Your dream school

[Anonymous]

My college search consisted of applying to 2 in-state schools and driving down for a weekend to stay with a friend for my campus visit. Times have definitely changed! If I were a high school student now, I'm not sure I would have picked the same school. I went to my state flagship and had a blast, but I think I would have really thrived at a SLAC. If you could choose a school now, what would your dream school be?

[Anonymous]

I went to a large state school and absolutely loved it, but I think I would have thrived more at a mid-size university that still had spirit.

[Anonymous]

I also applied to only two in-state schools, but I did consider my top choice where I was accepted early decision (W&M) to be my dream school. I don’t know if my opinion would be different if I were in high school now, but it’s interesting to think about!

[Anonymous]

On one hand, I would want to go to the same school because my life wouldn't have turned out the way it did if I had gone to a different school. But aside from that, my dream school now would be a SLAC (probably Amherst or Bowdoin), rather than the HYP that I attended.

[Anonymous]

Don’t get your kids all hung up on a “dream” school. There’s no such thing.

[Anonymous]

I applied to two schools that had advertised in the high school theater magazine my drama teacher brought to school for us. DePaul and Carnegie Mellon. Their ads attracted me and they had amazing acting programs. I auditioned at DePaul, and did not get in, and Carnegie Mellon didn't even give me an audition. Ended up at an open admissions fine arts school in Chicago --- Columbia College Chicago, which all-in-all worked (in fact I would recommend that anyone looking at studying acting consider it, at least as a safety).

But I had no help with this at all. I grew up with zero parental help, and my high school had 2 counselors for 2000 kids in a school with a 50% drop out rate. So I had to figure it out. I admit to catching my feelings once in awhile when I see how involved the DCUM parents are in helping their children navigate where to go to college and how to apply. I was shooting in the dark.

But dream school? If I could go back in time? Yale for drama. Second choice: Tisch at NYU. Third choice: SMU.

[Anonymous]

Vandy. Went there for my JD and loved it. Wish I'd applied for UG.

[Anonymous]

Would def pick a mid-sized school. Decades ago my first choice was a good liberal arts college, but I got rejected. Attended a medium-sized private school, where the classes were small & the professors gave us as much attention as we needed.

It seems like a lot of people assume that to get personal attention they have to go small, but mid-sized can intimate too. Also, some mid-sized schools have prominent sports programs. I’m not obsessive about my alma mater’s sports teams, but watching them on TV is a easy way to remain in contact with the school.

[Anonymous]

I had a fantastic experience at my well-regarded, massive public flagship. Great academics and opportunities, fun social life, and good people. So I have no complaints and would very happily repeat the experience.

But, if I were to do it again, I'd also consider strong LACs with a reputation for work-life balance like Bowdoin, Pomona, Wesleyan, or Dartmouth (which I consider an LAC), but only in their current iterations. Thirty years ago, however, I'd have been concerned that such schools (excepting maybe Pomona) were too waspy/prep school-y in culture.

[Anonymous]

I applied to six colleges in the early 90s, all big name Catholic schools. I'm so glad I got deferred from my ED school because while it was my dream at the start of senior year, another school nudged it down the list by the time April came around.

I went to one of the smaller ones for undergrad and the largest one for grad school. I know I would have been a little lost at the bigger school as an undergrad now that I look back.

I lived in the NYC area and the state schools were looked down on by people around me, which sometimes feels very similar to what I see here.

[Anonymous]

SLAC all the way! I loved Duke but my son’s experiences and opportunities at a SLAC are unbeatable.

[Anonymous]

Easy - Yale would be my dream school ❤️

[Anonymous]

I picked the correct mid sized public school. Just wished I had behaved differently! Cut down on the partying, consistently attend class and network!! Honestly can't believe I got out of there with a degree.

[Anonymous]

NYU

[Anonymous]

Went to Yale but at the time my dream school was Duke, however was not accepted.