<p>I love the threads discussing reasons your child crossed a school off their list etc. I would like to hear from you the top reasons your S or D finally decided which school to attend. If "fit" was a main factor - please elaborate with some detail.</p>
<p>University of Montana…because it’s in the mountains and far away from home.</p>
<p>research opportunities, academics and merit award…S would have said NOT a “fit” before attending…but quickly realized it was the perfect fit. He wanted a place that would give him accessible professors, variety of research, honors program that was small and cohesive (not just honors designated classes)… got all of that and more (UAB)</p>
<p>Size, location, programs all fit what they wanted with the final factor being the net price. Wanted smaller schools not in urban areas with strong programs in their intended majors.</p>
<p>major, hands on learning, location, and outdoor recreation.</p>
<p>S1: location, size, fit. S2: location, major, size. S3 has not yet decided. Fit for S1 was kids that had interests outside the classroom that matched his interests. S2 actually didn’t worry about fit as much and has really spread his wings with regard to getting involved in ECs he never was involved in during high school. We funneled the price before applications, so for both S1 and S2 we pretty much knew what the price was going to be and they could choose without a price filter. S3 price will be a major decider and he is well aware of that filter.</p>
<p>For a music major: the teacher and the money (scholarships)</p>
<p>Our D selected her school for a couple of reasons:</p>
<ol>
<li> merit scholarship which pays for tuition, room & board</li>
<li> highly regarded in her field of study</li>
<li> accepted into a special program which includes mentoring, internships, and research opportunities</li>
<li> geographic location</li>
<li> honors college</li>
<li> medium size</li>
<li> not a “party” school</li>
</ol>
<p>^^ i should have added not a party or frat school was part of his criteria… and while not a party school, he did end up joining a fraternity LOL</p>
<p>S1, best comp sci program that accepted him. Everything else was secondary.</p>
<p>S2, agonized between two very different schools - U of Chicago and Tufts. In the end he felt that the students he met at Chicago were a little too serious and those at Tufts seemed a bit more relaxed. Ironically, I think he might actually have had a more relaxed education at Chicago based on the courses he chose to take at Tufts and what he would have taken at Chicago. I think location (much closer, a little more residential area, near relatives) also played into the Tufts decision.</p>
<p>S1 - Scholarship money, specialization within his major, reputation in his chosen field. He was offered some scholarship money from a slightly more prestigeous (sp?) school, but his ultimate choice was in-state and what he got from them went farther. S2 is a HS junior and it remains to be seen. He’s not the scholar his brother is but is a good wrestler and could possibly get some money for that. Otherwise, he’ll probably follow his brother.</p>
<p>D1 Football
Easy walking access to Magic the Gathering game store for tournaments
Cost…cheap enough so that we cold afford to pay for multiple study abroad opportunities</p>
<p>The D1 football requirement obviously limits you to large schools which is what son wants. They also tended to have all the majors he is interested in…anthro, geology, landscape arch, Econ, etc.</p>
<p>I’m curious how many students pick their school based on the fact that they have a big sports program or Greek life? Neither was important to our D, but I would imagine it may be for some.</p>
<p>S1 - choice of major with a prof teaching in it he wanted + small + well regarded + merit aid + Christian. He’s a junior now (Covenant College in GA) and quite happy.</p>
<p>S2 - oodles of research ops and like-minded (nerd) students + medium sized + merit aid + hospital on location for Pre-med options. He’s a freshman now (U Rochester) and quite happy.</p>
<p>S3 - (current high school junior, but looking) wants tropical to study tropical Bio/Botany + he’s wanting a protestant Christian small school. We’re REALLY looking for that one. He may need to modify his “needs.” So far he’s only found Palm Beach Atlantic, but we’ve yet to visit. He’s also contemplating Baylor, but it’s hardly small or in the tropics. U Hawaii at Manoa might still be on his list too, but it’s not exactly small or Christian. I waver between being thrilled we have so few schools to consider to being worried for the same reason!</p>
<p>None of mine wanted sports nor Greek, so too much of either was a turn off. Some didn’t bug them.</p>
<p>part of son’s was the absence of those things…didnt want football, party or greek. He really wanted oos so any instate school wasnt a “fit”… but as i said above…turned out the perfect fit was right here in state</p>
<p>DS12… rural location near the mountains, good Environmental Science program, small=under 3000 students, discussion based classes where he could really get to know his professors, a highly energized and close knit campus and student body where he could be involved in tons of things at all times… basically a school that never sleeps. A flourishing outdoor club. He will happily be attending St Lawrence University this fall after he finishes up his gap year.</p>
<p>The final decision has not been made yet.</p>
<p>My son has gotten in to his top choice school (and a few others). The top choice is Cornell College. He loves the one-course-at-a-time. He has a scholarship. He has a couple other scholarships he has applied to. In the end, his attending there will be based on finances. </p>
<p>For both kids, the greek system should either not exist, or should just be a non-presence for the most part.</p>
<p>For my daughter, it needs to be a good academic school, yet, have good music opportunities. She was going to major in music, but due to an injury, has been out for the last, month I think, now. She is going to focus elsewhere. But, she still needs the artistic side to be fullfilled. However, she does not want a party school. I am wondering how one finds a school that is not a party school, yet, has an artistic side? Which in her case would be a strings program. Our life would be so much easier if Texas A&M suddenly developed a big art and music school.</p>
<p>D2: “It just felt right”. She’s a music education major. I think it “felt” right because the head of the vocal department was so kind and made it clear that he wanted her there, the campus is BEAUTIFUL, the people are friendly, it feels like “home”, and it’s dad’s school. Limiting factors in selection were: has to be an in-state public school with a strong music program. Didn’t hurt that they have a lot of recreation facilities on campus and a new freshman dorm that is amazing.</p>
<p>D3: Engineering major. Initially we thought she wanted a small, in state, or nearby state public school with a strong engineering department. After a bit of research, she put Texas A & M back on the list in,spite of size, we visited, she drank the water there, and now she’s an Aggie. School spirit, tradition, incredibly strong engineering school with an awesome network, friendly faculty, well-organized, lots of new additions to the campus. For her it was completely positive. She is STOKED.</p>
<p>S1: Wanted a strong engineering school with a traditional marching band. He prefered a small or medium school in an urban environment. Needless to say the list got short quickly. He’ll be attending Vanderbilt in the fall.</p>