<p>Almost 10 years ago my significant other turned down multiple top UCs for Cal Poly SLO. Apparently one of the main reasons is that Cal Poly SLO is almost entirely undergrads, all classes are taught by professors rather than TAs, and that the student body is a little smaller than the UCs. Other factors were the strong science department, the lower tuition compared to UCs, SLO’s high acceptance rate into vet school at UC Davis compared to other UCs and CSUs, and just plain old liking the campus.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Sometimes. Sometimes not. Like anything in life it’s easy to assume that higher cost means “better.” There are great public schools and mediocre public schools. There are great private schools and mediocre private schools. It is my impression that graduate schools tend to look closer at GPA and standardized entrance exams.</p>
<p>Sometimes the “higher cost” is misleading…</p>
<p>Yes, privates charge more, but that’s because they aren’t being subsidized by the state.</p>
<p>Some publics “charge” as much as privates because in addition to the tuition from students, they are getting 2-3 times as much from the state. So, their “per student” income can be about the same as a private.</p>
<p>I don’t know of any public universities that are operating solely on what the students are paying.</p>
<p>I was going to turn down Cornell for McGill. And that was my plan, until I saw the costs and Cornell was cheaper than McGill for me (go figure…).</p>
<p>To be honest I was slightly depressed, I was dying to go to McGill. </p>
<p>However, I do enjoy it very much here and am having a great time, so I don’t regret my decision because it would’ve worked out either way.</p>
<p>
I don’t see how this is relevant. If a public school is $20,000 cheaper than a comparable private, that is money that could actually be saved. It doesn’t matter that the state is funding the public school, because you still pay less.</p>
<p>turned down Williams for Amherst cuz i liked it more.<br>
Williams is a clearly higher ranked college.</p>
<p>Because it wasn’t lower ranked in my S way of thinking. Choose the school that was more community leadership orientated, smaller classes, a fellowship program. He also passed on a full ride from a “want to be” school that would have allowed him to take half his classes at the school he decided to attend. He never applied or contacted the “want to be” school before they contacted him and made the offer, less than two months before school started.</p>
<p>I don’t really qualify to answer this because it was not my kid but instead myself. But it was something that hasn’t been discussed.</p>
<p>I was VERY intimidated by the higher ranked school.</p>
<p>I was 1st generation to college for low middle class small public district. I just thought I wouldn’t be “good” enough once I was thrown into the more challenging environment.</p>
<p>Quote:
Yes, privates charge more, but that’s because they aren’t being subsidized by the state.</p>
<p>Some publics “charge” as much as privates because in addition to the tuition from students, they are getting 2-3 times as much from the state. So, their “per student” income can be about the same as a private.</p>
<p>I don’t know of any public universities that are operating solely on what the students are paying. </p>
<br>
<br>
<p>My point was in reference to the post about people thinking private college is better because it costs more (implying that more $ is spent on each student - therefore a better education). I was making the point that that isn’t always true. Many publics spend a lot on each student…they are spending tax dollars on each student.</p>
<p>My point wasn’t about this thread in general… :)</p>
<p>It felt nice to be wanted: lower-ranked school gave D a very nice FA package. The school also had an internship program she was immediately drawn to. And it was the school that was farthest away from home 
and in Boston to boot: one of the great college towns in the US.</p>
<p>My D turned down a top twenty for a school in the bottom quarter of the top fifty. She got the large scholarship and the cost was significantly cheaper. The two schools had been ranked #1 (top 20) and #2 (top 50) when she applied. We are not eligible for need based aid.</p>
<p>However, she transferred to the top twenty school during her sophomore year, as the top fifty school was not a good fit.</p>
<p>My daughter turned down Yale for Northwestern. It hurt her, a lot, to do that but Northwestern had a better program in her major. She’s happy, she loves it, my husband’s getting over it! :p</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>lol no wai! wut u say?</p>
<p>In the same vein, turning down any research university for a liberal arts college is a sacrifice, because research universities are superior, hurr durr derp, mirite?</p>
<p>DS turned down an HYP school to attend Georgetown School of Foreign Service. Its a very unique program that is so suited to my son’s interests and talents. When decision time came, DH & I gulped; DS presented a strong case for Georgetown and we sent him to Washington with our full blessing. It was a great decision and DS has thrived in ways we never would have imagined.</p>
<p>Two of my kids turned down in-state Cornell because they did not like the intensity of the students and the atmosphere there when they took a true visit day going to the actual classes they would be taking. My younger son is at a small liberal arts college that is very laid back and he has truly been rejuvenated. I think he was burned out on academics his senior year as he was taking very difficult courses and wanted to enjoy his college experiences without fears of doing poorly and being around too many kids who were competitive and worried about grades and grad/prof school.</p>
