<p>First 2 turned down better merit aid for better social/cultural/intellectual fit.<br>
Both kids had a strong feeling of “belonging” when they visited their schools that they hadn’t experienced at other schools on their list.
3rd kid went for the money.</p>
<p>My kids definitely have strong feelings about study abroad programs. We have travelled a fair bit with them and they have visited different foreign colleges when I have taught there and have strong feelings about schools where they would like to have an undergrad experience abroad. I could see my daughter choosing a school based on study abroad options.</p>
<p>S: major
D2: major, money
D3: professor, money</p>
<p>Contractual obligation.</p>
<p>I only got into Georgetown.</p>
<p>Seriously though, LOL.</p>
<p>Part of D’s strategy was to research the most common complaints about her school choices and determine how much those issues would bother her. For one school, she had a very hard time finding any complaints (everyone was very happy!). She figured that was a good sign and decided on that school.</p>
<p>Kid just had a really weird interview at a school. He’s in a magnet school for the arts, is attending one of the top summer programs in the country for strings, studying with a teacher from Julliard, and wants to double major in music performance and perhaps economics. Interviewer looks over his information sheet and says, “So I already know you play violin. What other extracurriculars do you do?”
Um, he doesn’t do anything else. The violin is his life. He plays it for six hours a day.
I thought you all liked that passion stuff. Yet this young woman appeared to be looking for well-rounded. Kiddo says “When I was little I used to play soccer but I wasn’t very good at it.” It went downhill from there.
Is this enough reason to take the school off the list? Has anybody else ever eliminated a school based on a downright weird interview?</p>
<p>^ I would try not to let my child eliminate on that basis. Most admissions officers did not even attend the college where they are on the staff. Once matriculated your child will never deal with admissions again.</p>
<p>Yes… we always tell our kids, “You will probably never see the admissions staff again after you are admitted, so don’t base your decision on how well you liked them!”. That is why we encourage our kids to go to a class, go on a tour, eat in the cafeteria, and attend accepted students weekend (if they get in) before deciding.</p>
<p>Momzie,</p>
<p>My son had a poor interview at one school (of five where he interviewed), and he did end up waitlisted at that school even though his stats would have suggested an admit, and he got into significantly better, more competitive schools. Of course that’s just a sample of one - - maybe others will chime in. So even though I wouldn’t eliminate a school on the basis of the interview - - I probably wouldn’t count on being admitted there and would make sure I had other safeties or matches as well.</p>
<p>It also may be a good learning opportunity for your child. How would he answer that question if he had it to do over? In my mind, I wouldn’t back away from the fact that violin was my passion. I would say something more along the lines of “To be honest, violin is my complete passion, and I’ve elected to use my free time to pursue it to the highest level that I can.” I’m not an admissions person, but I think I’d be totally fine with a kid who had a deep passion and wasn’t afraid to be committed to that . . .and felt confident about their choice to pursue it.</p>
<p>I am encouraging him to write a thank you note to the admissions officer where he re-addresses the question from exactly that perspective. (Kind of like when you blow a question on a job interview and then follow up with a better answer). We’ll see if it helps.</p>
<p>Why did my D pick her college? It wasn’t even a close call. She’s an elementary ed. major who wants to move abroad and teach English to Spanish–speaking children. She wanted a school with an excellent ed. program, a large, urban school, and a semester abroad program.</p>
<p>BU had her at “teaching abroad in Ecuador”. I have to give her credit, she gave thoughtful consideration to her other acceptances, but this is her dream opportunity at her dream school.</p>
<p>Momzie, I am writing from my perspective in the business world. I hate to say that it seems like it might have been a “test” and maybe I am over thinking it so take this with a grain of salt.</p>
<p>If I challenged someone like this in an interview for a position at my company, what I am really looking for is for the person to stand up for their qualifications and convince me. </p>
<p>So rather than try to find other examples of ECs where there are none -I would suggest that your S take this an an opportunity to stand up for his EC. </p>
<p>First, I would not assume that the interviewer actually understands the degree of commitment that yous S places in violin. S should start by pointing out that he practices 6 hours a day and has recitals, shows, competitions, etc. on top of that. Then end with a summary saying that obviously the passion for his EC does not allow quality time to pursue other ECs. But maybe he does some volunteer work just because it is required for graduation, etc.</p>
<p>D was in a similar situation - as a rower she devoted 20+ hours a week for practice - plus all-day or all-weekend regattas and other special events. She did not have a lot else to bring to the table.</p>
<p>I agree with Kennedy2010 completely (coming from the same perspective) . . .he or she said what I was trying to convey - - but much better. Violin is a great EC and requires a lot of dedication. You child should definitely be proud, Momzie. That being said, I think the followup note was a good idea to help recover! Interviewing is a learned skill, and a tough one, so I wouldn’t stress over it. </p>
<p>My son played baseball - - year around - - and had VERY little else to add on (all stuff that was mandated by the school). He wasn’t a recruited athlete so I was pretty concerned about how it would play out, but honestly it didn’t seem to hurt him. He got into the schools I expected him to get into given his grades/SAT scores. </p>
<p>Good luck with the rest of your search!!</p>
<p>My older son was ONLY concerned with the “prestige” of the school he went to, in his area of study (I was hoping for our instate flagship). My younger son is very conscious of the cost, will do great at a larger school, and recognizes the value of the flaship. Now we just have the application process to sweat through… It’s becoming harder and harder to get accepted there.</p>
<p>It’s hella awesome. Go BULLS!</p>
<p>In all seriousness, I’m about to attend a four year university that will give me money to study abroad, a good job, research experience within the first year, and most importantly, will leave me with no debt and my mom have to contribute her calculated EFC amount! I’d say I’m starting on the right foot with this school. :)</p>
<p>I chose umich because it was in commuting distance in case I wanted to move back home to save money or take summer classes there, and because I could handle the math course they would require me to take to get a political science degree. Some even less selective schools required higher math than Michigan. I was also transferring from a community college, and all my friends were going to Eastern-- and I did not want to go to Eastern, but emu was reachable from umich by bus. Prestige was a factor.</p>
<p>I might have given more consideration to MSU, but I got accepted to Umich in early February and didnt hear back from State until almost May. I think I’d already registered for housing at mich by then.</p>
<p>My D chose Barnard for a few reasons- the opportunities for internships and jobs in NYC, the smaller class sizes and personal relationships developed with professors at Barnard, and the political activist nature of the school. After 1 year, she has no regrets.</p>
<p>Both kids followed the money, but if the school wasn’t also a good fit they would not have chosen it.</p>
<p>I should add, the money difference between her final two choices wasn’t significant. Money did knock out a couple of other players, but they weren’t her faves going in anyway.</p>