all the tours, the top 3 ivies offer financial aid that reduces the 40k tuition to 10% of the parents income if under 150k to 180k. So if parents earn
100k- tuition is 10 grand plus board. Also these 3 schools spend about 80k on each kid when you figure all the freebees they give them.</p>