DD wants to scale down for college? Looking for advice

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:our son picked an honors college at a state school over several small LAC. He is thrilled with the variety of options that were limited at the LACs.
He has found his people and enjoys a close relationship with the professors.

We are leaning towards that too and not the top state schools either. What school?

[Anonymous]

Maybe your dd wants to be a SAHM OP. Then why even go to college other than to find her BF?

[Anonymous]

She should start with three questions:
-what part of the country does she want to be in?
-Big versus small school
-urban versus rural school

Answer those three questions and she can narrow a list pretty quickly. The only way to get a sense of it is to visit a variety of schools, even when going on trips that are not "college" trips, just to see what different types of campuses feel like.

[Anonymous]

My daughter chose the honors college at a small state school. She was a national merit scholar accepted to two ivys. She graduated two years ago, has a good job, and is very happy. The school was a perfect fit for her. And she went free, which was awesome!

[Anonymous]

My DD was similar to yours OP, and attended what by the numbers would be defined as her safety school -- a state school in another part of the country. She was very clear about mixing things up and I took it as a sign of maturity that she wanted to bust out of grindstone mode. If you have a highly motivated kid who loves learning and knows how to study, it doesn't really matter whether he/she goes to an elite school or a just-fine school -- colleges are made for these kids, and they will thrive. Someone noted that privileged kids have more leeway to take this path, and that was absolutely true in her case. But the heavily skewed excellence of her DC private school was so extreme -- she was well educated, but also pretty ignorant. Her college experience broadened her perspective in ways she must have sensed she needed, even way back during the application process. It's worked out great for her, and I'm glad we listened.

[Anonymous]

I did something like this! And it's worked out just fine. I went to a lower-ranked SLAC (ranked in the mid 20s) on a 100% full ride. I fully benefited from being the big fish in the small pond -- valedictorian, Fulbright, etc. I had no problem getting into an Ivy for grad school and from there having the choice to move into exactly the same kind of "prestige" professions that my classmates who went to Harvard undergrad did.

The truth is I was slightly bored though -- but that's because I'm slightly unmotivated. It sounds like your daughter is engaged and motivated, so different situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD was similar to yours OP, and attended what by the numbers would be defined as her safety school -- a state school in another part of the country. She was very clear about mixing things up and I took it as a sign of maturity that she wanted to bust out of grindstone mode. If you have a highly motivated kid who loves learning and knows how to study, it doesn't really matter whether he/she goes to an elite school or a just-fine school -- colleges are made for these kids, and they will thrive. Someone noted that privileged kids have more leeway to take this path, and that was absolutely true in her case. But the heavily skewed excellence of her DC private school was so extreme -- she was well educated, but also pretty ignorant. Her college experience broadened her perspective in ways she must have sensed she needed, even way back during the application process. It's worked out great for her, and I'm glad we listened.

This shows her depth and we’ll all benefit from having people of this caliber in whatever she chooses to do.

[Anonymous]

If she likes working with faculty on projects and being involved in committees, etc. she might enjoy a smaller liberal arts college, especially if she is outdoorsy.

[Anonymous]

Op my parents always pushed me and my siblings on academics, and we did very well. My sister is now an internationally known journalist. What they always said was this: if you aim for the highest branches and land a little in the middle, you are doing okay, but if you aim for low hanging branches and land on the ground, you are not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe your dd wants to be a SAHM OP. Then why even go to college other than to find her BF?

Did it make your low self esteem feel better today, Valentine’s Day no less, to bash my child AND stay at home moms? I feel sorry for the emptiness and bitterness in your soul. You can move on to another thread to ruffle feathers as I won’t be responding to anymore of these posts. I prefer to keep this thread on track and appreciate all the other comments. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is a junior at a top 5 private.

What does this mean? I'm curious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe your dd wants to be a SAHM OP. Then why even go to college other than to find her BF?

You're a dolt. People like you don't benefit from higher education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is a junior at a top 5 private.

What does this mean? I'm curious.

Local privates. Top 5 are Sidwell, Cathedral/Albans, Georgetown Day, Holton, and Maret?
Many people say that since the schools are so small it doesn’t single their own child out if they name the particular school.
The schools are intense.

[Anonymous]

I am curious about this too. I keep hearing about lower ranked state colleges or universities having honors programs with merit and that seems like a nice option. All the perks, sports, social and club life of a big school, but a smaller niche of honor students to hang with and faculty to work with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter chose the honors college at a small state school. She was a national merit scholar accepted to two ivys. She graduated two years ago, has a good job, and is very happy. The school was a perfect fit for her. And she went free, which was awesome!

Did she go to graduate or right to work?

Hoping this is my daughter