Where do normal kids go to college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A ton of schools. Some suggestions Bates, Denison, Wilamette, Fordham, Syracuse, University of Vermont, WPI, Boulder, University of Denver, SMU, TCU, University of Oregon, Oregon State, University of Tennessee, University of Kansas, Arizona State, Gonzaga, Franklin & Marshall, Elon, Marist, College of Charleston

Good options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Normal college kids go to "directional" state universities. North Central State. Eastern or Central Carolina. Frostburg State. Fitchburg State. Montclair State. VCU/ODU/CNU.

For certain performing arts, 3 of the schools on this list are highly sought after

[Anonymous]

Free community college push makes it hard to pass by.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:JMU, VCU, Christopher Newport, in some cases VA Tech, Mason, West Virginia, and some other OOS schools (College of Charleston, USF, Alabama, Kentucky, etc.). Honestly, there are lots of options for kids who might not have the highest stats but did okay. It's just that this board seems obsessed with only the top 50.

+1,000

I apologize for the length of this post, but I've been lurking on this forum for about a week, seeking information, and finally felt compelled to share my thoughts.

I have no issue with parents wanting the absolute best opportunities for their children. God knows I do, and there's nothing inherently wrong with both valuing and pursuing a T-50 institution personally or for your child. Generally - or certainly on this forum however - there seems to be a particularly strong focus on those institutions, sometimes to the complete disrespect of anything else. I've lived in the DC region since 1993, but grew up in Philadelphia in a solidly middle class family with first-generation college graduate parents. The two areas couldn't be any different. Few of my closest neighborhood friends graduated from college, and my family would've been just as proud if I went to East Stroudsburg or UPenn. Some might call that a low bar. We just view it as casting a much wider net to the end of what makes one successful.

I'm no mathematician, but of all the college students in this country, my guess is that less than 10% attend T-50 institutions. Are the rest of those colleges, where the majority of our children attend, garbage and not worthy of attending for those whom they may be the only option? Neither life nor success is linear, so we can't act like only high-achieving kids who attend the most highly regarded institutions, are the only people who will ultimately be successful.

I graduated from a T-25 state flagship, and got my masters degree from a T-25 private. I have done well in my career (professionally and from an earnings perspective), but I have friends and former classmates who've done "better" in those categories. Of the most successful folks I've worked with, almost none graduated from schools with the prestige of my alma maters. The CEO of a former employer graduated from a SUNY school. Another went to Louisville, and another, the University of Richmond. My current boss graduated from Miami of Ohio, and past bosses/colleagues have graduated from JMU, Frostburg, and small directional state schools in the midwest.

There's no question that prestigious schools can open doors but the most successful people, the real achievers and impact-makers, are those one's who work their tails off, and make the absolute most of every opportunity that they have.

Our second and youngest is currently sweating out the RD college acceptance season (actually, we are probably more than them). They (using the non-binary term only to protect their identity) have a 3.2 GPA, 1200 SATs, and documented challenges with ADD and executive functioning (they had an IEP since 7th grade). They have two acceptances in hand - one from a small in-state school; one from a mid-tier private in the Northeast with substantial merit $; one waitlist from a large state school; and three rejections from a large sought after in-state school, a large OOS, and a selective STEM-focused private in the Northeast that we knew was a stretch. They are awaiting what we think is their first choice - another STEM-focused private in the Northeast, and another large in-state. They are exceptionally bright and more importantly, an exceptional person in every aspect (kind, respectful, hard-working, honest, independent thinker, values family). They have yet to figure out who they are, and how to tap into their full potential. Our message to them is that wherever you end up, that is where you should be, and do everything you can to maximize the opportunity.

Its not about groupthink, and I certainly don't believe that we all must value and pursue the same things for ourselves and our families. But I do believe that for our kids sake, we should evangelize a far less narrow definition of, and potential path to, success.

Thank you for posting. Agree on many paths to success.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Free community college push makes it hard to pass by.

I wish VA would do this

[Anonymous]

People sleep on Lynchburg and like to dump on it. But, good things are going on there, esp. if on a healthcare path. They give tons of aid. And lots of school spirit with good sports teams. And a beautiful location.

It's a small and nurturing environment with lots of access to professors, and small classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A ton of schools. Some suggestions Bates, Denison, Wilamette, Fordham, Syracuse, University of Vermont, WPI, Boulder, University of Denver, SMU, TCU, University of Oregon, Oregon State, University of Tennessee, University of Kansas, Arizona State, Gonzaga, Franklin & Marshall, Elon, Marist, College of Charleston

Good options.

Regular grades and rigor is not good enough for Denison. Or F&M.

