So, apparently I have raised a "geography snob".

[Anonymous]

He's so stupid. Doesn't he know Kentucky bourbon? I'd veto Ohio and Iowa as flyover states. But I'd be amused by the Deep South (until the KKK came and did hate crimes on this jew).

[Anonymous]

University of Kentucky poster back. Can you try a different argument? Find someone that's finished freshman year at a college to talk to how often (almost never) they got off campus while in college? I know the corn bothers him now, but maybe if he realizes how seldom he'll see it he'll feel better about the idea?

[Anonymous]

Please tell us the intended major. More than anything else this should narrow down his choices. Get him into the best school for that major if you can convince him to go. My DD picked based on major, but she has known for a long time what she wants to do. If your son already knows what his major will be then he won't pick a school based on much else but rank/size of program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please tell us the intended major. More than anything else this should narrow down his choices. Get him into the best school for that major if you can convince him to go. My DD picked based on major, but she has known for a long time what she wants to do. If your son already knows what his major will be then he won't pick a school based on much else but rank/size of program.

I'm not going to do that, because it's besides the point. I'm not asking for help in choosing a school. I could care less whether my kid actually goes to school in Iowa or Kentucky or wherever. Personally, I'm kind of hoping he chooses the school in Philly so I can visit him often. i'm asking for idea on how to help my kid broaden his knowledge about and attitudes towards the rest of the country.

It's a major offered in about 20 places in the country. That seems like plenty to choose from, but once you start weeding out schools that are too rural for a kid who likes the city, or too small for a kid who likes big schools, or that don't offer substantial financial aid, or that have an academic requirement that he doesn't meet, the list gets short fast. But even if he was looking to major in English or Computer Science or something else that's offered in thousands of schools, I still wouldn't want my kid dismissing whole swaths of the country without learning about them first.

[Anonymous]

It's a major offered in about 20 places in the country. That seems like plenty to choose from, but once you start weeding out schools that are too rural for a kid who likes the city, or too small for a kid who likes big schools, or that don't offer substantial financial aid, or that have an academic requirement that he doesn't meet, the list gets short fast. But even if he was looking to major in English or Computer Science or something else that's offered in thousands of schools, I still wouldn't want my kid dismissing whole swaths of the country without learning about them first.

But, Op wouldn't that make it easier to pick a school? You don't have to visit or apply to 20 schools. The only way to get him to not "dismiss whole swaths of the country without learning about them" you have to make it happen. Take him and visit all the places you think he doesn't know...Kentucky, Iowa, Alabama wherever your heart desires!

What else do you want us to tell you if don't see that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a major offered in about 20 places in the country. That seems like plenty to choose from, but once you start weeding out schools that are too rural for a kid who likes the city, or too small for a kid who likes big schools, or that don't offer substantial financial aid, or that have an academic requirement that he doesn't meet, the list gets short fast. But even if he was looking to major in English or Computer Science or something else that's offered in thousands of schools, I still wouldn't want my kid dismissing whole swaths of the country without learning about them first.

But, Op wouldn't that make it easier to pick a school? You don't have to visit or apply to 20 schools. The only way to get him to not "dismiss whole swaths of the country without learning about them" you have to make it happen. Take him and visit all the places you think he doesn't know...Kentucky, Iowa, Alabama wherever your heart desires!

What else do you want us to tell you if don't see that?

If I do that, I won't be able to pay for college!

[Anonymous]

I was immature while looking at schools...no brick, only stone. stuff like that. my parents luckily knew I was absurd and vetoed any schools where I would be saddled with debt. I also was lib arts major. Looking back I am really thankful. Most kids will do well at most schools (I say this from experience bc I am now an admissions officer at a local college) but the debt is crushing. Just a plug for looking out for that aspect.

[Anonymous]

I went to Wesleyan in Middletown, CT. Honestly, it's four years of your life. You may as well live in a nice location. Wesleyan was great, and perhaps the campus life was made better by the sucky location, but now I wonder why I didn't go to sunny California or mild nc or exciting nyc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait until he finds out that southern Ohio and northern Kentucky are identical

Heh I remember when I had a layover in Cincinnati airport and I couldn't figure out why it was really creeping me out until later I learned it is in northern KY.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was immature while looking at schools...no brick, only stone. stuff like that. my parents luckily knew I was absurd and vetoed any schools where I would be saddled with debt. I also was lib arts major. Looking back I am really thankful. Most kids will do well at most schools (I say this from experience bc I am now an admissions officer at a local college) but the debt is crushing. Just a plug for looking out for that aspect.

Op here, yes I agree that minimizing debt is a priority.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait until he finds out that southern Ohio and northern Kentucky are identical

Heh I remember when I had a layover in Cincinnati airport and I couldn't figure out why it was really creeping me out until later I learned it is in northern KY.

It didn't creep me out but I remember the 1st time I flew solo at 19 (pre-9/11 when you could walk up to gates, etc) I had a layover in Cinci and the pilot said "Welcome to Kentucky" when we landed and I panicked that I got on the wrong plane somehow because the flight was so early! Full panic for 4-5 minutes

[Anonymous]

So how does one intervene with a geography snob? I think travel, and actually interacting, with people from those areas counteracts it best. So although it might be quite reasonable not to go to college in an area you don't want to live in after college, it might actually be helpful to visit 1 or 2 places, have real interactions with real people, and learn that it's foolish to dismiss whole states with your own uninformed stereotype.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So how does one intervene with a geography snob? I think travel, and actually interacting, with people from those areas counteracts it best. So although it might be quite reasonable not to go to college in an area you don't want to live in after college, it might actually be helpful to visit 1 or 2 places, have real interactions with real people, and learn that it's foolish to dismiss whole states with your own uninformed stereotype.

+1

I grew up in Maryland, and almost all of my family vacations were East/West coast, with the occasional trip to the Grand Canyon or skiing in Colorado or Utah thrown in. I definitely had preconceived notions of the Midwest.

Fast forward to now: we're an academic family. We've been living in Ann Arbor for two years, and I love it here. We've made trips to Chicago and lake towns in MI while we've been here, and had a wonderful time. We're moving to Columbia, MO in two weeks (I'm taking a break from packing!) and I was crazy-nervous about it until I visited. The drive to town from the airport is...less than inspiring, but I really like the town itself. Lots of diversity, a fantastic arts community, and good schools. I would never have known.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So how does one intervene with a geography snob? I think travel, and actually interacting, with people from those areas counteracts it best. So although it might be quite reasonable not to go to college in an area you don't want to live in after college, it might actually be helpful to visit 1 or 2 places, have real interactions with real people, and learn that it's foolish to dismiss whole states with your own uninformed stereotype.

OP here, in theory I agree with you. In reality we're a family with a limited budget so visiting the 35 or so states that he hasn't seen isn't realistic. The fact that he's fine with Ohio but not Wisconsin, or WV but not Kentucky, tells me this is about where he's been (Grandma's in Ohio, sleep away camp in WV) and not about fact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have not raised a geography snob. Stop trying to put a positive "Oh, we are so elite" spin on this.

You have raised someone with a sheltered, limited world view and you obviously have failed to widen his horizons. Parenting fail.

As a kid, I drove cross country, and all I remember of Iowa and Nebraska is "corn."

The OP is raising a kid who is preparing for college--kudos to the OP and parenting win.