<p>Rice isnt really what you think of when you think of Texas. Houston is very different. I'd kill to go to a school like that.</p>
<p>Opie has made a good suggestion. Set your standards for a school, apply to some reaches, matches and safeties and see where you are accepted. Make sure you only apply to a place you are willing to attend.</p>
<p>Agreed that you should definately wait until the final offers before making your final decision. </p>
<p>Engineering would be a field in which having a degree from a prestigous technical institute may actually be worth a slightly higher initial price, though I'm not absolutely certain about it. But the difference in a Vanderbilt Engineering degree and a U of Alabama Engineering degree is not worth 200k if you know what I mean.</p>
<p>I am going to wait until I figure out where I'm accepted to decide where to attend. However at this point I have already applied to a bunch of schools and am debating whether to bother applying to more "free" schools kind of thinking along the lines of only applying to places I would actually attend. Basically I am a very confused individual who will probably end up with 15+ apps by the time this is done even though that is the very thing I laugh at other people for doing.</p>
<p>I did 15 apps and pretty much all were to schools where I will get scholarship to, so there is precedence. Usually the apps of these "less prestegious" schools are easier and don't ask for garbage like teacher recs, so it won't take much time.</p>
<p>"opie- i really like your point about making yourself anywhere.. that's the philosophy i am trying to go by but its difficult with everyone so prestige oriented"</p>
<p>The other way to look at it is dating, does it feel better to be asked or to do the asking? I never cared too much for waiting around for someone to tell me if they'll go or not... My kids are the same way.. If a school really wanted them, they listened and looked a bit harder. We spoke to a few who could care less if they came there or not.. Do you really want to convience someone who is indifferent about you to accept you? </p>
<p>Each ended up where they feel the fit is/was great. They came in knowing that college is what you make of it. not the other way round... you can be at the best college in the country and still have a bad experience... and visa versa... </p>
<p>"everyone so prestige oriented" Not everyone. </p>
<p>The most important thing is visit where your thinking of going... You're looking at a four year relationship with that school. Spend a day or two there and see what the kids are like.. </p>
<p>Good luck and remember this is supposed to eventually be fun... keep fun in mind as you look..</p>
<p>notthatgood4: which schools did you apply to? because i remember all schools i am applying to now asking for teacher recs..and it's really really slowing the process down, since i'm in my gap year and it's hard to track down my highschool teachers! lol</p>
<p>
[quote]
If you don't have the stats to get into HYPS, or merit at the lower tier schools that Northstarmom mentioned, you likely don't have the stats to get into Williams (the most selective LAC in the country)
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Close, but don't forget HMC.</p>
<p>According to USNWR 2008 "Selectivity Rank":</p>
<p>1.Harvey Mudd College
2.Williams College (MA)
3.Pomona College (CA)
4.Amherst College (MA)
5.Haverford College (PA)
6.Swarthmore College (PA)
7.Claremont McKenna College (CA)
8.Bowdoin College (ME)
9.Wellesley College (MA)
10.Middlebury College (VT)</p>
<p>Bethyy - I think we are in very very similar positions. I am applying to many of those schools you are talking about, my parents have said 'we'll pay, no matter what', but I am a NMF and can go to many good schools near free.</p>
<p>And I am applying to a mix(so I'm applying to WAY too many schools):
MSU, Alabama, and UMichigan as cheaper schools (I'm from Michigan)
But I'm also going for Williams, CMC, Pomona, Vanderbilt, Rice, Northwestern, Middlebury, Georgetown, and Haverford. If I were to apply to an Ivy - it would be Brown, but after visiting so many of these schools, I think the others would be better fits for me.</p>
<p>If I get into Williams, I am gone, other schools, I'll have to think. It'll be a tough choice.</p>
<p>OK, SarahsDad; I was going by 2007 data. And I tend to think of Harvey Mudd as more of an engineering school than a true LAC.
[quote]
Harvey Mudd College seeks to educate** engineers, scientists and mathematicians **well versed in all of these areas and in the humanities and social sciences so that they may assume leadership in their fields with a clear understanding of the impact of their work on society.<a href="emphasis%20added">/quote</a></p>
<p>If you are a national Merit Scholar, I think you should consider Tulsa University. It offers full tuition + room and board for any NMF. And it is one of the best engineering schools in the country.</p>
<p>I turned down over 8k in excess aid for just my freshman year and my parents buying me a car to go to the school I wanted to go to (and also go into debt.) It was the correct decision.</p>
<p>If money is not the problem then go to the one that you felt in love with. </p>
<p>Parents wouldn't mind to spend the money on education for you and you do not have to feel guilty about it too.</p>
<p>That is true. First wait for your acceptances. Then after you know which ones you got in, just visit them...or at least try and narrow it down to two colleges and visit those. Then choose whichever one you feel confident. The college should make you feel comfortable and secure...and if it's gonna be 200,000 $ to do that then, yea some ppl don't have that luxury but your parents are willing to pay for that comfort. If you so happen to feel more at home at a lesser prestigious uni, then great, you've got yourself a free ride and you don't have to feel guilty or regret it, because you know that the place you're going to is gonna be the love of your life for the next 4 years.</p>
<p>All I can say is, If it comes down to the school of your dreams (and over a 100,000 dollars in debt) and a school that pays your way, go for the free school. Don't burden your parents just because you like a certain school.</p>
<p>DSC- yeah we really are in quite similar situations. for me if i get into duke or brown i am gone as well. the reason i posted this thread though is because i probably won't get into those and so i just can't decide if for instance turning down a full ride at alabama is worth paying full at a school like wake forest (which i do love as well)</p>
<p>but again its not a "burden" for my parents or any debt for anyone. it's just that i have two little brothers who have to go to college too who will not most likely have the luxury of full rides. my parents can still live comfortably with sending us to the schools we want to go too but i just don't think that i can justify spending that kind of money. keep in mind that even if my parents can live comfortably they still might be stressed out more and maybe even go back to work. andd also the extra money that has already been saved for me to go to college would be mine for savings. </p>
<p>i guess its just a tough decision and that many people go through similar situations but ultimately just something i'll have to figure out. the problem is that i am the WORST decision maker ever (i decided where to go to high school by flipping a coin. i could easily see that happening for college as well)</p>
<p>bethyy, if you like one school head and shoulders better than another, ignoring prestige, but focusing on how well the college "fits" you, then go there. </p>
<p>But if all other things are equal (i.e., you like some of the schools equally well and have not basis on which to choose), follow the money. It's great that you're concerned about your parents and your little brothers.</p>