[Anonymous]

I work at the University of Missouri. Admissions are guaranteed for 24 ACT / 1160 SAT and a 2.0+ GPA. This is the state flagship; other state schools are even easier. It's crazy to me as a native New Yorker that so many locals send their talented, accomplished kids to Mizzou. But then they are having a good time, graduating without debt and still getting into law and med school, so maybe I am the crazy one. Still trying to figure that out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Randolph, which is a very small school in Lynchburg, has a curriculum model called Take2 which has it my my child’s top couple choices.

Wow, thanks for this info PP. What a great idea. Wish more colleges would do this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work at the University of Missouri. Admissions are guaranteed for 24 ACT / 1160 SAT and a 2.0+ GPA. This is the state flagship; other state schools are even easier. It's crazy to me as a native New Yorker that so many locals send their talented, accomplished kids to Mizzou. But then they are having a good time, graduating without debt and still getting into law and med school, so maybe I am the crazy one. Still trying to figure that out.

Weird that ppl send their kids here given the peer group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work at the University of Missouri. Admissions are guaranteed for 24 ACT / 1160 SAT and a 2.0+ GPA. This is the state flagship; other state schools are even easier. It's crazy to me as a native New Yorker that so many locals send their talented, accomplished kids to Mizzou. But then they are having a good time, graduating without debt and still getting into law and med school, so maybe I am the crazy one. Still trying to figure that out.

Weird that ppl send their kids here given the peer group.

It is a low floor high ceiling group, I guess. Certain programs have more rigorous requirements, like engineering and journalism. I can see if OOS tuition is not financially feasible, but we live in a relatively well-off area, where there are plenty of parents who could have been putting money away. So I find it weird, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A ton of schools. Some suggestions Bates, Denison, Wilamette, Fordham, Syracuse, University of Vermont, WPI, Boulder, University of Denver, SMU, TCU, University of Oregon, Oregon State, University of Tennessee, University of Kansas, Arizona State, Gonzaga, Franklin & Marshall, Elon, Marist, College of Charleston

Some of these are very ambitious for OP's stats

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work at the University of Missouri. Admissions are guaranteed for 24 ACT / 1160 SAT and a 2.0+ GPA. This is the state flagship; other state schools are even easier. It's crazy to me as a native New Yorker that so many locals send their talented, accomplished kids to Mizzou. But then they are having a good time, graduating without debt and still getting into law and med school, so maybe I am the crazy one. Still trying to figure that out.

Weird that ppl send their kids here given the peer group.

I have no knowledge of Mizzou but why can't people just understand that kids can have accomplishments, be successful, go to grad schools, make money . . . whatever your definition of success is . . . from any school. I get that some may provide some intangibles (networks or pathways to super selective careers). But that is the exception, not the rule. Yes, even for kids at Mizzou.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work at the University of Missouri. Admissions are guaranteed for 24 ACT / 1160 SAT and a 2.0+ GPA. This is the state flagship; other state schools are even easier. It's crazy to me as a native New Yorker that so many locals send their talented, accomplished kids to Mizzou. But then they are having a good time, graduating without debt and still getting into law and med school, so maybe I am the crazy one. Still trying to figure that out.

Weird that ppl send their kids here given the peer group.

It is a low floor high ceiling group, I guess. Certain programs have more rigorous requirements, like engineering and journalism. I can see if OOS tuition is not financially feasible, but we live in a relatively well-off area, where there are plenty of parents who could have been putting money away. So I find it weird, too.

My decision depends on peer group. For my kids, peer group is very important. If they’re surrounded by a bunch of slackers, I fear they will be slackers too. And the environment is super important to get them to internally motivate. However, that might not be the case for everyone’s kid.

And we are lucky that we don’t have to consider financial aid offers, which I know drives a lot of people to schools like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work at the University of Missouri. Admissions are guaranteed for 24 ACT / 1160 SAT and a 2.0+ GPA. This is the state flagship; other state schools are even easier. It's crazy to me as a native New Yorker that so many locals send their talented, accomplished kids to Mizzou. But then they are having a good time, graduating without debt and still getting into law and med school, so maybe I am the crazy one. Still trying to figure that out.

Weird that ppl send their kids here given the peer group.

I have no knowledge of Mizzou but why can't people just understand that kids can have accomplishments, be successful, go to grad schools, make money . . . whatever your definition of success is . . . from any school. I get that some may provide some intangibles (networks or pathways to super selective careers). But that is the exception, not the rule. Yes, even for kids at Mizzou.

It’s specific to your family, your values, and what your kid needs.

In my circle, it’s not an option for most kids that I personally know.

But it still could be a good option for others esp those depending on $$$.