Is 'fit' overrated?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Disagree. I found my friends at my large college, but I had a horrible experience because it was a cold, uncaring environment. I was really lost, and it was clear that no one cared. I think I’d have done much better at a smaller school where professors/ administrators had some knowledge of the students.

Fit is about more than just finding a good group of peers.

This. Access to my professors was so nice, along with smaller classes.

I had exactly one class in a large lecture hall, and that was because I was taking the one science clsss for non science students

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's overrated once you have narrowed your college choice down to a size/general location/has your major/D1 sports (as a spectator).

There is another thread about how a kid has decided Berkeley is their "dream" school...when in fact I bet that kid will have a grand old time at UCLA, University of Washington, UC Boulder, etc.

The other issue I have is there are plenty of people who pick a college based on fit and then are looking to transfer after 1 year because your decision on a "fit" school is made with such incomplete information.

It depends on the student. Some really care about campus environment (rural vs city), or weather. Some really care about finding a school where a large % of peers care about classes and have intellectual discussions in their free time. Some care about sports culture. Some do not care about any of this, hence fit is not as important.

I get any objective criteria including rural/city, weather, sports culture, etc…which will still leave you with probably 50+ schools. Fit as DCUM seems to define it is supposed to capture a feeling or other subjective criteria which I think is the trap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If anything is overrated, it’s rankings.

Agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's overrated once you have narrowed your college choice down to a size/general location/has your major/D1 sports (as a spectator).

There is another thread about how a kid has decided Berkeley is their "dream" school...when in fact I bet that kid will have a grand old time at UCLA, University of Washington, UC Boulder, etc.

The other issue I have is there are plenty of people who pick a college based on fit and then are looking to transfer after 1 year because your decision on a "fit" school is made with such incomplete information.

It depends on the student. Some really care about campus environment (rural vs city), or weather. Some really care about finding a school where a large % of peers care about classes and have intellectual discussions in their free time. Some care about sports culture. Some do not care about any of this, hence fit is not as important.

I get any objective criteria including rural/city, weather, sports culture, etc…which will still leave you with probably 50+ schools. Fit as DCUM seems to define it is supposed to capture a feeling or other subjective criteria which I think is the trap.

Example?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's overrated once you have narrowed your college choice down to a size/general location/has your major/D1 sports (as a spectator).

There is another thread about how a kid has decided Berkeley is their "dream" school...when in fact I bet that kid will have a grand old time at UCLA, University of Washington, UC Boulder, etc.

The other issue I have is there are plenty of people who pick a college based on fit and then are looking to transfer after 1 year because your decision on a "fit" school is made with such incomplete information.

It depends on the student. Some really care about campus environment (rural vs city), or weather. Some really care about finding a school where a large % of peers care about classes and have intellectual discussions in their free time. Some care about sports culture. Some do not care about any of this, hence fit is not as important.

I get any objective criteria including rural/city, weather, sports culture, etc…which will still leave you with probably 50+ schools. Fit as DCUM seems to define it is supposed to capture a feeling or other subjective criteria which I think is the trap.

There are thousands of schools, and you have to narrow it some way. 50+ schools is still 40 schools too many.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's overrated once you have narrowed your college choice down to a size/general location/has your major/D1 sports (as a spectator).

There is another thread about how a kid has decided Berkeley is their "dream" school...when in fact I bet that kid will have a grand old time at UCLA, University of Washington, UC Boulder, etc.

The other issue I have is there are plenty of people who pick a college based on fit and then are looking to transfer after 1 year because your decision on a "fit" school is made with such incomplete information.

It depends on the student. Some really care about campus environment (rural vs city), or weather. Some really care about finding a school where a large % of peers care about classes and have intellectual discussions in their free time. Some care about sports culture. Some do not care about any of this, hence fit is not as important.

I get any objective criteria including rural/city, weather, sports culture, etc…which will still leave you with probably 50+ schools. Fit as DCUM seems to define it is supposed to capture a feeling or other subjective criteria which I think is the trap.

There are thousands of schools, and you have to narrow it some way. 50+ schools is still 40 schools too many.

My point is a kid would probably be happy at any of the 50, so no need to somehow find the perfect “fit”.

Decide weather is most important, followed by objective criteria X which narrows the list to 10-15, apply and then see where things shake out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of students are unhappy at big schools due to unserious student bodies and sports culture. Also, a lot of college towns are in...middling locations at best. These students don't end up at SLACs, because SLACs have way fewer spots than anyone else in general. Top universities are still heavily fit-based, though.

This is nonsenses. "Unhappy at big schools due to unserious student bodies and a sports culture ". Wow. I guess all the kids at USC, Michigan, Texas, PSU, Wisconsin are idiots! Unserious student bodies. Really?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would have hated a big school. I found my comfort zone at a school that was under just 4K kids. I now call it "Goldilocks size" - not too big, not too small.

Would I have done fine at a state school? Most likely. But it wasn't the college experience I personally wanted.

My own child would be absolutely lost at a big school. She is headed to a small college with about 1200 students.

Can you find your crowd at a large school? Sure, but I think it would take a lot more work for certain kids. Again, I likely would have been fine as I have always been an extrovert - my child ISN'T me, though, and struggles a bit in that area.

I"m not trying to be rude, but my public HS had 4,000 students. I found my crowd in HS. Could I find it with only 1200 students? Unlikely!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's overrated once you have narrowed your college choice down to a size/general location/has your major/D1 sports (as a spectator).

There is another thread about how a kid has decided Berkeley is their "dream" school...when in fact I bet that kid will have a grand old time at UCLA, University of Washington, UC Boulder, etc.

The other issue I have is there are plenty of people who pick a college based on fit and then are looking to transfer after 1 year because your decision on a "fit" school is made with such incomplete information.

