Turning down top private for state school

[Anonymous]

Is this fairly common at public schools?

One kid at my child’s public just turned down Harvard for UVA. I can understand not choosing NYU or Georgetown for UVA, but Harvard???

[Anonymous]

Harvard is expensive
Not everyone likes Harvard or feel it is a fit for them
UVA is a great school
One data point does not make a trend or norm

[Anonymous]

Money issue?

I doubt it.

[Anonymous]

People make bad decisions all the time.

[Anonymous]

Fall in the donut group, money could be an issue especially with multiple kids in college

[Anonymous]

They are VERY different schools. In almost every way - climate, student body, social life, athletics, location, type of surrounding environment… I can absolutely see someone making that decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People make bad decisions all the time.

Or smart ones…..for them

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fall in the donut group, money could be an issue especially with multiple kids in college

They probably do fall into the donut group. Both parents are professionals but I don’t think they make $$$.

[Anonymous]

For my family, if we were choosing between in-state UVA with some aid and Harvard full-pay or close to it, it would be very hard to turn down UVA.

Luckily, we will never face that dilemma. 😂

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Harvard is expensive
Not everyone likes Harvard or feel it is a fit for them
UVA is a great school
One data point does not make a trend or norm

Then why did this person apply to Harvard ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People make bad decisions all the time.

Or smart ones…..for them

Thanks for the laugh. Imagine the regret.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Harvard is expensive
Not everyone likes Harvard or feel it is a fit for them
UVA is a great school
One data point does not make a trend or norm

Then why did this person apply to Harvard ?

Parental pressure, a dare, the reasons are endless.

[Anonymous]

It isn’t always worth it for a family to put a huge stress on their finances for an impressive school. UVA produces very successful students and was likely much cheaper. I get it. The Ivy brand isn’t necessarily a good purchase if you, say, hurt your retirement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It isn’t always worth it for a family to put a huge stress on their finances for an impressive school. UVA produces very successful students and was likely much cheaper. I get it. The Ivy brand isn’t necessarily a good purchase if you, say, hurt your retirement.

UVA is barely top 25 and they are very weak in STEM and CS. It doesn’t attract top students.

[Anonymous]

I did that. Not quite Harvard, but turned down Duke, Cornell, and Dartmouth engineering to go to UMD. It was the decision between graduating debt free or $100k+ in debt.

Ironically at my first job my cube mate came from Yale, so I'm not sure it made much of a difference in the end. Part of me still wonders "what if?" 20 years later, but I'm not sad with how my life turned out.