Thanks @trackmbe3 and everyone. Great advice, as usual.
Another thread of yours that is so interesting to read, in all its surprising evolution. I very much enjoyed your legendary one about his “average excellent” sister, who is now happy at Bates. Isn’t it fascinating how siblings can turn out so different that such different places like Penn State and Bates are right for them?
@Tigerle , it’s fun that you remember my daughter’s story, which really was full of surprises. I won’t link it here, but if anyone wants to read it, it’s called “where do the cool kids go to college.”
I have to laugh though. My son did not apply to a single college I listed in the first post, except for Binghamton. It’s interesting to see how a kid’s ideas change and solidify.
And it’s also interesting to see how parents can become more open to places they don’t like at first. That’s a thinly disguised reference to my dislike of big universities, haha. I really tried to get my son interested in LACs, but they are definitely not for him. So I’ve learned to appreciate the advantages of big schools. Will it be Go Nittany Lions!, or Go Hoosiers!, or Go Bearcats!? Stay tuned…
Any updates with Umich?
U Mich won’t be happening, @bleedorangebaby . He couldn’t be bothered to follow up. I didn’t push the issue, because we’re both realistic. My son is a great kid, but he’s more like “just below average” excellent here on CC, if that makes sense. He has a pretty good idea of his abilities and possibilities.
He knows he’s not at all likely to get into USC, but at least he had fun doing their supplemental stuff:
USC: What’s your favorite snack?
My son: Tacos
USC: What’s your dream vacation?
My son: Mexico City for tacos.
(Yes, we regularly discuss our future trip to Mexico City, when we plan to gorge on street tacos and margaritas. Lol!)
To update, his final list:
USC
U Michigan
PSU
IU
Binghamton
U Denver
Syracuse
Accepted to five of them, but his final choices are:
PSU
IU
Binghamton (In case you are wondering why he applied there, when it is clearly not like the others, he was very adamant that if he was going to apply to a SUNY, it was going to be the best SUNY. It’s in the running because he enjoyed his overnight there and a bunch of friends go and are happy. Did I mention that is also happens to be less than an hour away from his girlfriend’s college? Yes, that’s another reason that makes it hard to beat.)
Congrats on all of his amazing acceptances! I too would consider myself “just below average” by CC standards, but I realized that there are still a ton of options for me. I just got accepted to Syracuse as well and may be attending depending on the results of my RD reaches at the end of the month. Good luck to your son!!
Ah the plot twist: Girlfriend’s college less than an hr away… All great choices whatever he decides. As we get closer to the fall I find myself wanting my D to be happy above all else. If he’s going to be happy at the school that isn’t as “famous” he can still be very successful. Read the recent article about the top CEO’s and where they went to school.
Chatting with son today—
Me: So if Amy (not her real name) wasn’t going to be nearby, which college would you choose?
Son: I’d probably choose Binghamton, because it’s the cheapest.
Me: I am not sure you’re going to be happy at Binghamton for four years.
Son: I’m not going to be $25,000 less happy there than I would be at Penn State.
Me: What about IU? That’s a happy medium.
Son: It’s not worth paying $18,000 more for happiness. I’ll be fine.
Hard to argue with that, right? Oh man, he makes me laugh. I think that might be a decision, folks! But I’m still going to have him talk it over with hubby.
@Lindagaf don’t rule out USC yet. You never know!
Well, it all depends on whether you can clearly afford all three choices, or not.
I don’t know whether “fit” is “worth” $25,000, but we know students do better in places that are a good fit.
Is this a case of paying less for shoes even though they’re “ugly shoes” or a case of paying less for “shoes one size too small”?
(In terms of “becoming rich” it’s both the choice that preserves wealth and invests the least toward higher returns. 
)
@MYOS1634 , love that!
“I’m not going to be 25.000 $ less happy there” - instant classic!
Your son will go far, that’s for sure.
When do you hear from USC?
<<i’m not="" going="" to="" be="" $25,000="" less="" happy="" there="" (at="" binghamton)="" than="" i="" would="" at="" penn="" state="">> It’s actually “I’m not going to be $100,000 less happy there “ when considering the extra cost is for 4 years of undergrad. This same type of sentiment —although not as eloquently expressed—-was my son chose Ohio State over Michigan which would have been $120,000 more spread out over 4 years! It also helped me rationalize the decision by the fact he didn’t get into Ross, and he preferred business, and got admitted to OSU Fisher and Bing SOM. (The merit aid offered by Ohio state made the cost per year just two thousand more than Binghamton, so he got to choose amongst two schools with relatively equal cost considerations.) Otherwise he would be at Binghamton now. </i’m>
USC updates its portal today at 5 PST. 67K applicants, 11% acceptance rate, IIRC.
No box, so I assume he didn’t get in. No surprise whatsoever. He’ll know for sure tonight.
He’s still mulling over his choices, so no update. However, I expect him to decide for sure by tomorrow. 
He has time, if you can afford it, to go back on overnight visits at all 3 major choices.
Since he has LDs, check out the Disability Resources, perhaps reach out to them providing basic stats and needs.
@MYOS1634 , he and hubby visited IU last month and stayed in Bloomington. They went to a the IU-Purdue basketball game at night and spent the next day on campus. He also did an overnight at Bing last month and enjoyed it. He says he knows he likes PSU and has no reason to visit again. He does like all three.
Thanks for tip re Disability resources. We have both spent time looking at all the colleges’ foreign language requirements. That is one area of concern to him, because he is sure that his grades will be dragged down by that. He’s thinking that Chinese is a good idea. Maybe he’s right. Spanish was a disaster, and it’s supposed to be “easy” for dyslexic kids.
Well, well, well. There’s always a surprise in store for Lindagaf’s kids. Son was not outright rejected from USC! He was offered the transfer option. I’ll be hornswoggled!
Congrats! This highlights the beauty of college admissions, if there is such a thing, in the unpredictability of it all, and the euphoria experienced from unexpected admissions and scholarship offers from “reach” schools, putting aside for the moment the question of whether it’s affordable. And even if it is, whether the value is determined to be worth the higher (or in this case much higher) cost than other solid alternative options. The advantage I see is that he can accept the transfer option and start out at one of his three other choices. If he is happy, then no need to transfer. And if he’s not, then you have a safety net at a great school. Just make sure you understand exactly what courses are needed and how many credits, and what gpa is needed for the transfer option.