<p>I agree that it is the student's ultimate choice, but it can also be frustrating when a very appropriate school gets dropped off the list due to the whims of the weather that day. S dropped UPenn from his list after arriving fresh from sunny CA on a day when it rained nonstop. Forget fine programs, like-minded students, everything positive, he wouldn't apply because it was "too gloomy." It's no skin off my nose, really, but you do wonder what if it had been a glorious sunny day, with students frolicking on the quad....maybe a different story. On another campus, an LAC in MA, he wasn't into the tour for 10 minutes before he turned to his dad and said, "too pretentious."</p>
<p>A friend's daughter refused to consider colleges with "funny names" which to her, included Wesleyan and Tufts. A 17-year-old's winnowing process is not always razor sharp. </p>
<p>Looking for a good "fit" is important, but IMO it's not the most crucial thing. It's possible for students to find their "fit" on many different campuses once they have gotten there and are looking for ways to make it work rather than reasons to cross it off a list.</p>