<p>Ironically, he now wants to go to medical school. And you know, he has a greater chance of making it going to this very nurturing LAC where the profs have lunch and dinner with you and help you with your goals rather than a school where there are so many high level, high aspiring student fighting for top spots. The profs have been so, so helpful and are doing all sorts of things to help him out. I think he would have been running a gauntlet and gatekeepers at premed mills like Cornell and Hopkins. He is ever so happy.</p>
<p>He got some extra merit $$s from his choice when he told them he was turning down in state Cornell but that the cost was sticking point. Still costs us more, but that it is such a perfect fit si something that is very important to us. He loves it there at his college, truly his second home and is getting straight A’s in some difficult courses there with much help, support and caring for his profs. We are meeting with an ex prof this week who happens to be our area–no way this would have happened with Cornell; my son would have just been one of a gang. The courses that he has been taking at the LAC are huge lecture classes at Cornell with as many as hundreds in the hall, maybe a thousand for the Psych1 he took, no kidding, while his classses are capped at 15, and there are sometimes two profs in courses. He has never had so much attention to his academics in his life. He was a B student in high school, and is now an A student taking some advanced courses at college wanting more instead of fearing the next level.</p>
<br>
<br>
<p>Do you mean a nice merit $$ package?</p>
<p>I know that when DS1 got his merit scholarship award sent to him from our state flagship, it really made a difference. Just seeing the award made my son really feel like he’d won a prize. And, when he got selected to join their exclusive honors program (only 40 students admitted), it sealed the dea.</p>
<p>Also, there’s something to be said about going to a good school where you will be amongst the top performers in your classes. That might not have been the case at a HYP type of school. When you are one of the top performers, profs notice you, they want you to do research with them, etc. (as said above…they nurture you.) When you are just one smart kid in an entire school of brainiacs, you’re just one face in the crowd.</p>
<p>I’m not suggesting that anyone go to a “so so” school just to be near the top. But, it is rewarding to go to a good school, be a strong performer, and get encouragement and recognition for your achievements.</p>
<p>My neighbor’s daughter who went to college with my son turned down Brown for Davidson, and has been very, very happy there. She is graduating this year and is applying to top schools for a prof degree. She did not like the atmosphere at Brown after spending day shadowing a student taking the courses she would take there.</p>
<p>I think that is a valuable thing for a student to do when looking at the final choices for school. Spend a real day with a student of the intended major taking the courses that you would take if you were there at that school. If you don’t like the atmosphere and presentation at a school, and really like another school, it can be a big consideration. You do have to live at that school for 4 years. I know a kid who went to Wesleyan because it was his most prestigious choice, but he really hated it there. He has transferred since to Fordham and is much, much happier as he can relate better to more kids who are there. W was just too liberal for him, and he really did not feel like he belonged there. Now, I know many, many other kids at and finished with Cornell, Brown and Wesleyan that loved their years there so. I don’t think it is the fault of the schools, but a fit with the student.</p>
<p>Had I visited, I doubt I would have gone to school I chose. But then I am a great advocate of LACs. Time enough in grad/prof school, and in the real world to have to go it without the personalized attention. This is really the last opportunity to have someone work this closely, unless you are truly a star student. Someone who knows what he wants and is tops in the field as student and is truly motivated will do well in the research institutes but my kids, as many kids, are still immature and not directed in any particular field, and need some guidance.</p>
<p>A warning about some of those nice merit packages: if they come from tough schools, particularly ITs, consider carefully. I know many kids who went to RPI, RI, WP, and other institutes of technology that offered some great merit money that attracted them, when they truly were not IT types. Doesn’t do much good if the kid is not happy at the school and overwhelmed with the intensity of the work.</p>
<p>^^^^</p>
<p>Very true…good warning!</p>
<p>My son’s merit package came from our state’s flagship…so not a problem. </p>
<p>Another problem with merits from ITs (high tech schools) is that a high GPA may be needed to keep the scholly. If the kid isn’t an IT type, his GPA may fall under the threshhold and he may lose his scholly. Anyone with a merit scholly that requires maintenance of GPA needs to carefully choose their classes each semester. Distribute “harder” classes over several semesters. Distribute easier classes over several semesters. Keep that GPA high! LOL</p>
<p>Agreed. I know some kids who were great high school students who lost their Case Western scholarships when they took some difficult engineering courses. They have since dropped the gpa requirement and loosened the regs a bit after parents really protested the rigidity of the terms of the merit awards. But there are schools where it is very easy to lose the merit money.</p>