<p>UM replaced UGA on my list because of weather.</p>
<p>(though it is debatable about weather being considered a little or a big decision factor)</p>
<p>@Newsie2015 which UM?</p>
<p>@Ibad96 University of Miami</p>
<p>I figured it was not the University of Minnesota!</p>
<p>Scholarship money</p>
<p>Getting in + money.</p>
<p>My kid was swayed by the “homemade” (made by students) chemical light sabers demonstrated by current students at night during her accepted student visit to the school she ended up attending. :)</p>
<p>A full scholarship. I had initially believed that I wouldn’t receive any aid whatsoever because of my EFC. I was unaware of their merit scholarships prior to being notified of the award. </p>
<p>Interesting question. It seems like most things that would sway decision would be a “big factor”… unless all other things equal. </p>
<p>Yeah. I take my answer back. A full scholarship (or any significant amount of grant money) isn’t really a “little thing.”</p>
<p>I applied to a safety in North Carolina and I was admitted with significant merit aid (which I anticipated) - but they actually had a U.S. Representative from N.C. send me a letter urging me to attend - he was an alum himself (and I was a prospective Political Science major). I thought that was really cool. The letter and envelope had the fancy Congressional seal and everything. I still have it even though I decided not to attend.</p>
<p>Well, all offers are not in for my DD yet, but the university that has risen to the top right now has offered almost a full ride, with only a 2.0 GPA required to renew most of the scholarship $ and a 3.0 for the rest, plus the location and university offer the extracurricular activities and electives she dreams of having, that are hard to find at most universities. Plus transportation costs (by air) are cheaper and more direct than almost all the other universities she applied to. Everywhere she applied has the right major(s) of course, so it’s these other things that are making this university the most appealing so far.</p>
<p>Her list was one college, so there wasn’t much movement. However, little things like a woman’s club hockey team, swing dancing, a department merit scholarship, an invitation by the director (and department head) to watch a rehearsal during a campus visit, horseback riding, actually enjoying the football game on a visit all contributed to her loving the school even more and not looking for another. The people are just genuinely nice and have help solve any problem with paperwork, weather delays, roommate assignments, etc.</p>
<p>I can’t sa the school was o the bottom of the list, but when my son, an introvert, was in a big room with 6 people he’d never met and they were talking like they’d known each other for years within about 5 minutes, I suspected that’s where he would wind up. </p>
<p>If didn’t move the school from the bottom to the top of the list BC we couldn’t afford it he school,even after a hefty scholarship offer (well, compared to full-ride, financially it had to be eliminated$, but in one of his acceptance packages there was a very nice note from an admissions officer telling him how much he had enjoyed one of his essays and referenced part of the research Ds had completed. If all things had been equal financially at that point, that note might have tipped the scales for ds.</p>
<p>Financial aid can be used for study abroad. Paris here she comes!</p>
<p>The campus, the merit, the atmosphere…</p>
<p>BTW…there is no such word as “your’s”. The phrase should be: top of your or your child’s list.</p>
<p>It’s like finding a prom dress for us. The best fit, financially, location wise, culture, and programming. I hope the school that fits her the best in location, culture, and programming will be affordable. Right now she has tried on a lot of dresses that need altering, lol.</p>
<p>Campus visits impacted my son’s list. CMU went up, Cornell went down. I guess it is a little early to decide for him - financial aid and scholarships will be a huge part of making decision. And he needs to be accepted first too…</p>
<p>Grinnell leaped to the top of S’s list after visiting. I don’t know where it was on his list beforehand, but I hadn’t even wanted to visit - too isolated, I thought, and we’d already visited 9 other small liberal arts colleges. How different could it be? But he was wowed by the facilities first and then by how incredibly nice everyone was (and yes, it’s noteworthy, especially when coming from major metro area on the east coast). He loved the idea of walk-on sports teams, the merit aid, the small class size…it just kept getting more impressive. He called his dad as we drove away and said, “I’ve found it.”</p>
<ul>
<li>ability to get merit aid</li>
<li>being in an urban area, while also having a proper campus and student housing.<br></li>
</ul>