It depends on the student. Some really care about campus environment (rural vs city), or weather. Some really care about finding a school where a large % of peers care about classes and have intellectual discussions in their free time. Some care about sports culture. Some do not care about any of this, hence fit is not as important.

I get any objective criteria including rural/city, weather, sports culture, etc…which will still leave you with probably 50+ schools. Fit as DCUM seems to define it is supposed to capture a feeling or other subjective criteria which I think is the trap.

There are thousands of schools, and you have to narrow it some way. 50+ schools is still 40 schools too many.

My point is a kid would probably be happy at any of the 50, so no need to somehow find the perfect “fit”.

Decide weather is most important, followed by objective criteria X which narrows the list to 10-15, apply and then see where things shake out.

Sure, and then in the end, you have to choose one, right? How do you do that, if not by fit?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would have hated a big school. I found my comfort zone at a school that was under just 4K kids. I now call it "Goldilocks size" - not too big, not too small.

Would I have done fine at a state school? Most likely. But it wasn't the college experience I personally wanted.

My own child would be absolutely lost at a big school. She is headed to a small college with about 1200 students.

Can you find your crowd at a large school? Sure, but I think it would take a lot more work for certain kids. Again, I likely would have been fine as I have always been an extrovert - my child ISN'T me, though, and struggles a bit in that area.

I"m not trying to be rude, but my public HS had 4,000 students. I found my crowd in HS. Could I find it with only 1200 students? Unlikely!

My HS had 1200. My daughter’s was close to 3k.

Smaller was a better size for her for college. And the college is kind of her crowd because of what the school is known for, which made it the right place for her specifically. We looked and there honestly weren’t many places with the exact mix of programs and services.

This is all very specific to your own kid. I personally could have been ok in many places-my needs weren’t quite as specific as my daughter’s. But I landed at a school that fit my ideal of what a college was supposed to look like. I know people are downplaying and/or rejecting the idea of the romantic “this is my place” feeling, but I absolutely felt that the moment we drove onto the campus of the school I attended.

Just do your research, know your kid and trust the process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Disagree. I found my friends at my large college, but I had a horrible experience because it was a cold, uncaring environment. I was really lost, and it was clear that no one cared. I think I’d have done much better at a smaller school where professors/ administrators had some knowledge of the students.

Fit is about more than just finding a good group of peers.

I respectively disagree with you. Cold and uncaring is part of life. I'm glad my big state U taught me that as a youngster. It took me to great heights in my life! I had to learn how to advocate for myself and it opened my eyes to many different world views .

I'm not saying its for everyone. Big State U's can be very tough. But, not humble brag but real brag, I have made millions from my humble State U education and retired when I was 53.

For better or worse, my kids are following their paths and enjoying their decisions!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would have hated a big school. I found my comfort zone at a school that was under just 4K kids. I now call it "Goldilocks size" - not too big, not too small.

Would I have done fine at a state school? Most likely. But it wasn't the college experience I personally wanted.

My own child would be absolutely lost at a big school. She is headed to a small college with about 1200 students.

Can you find your crowd at a large school? Sure, but I think it would take a lot more work for certain kids. Again, I likely would have been fine as I have always been an extrovert - my child ISN'T me, though, and struggles a bit in that area.

I"m not trying to be rude, but my public HS had 4,000 students. I found my crowd in HS. Could I find it with only 1200 students? Unlikely!

My HS had 1200. My daughter’s was close to 3k.

Smaller was a better size for her for college. And the college is kind of her crowd because of what the school is known for, which made it the right place for her specifically. We looked and there honestly weren’t many places with the exact mix of programs and services.

This is all very specific to your own kid. I personally could have been ok in many places-my needs weren’t quite as specific as my daughter’s. But I landed at a school that fit my ideal of what a college was supposed to look like. I know people are downplaying and/or rejecting the idea of the romantic “this is my place” feeling, but I absolutely felt that the moment we drove onto the campus of the school I attended.

Just do your research, know your kid and trust the process.

I appreciate you and your answer! I absolutely believe in a "fit". You can see it in your kids eyes when they go to visit these schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of students are unhappy at big schools due to unserious student bodies and sports culture. Also, a lot of college towns are in...middling locations at best. These students don't end up at SLACs, because SLACs have way fewer spots than anyone else in general. Top universities are still heavily fit-based, though.

This is nonsenses. "Unhappy at big schools due to unserious student bodies and a sports culture ". Wow. I guess all the kids at USC, Michigan, Texas, PSU, Wisconsin are idiots! Unserious student bodies. Really?

Attended USC and...I agree with the other commentator. I would've loved a smaller more academically-inclined student body. It's not that students weren't smart, but it wasn't most of my friends' priorities, nor most of the people I met.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of students are unhappy at big schools due to unserious student bodies and sports culture. Also, a lot of college towns are in...middling locations at best. These students don't end up at SLACs, because SLACs have way fewer spots than anyone else in general. Top universities are still heavily fit-based, though.

This is nonsenses. "Unhappy at big schools due to unserious student bodies and a sports culture ". Wow. I guess all the kids at USC, Michigan, Texas, PSU, Wisconsin are idiots! Unserious student bodies. Really?

Attended USC and...I agree with the other commentator. I would've loved a smaller more academically-inclined student body. It's not that students weren't smart, but it wasn't most of my friends' priorities, nor most of the people I met.

back in the 70s 80s? maybe you majored in something really easy for that type of students.

USC is one of the top schools in CS, Engineering, Business, etc. feeding to Silicone Valley, Wall Street, etc.
It has a lot of motivated academically-inclined student body.
USC has a diverse student body.

[Anonymous]

No. Largely underrated.