Anyone try to cultivate a lifelong interest in a certain university and had it backfire?

[Anonymous]

My brother in law has literally tried to sell my dd on UVA since infancy. He showered her with gear, road trips, etc from about age 4-5. By age 12, she swore she’d go to college anywhere else. She’s a senior now, and wouldn’t even visit, let alone apply. Way to go, Uncle Mark!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For example, trying to get your kid interested in your alma mater or your state's flagship?

As a Marylander and Maryland grad, I'd be happy if my kids went there (especially with a scholarship), but I wonder if they will be bored of the campus by the time they are college age if they spend too much time there (games, Maryland day etc).

Last thing I'd want is for them to skip the state school and overpay for some mediocre alternative. If they go to some super elite school instead, ok that's fine too.

False dichotomy and you don’t know what you are talking about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For example, trying to get your kid interested in your alma mater or your state's flagship?

As a Marylander and Maryland grad, I'd be happy if my kids went there (especially with a scholarship), but I wonder if they will be bored of the campus by the time they are college age if they spend too much time there (games, Maryland day etc).

Last thing I'd want is for them to skip the state school and overpay for some mediocre alternative. If they go to some super elite school instead, ok that's fine too.

False dichotomy and you don’t know what you are talking about.

Please do tell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For example, trying to get your kid interested in your alma mater or your state's flagship?

As a Marylander and Maryland grad, I'd be happy if my kids went there (especially with a scholarship), but I wonder if they will be bored of the campus by the time they are college age if they spend too much time there (games, Maryland day etc).

Last thing I'd want is for them to skip the state school and overpay for some mediocre alternative. If they go to some super elite school instead, ok that's fine too.

False dichotomy and you don’t know what you are talking about.

Please do tell.

There are a lot of state and private schools that are not elite and which provide a high quality education that doesn’t entail “overpaying.” Moreover, there are students for whom UMD-CP is not a good fit for any number of reasons, e.g. they would do better in a smaller environment, want a different set of programs, want a rural campus, whatever.

Beyond that, I want my kids to experience something other than Maryland, because to me, part of the point of college is experiencing something different. I don’t want my kids to be “lifelong Marylanders” by default because they had no options other than to attend the state flagship located just down the street.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd worry more that they aren't able to get in and feel bitter than you encouraged them to dream about a place that has a very low acceptance rate.

+1

[Anonymous]

I think there are ways to experience more than Maryland other than going to another college. In particular, I think paying tens of thousands extra to experience some other town in the US is extremely stupid, when that same money could be spent on exploring dozens of countries and learning a handful of other languages (like I did). But those are just my personal priorities..

[Anonymous]

I know too many families who raise their kids to love, live, and breathe my alma mater, who are then devastated when they don't get in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know too many families who raise their kids to love, live, and breathe my alma mater, who are then devastated when they don't get in.

Mind sharing which school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think there are ways to experience more than Maryland other than going to another college. In particular, I think paying tens of thousands extra to experience some other town in the US is extremely stupid, when that same money could be spent on exploring dozens of countries and learning a handful of other languages (like I did). But those are just my personal priorities..

I did both, but didn’t pay tens of thousands extra.

And no one tried to sell me on a particular school.

[Anonymous]

OP, how old is your kid? From the way you are writing, I’m guessing your kid is way too young for you to be thinking about which college she will attend and how to make it be so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, how old is your kid? From the way you are writing, I’m guessing your kid is way too young for you to be thinking about which college she will attend and how to make it be so.

You are absolutely correct.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think there are ways to experience more than Maryland other than going to another college. In particular, I think paying tens of thousands extra to experience some other town in the US is extremely stupid, when that same money could be spent on exploring dozens of countries and learning a handful of other languages (like I did). But those are just my personal priorities..

If you have only ever lived in Maryland, you have not truly experienced life elsewhere, no matter how much you have traveled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For example, trying to get your kid interested in your alma mater or your state's flagship?

As a Marylander and Maryland grad, I'd be happy if my kids went there (especially with a scholarship), but I wonder if they will be bored of the campus by the time they are college age if they spend too much time there (games, Maryland day etc).

Last thing I'd want is for them to skip the state school and overpay for some mediocre alternative. If they go to some super elite school instead, ok that's fine too.

False dichotomy and you don’t know what you are talking about.

Please do tell.

There are a lot of state and private schools that are not elite and which provide a high quality education that doesn’t entail “overpaying.” Moreover, there are students for whom UMD-CP is not a good fit for any number of reasons, e.g. they would do better in a smaller environment, want a different set of programs, want a rural campus, whatever.

Beyond that, I want my kids to experience something other than Maryland, because to me, part of the point of college is experiencing something different. I don’t want my kids to be “lifelong Marylanders” by default because they had no options other than to attend the state flagship located just down the street.

Can you name those schools for families that do not qualify for FA?

[Anonymous]

Yeah, fair enough. If my kids get into Maryland and other schools that are an equally good value and pick the one that's best, I'll be happy

[Anonymous]

I'm basically just thinking of the thread with the mom whose kid doesn't want to go to VT and wants to pay $50k extra per year to go to Boston college..... Yikes .. if I get into a conversation like that, I'll have failed as a parent.