Kid choosing the lesser option for their major/interest

[Anonymous]

Might be JHU (even though not an Ivy) versus Georgetown (even though not a top 20 ranked university).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So--kid got into the best school for their major/area of interest hands down- T20. Problem--it's local, just a few miles from the house (though required to live on campus 3 years) and very much like current HS.

YMBFKM.

No, Georgetown is not "very much like current HS". Stop it.

[Anonymous]

If there is no cost savings, I would not care, but I am not wealthy or able to pay 100K/year/kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So--kid got into the best school for their major/area of interest hands down- T20. Problem--it's local, just a few miles from the house (though required to live on campus 3 years) and very much like current HS.

YMBFKM.

No, Georgetown is not "very much like current HS". Stop it.

I doubt they are talking academics, CTFD. My kid goes to Gtown Prep and would say the same thing--meaning Jesuit, culture, kids going there, etc. -very academic, structured, athletic pecking order.

[Anonymous]

So many kids change their area of interest once they get to college and start to really see what else is out there. A high school kid's idea of a major should not always drive the decision.

He should go to the school he wants to attend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So--kid got into the best school for their major/area of interest hands down- T20. Problem--it's local, just a few miles from the house (though required to live on campus 3 years) and very much like current HS.

Also- got into a T10 that is fantastic/top-ranked, but in area of interest say #6-7 instead of #1 like school above.

Reading websites, it's clear the first school offer so much more, as well as likely have job and can do a 5-year combined program.

However, kid is ecstatic about the other school and doesn't seem to care about the offerings as much. I'm glad to see him so excited about a school because he seemed more 'resigned' vs excited for the first school and felt like we were forcing him there. He has in his head the kids and place is too competitive, people seem stressed. But, I think he's seeing what he wants to see and know so many people that went there and absolutely loved it.

My spouse is all on the Ivy train with him (2nd school), but I am being practical and just don't see the advantage.

Guess it's just a vent. But--at what point do you let the kid just go to the school that offers less in their area of interest than push them towards the one that is hands-down better for them?

I'd vote for "whenever the kid wants," but even if you're pushing more than that for a particular choice this feels like a bad place to do it. The #6 school for their interest (which might change!) is a pretty good place to be for that interest and sounds like a good school that he's excited to attend. That's a great outcome. Be happy with that.

I agree. But, 6 offers so much less other than its an Ivy in this field. The other one is #1 across the board with countless opportunities and offerings.

Frankly, I'm worried to pay that much (we are full pay) for him to go to the Ivy and come out without a job/prospects and then have to continute to pay $90k for additional schooling.

Legitimate concern. However, if the major is IR, government, or similar, then the student will likely need to earn a graduate degree to get a good job. Internships are very important with respect to post-undergraduate employment.

Is it a legitimate concern to think a student will not get a job coming out of an Ivy that is ranked in the top 10 for the area of study? Such an overblown concern.

[Anonymous]

so they got into Georgetown but since you live in DC and he went to a local private - it's like 13th grade. I get it. Go somewhere else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:so they got into Georgetown but since you live in DC and he went to a local private - it's like 13th grade. I get it. Go somewhere else.

Yes. It's equivalent to all the VA NoVa kids calling UVA HS 2.0. MD kids calling UMD the same.

However, I tell my kids it's truly not the same at GU because there are only like 3% of students at GU that are from the DMV (unlike state schools where most are from the same state/area). GU has California and NY as the majority population and so many International students--it's nothing like HS 2.0, just nearby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:so they got into Georgetown but since you live in DC and he went to a local private - it's like 13th grade. I get it. Go somewhere else.

Yes. It's equivalent to all the VA NoVa kids calling UVA HS 2.0. MD kids calling UMD the same.

However, I tell my kids it's truly not the same at GU because there are only like 3% of students at GU that are from the DMV (unlike state schools where most are from the same state/area). GU has California and NY as the majority population and so many International students--it's nothing like HS 2.0, just nearby.

^ but if they already go to school in DC and are sick of DC and want a change, that's a very valid argument.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So--kid got into the best school for their major/area of interest hands down- T20. Problem--it's local, just a few miles from the house (though required to live on campus 3 years) and very much like current HS.

Also- got into a T10 that is fantastic/top-ranked, but in area of interest say #6-7 instead of #1 like school above.

Reading websites, it's clear the first school offer so much more, as well as likely have job and can do a 5-year combined program.

However, kid is ecstatic about the other school and doesn't seem to care about the offerings as much. I'm glad to see him so excited about a school because he seemed more 'resigned' vs excited for the first school and felt like we were forcing him there. He has in his head the kids and place is too competitive, people seem stressed. But, I think he's seeing what he wants to see and know so many people that went there and absolutely loved it.

My spouse is all on the Ivy train with him (2nd school), but I am being practical and just don't see the advantage.

Guess it's just a vent. But--at what point do you let the kid just go to the school that offers less in their area of interest than push them towards the one that is hands-down better for them?

I'd vote for "whenever the kid wants," but even if you're pushing more than that for a particular choice this feels like a bad place to do it. The #6 school for their interest (which might change!) is a pretty good place to be for that interest and sounds like a good school that he's excited to attend. That's a great outcome. Be happy with that.

Plus, which is a better school if they change their minds and go down a different path? Can they change majors easily at both school (and actually get into the major they might want as a 2nd, 3rd choice)

[Anonymous]

Total humblebrag.

Let your kid decide if they are both fantastic schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your child chooses. Even if they chose a #50 over a #3, that should be their decision to make. But you’re saying a #6 vs a #1 for their major. And to compensate that school is actually a T10. It doesn’t sound like they can go wrong. The only place I think parents should have a say is in terms of what they can afford.

+1

Remember that a place where your student is happy is more likely to be a place where they thrive and do well. That can be at any school, and isn't necessarily correlated with ranking (I know some unhappy kids at top schools). Please let your kid make this decision.

[Anonymous]

okay, it's Georgetown or Dartmouth

[Anonymous]

Georgetown is great, but I find it hard to believe his job prospects will be amazing coming out of there and terrible from an Ivy. Also he might change majors.

[Anonymous]

I'm a Govt/International Relations major from Dartmouth married to a Georgetown alum. Govt is one of the largest majors at Dartmouth and has a lot of special programs, including a study abroad program at the London School of Economics, Rockefeller Internship Program, etc. Also, the D-plan allows Dartmouth students to get internships in the fall/winter/spring terms at places like the White House, Wall Street, etc. without having to compete against the thousands of kids who apply for the same summer internships. I did a senior thesis and considered going to grad school, but decided to go to Harvard Law instead, and there were many more Dartmouth alums at HLS than Georgetown alums, fwiw. For sure Georgetown is amazing, but I just wanted to share my experience. Did you visit the two campuses? If not, you should - Dartmouth's campus is way nicer, safer, and feels more like a community, according to DH. I'm sure one of the current students will be happy to give your child a tour of Silsby Hall, which houses the Govt dept.