What school dropped off the list because of your visit?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:William and Mary for my daughter, that sample dorm room they show you on the tour.... ugh not homey at all. Was a shame because if they hadn't shown the dorm room it would have climbed to do the top of the list. Loved the campus and the vibe though my daughter noticed not alot of cute boys lol.

Also Georgetown, not that we were going to get in, but we went a few times just to explore and the last time we were there almost stepped on a dead rat in the middle of the walkway. That was enough to scare my son away once he read that rats and roaches are a big problem there. I'm sure that happens everywhere but it was a turnoff lol

So both you and your son applied? If you both got in, was the plan to be roommates?

Why are you so offended by that that you need to point it out on every thread? I get it... Your kid does everything on their own and is paying on their own too....or you are paying but it's still only their experience alone...or it's your experience to an extent too, but only you know the acceptable way to talk about it.... Just stop. Parents using those words does not mean their children aren't highly independent and capable. You protest to the point it makes me think you have some regrets about your hands off strategy....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can the people who didn’t like Oberlin elaborate please? We’re waiting to hear from them before a visit.

I didn’t go to school there but I lived in Oberlin.

It is kind a depressing area in Lorain County, Ohio. It’s not close to the lake and the cities of Elyria and Lorain are depressing. Oberlin itself is a dry town (or was when I lived there) and there are no bars or anything for nightlife. And it’s bloody cold in the winter.

[Anonymous]

Re cold, I went to Cornell and the weather really did a number on the southern & west coast kids. It seems it’s worth it to deal with that for an Ivy diploma but not for a place like nearby Syracuse. I LOVED Cornell but its frigid dreariness is only ok because of the beautiful lake and hills.

[Anonymous]

Georgetown. On paper it was perfect fit, dd didn’t connect with it at all. I think we skipped out on tour before was done

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:William and Mary for my daughter, that sample dorm room they show you on the tour.... ugh not homey at all. Was a shame because if they hadn't shown the dorm room it would have climbed to do the top of the list. Loved the campus and the vibe though my daughter noticed not alot of cute boys lol.

Also Georgetown, not that we were going to get in, but we went a few times just to explore and the last time we were there almost stepped on a dead rat in the middle of the walkway. That was enough to scare my son away once he read that rats and roaches are a big problem there. I'm sure that happens everywhere but it was a turnoff lol

So both you and your son applied? If you both got in, was the plan to be roommates?

Why are you so offended by that that you need to point it out on every thread? I get it... Your kid does everything on their own and is paying on their own too....or you are paying but it's still only their experience alone...or it's your experience to an extent too, but only you know the acceptable way to talk about it.... Just stop. Parents using those words does not mean their children aren't highly independent and capable. You protest to the point it makes me think you have some regrets about your hands off strategy....

Ok, I'll tell you how it worked for us. Our kids were practical. Each knew that wherever he or she ended up would be fine, and that if not they'd just transfer or whatever. They were looking for a college, not a spouse. So, each came up with short (four or five) and reasonable lists of where they wanted to apply, knowing in advance what we were willing to pay for (no second tier overpriced private liberal arts schools, for example). Once they made their lists, we suggested a couple additions here and there of similar schools. If the kid said they weren't interested, we were fine with that (one UVA applicant wouldn't even consider WM, for example, and another thought in the reverse). Only one of our kids had any serious interest in extensive college touring before applying, so we took that kid and a couple friends interested in the same/similar schools on a road trip, dropped them off on the campuses, and went our own way and didn't take the tours ourselves. Then, when each kid chose where to apply, they did the applications completely by themselves -- including essays, with zero input from us. Then, once accepted, they made the decision where to go themselves. So, in a very real sense, "we" didn't apply and "we" certainly didn't get in or not get in. "We" offered a few suggestions, to be sure, and "we" drove them around when requested, and "we" paid the tuition. I really think this is how it's supposed to work, sorry.

[Anonymous]

Harvard. One of the most unimpressive, inarticulate tour guides we had anywhere. The overall event felt like they were phoning it in and didn't care what people thought.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PITT!

+1.

Also, Lehigh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:William and Mary for my daughter, that sample dorm room they show you on the tour.... ugh not homey at all. Was a shame because if they hadn't shown the dorm room it would have climbed to do the top of the list. Loved the campus and the vibe though my daughter noticed not alot of cute boys lol.

Also Georgetown, not that we were going to get in, but we went a few times just to explore and the last time we were there almost stepped on a dead rat in the middle of the walkway. That was enough to scare my son away once he read that rats and roaches are a big problem there. I'm sure that happens everywhere but it was a turnoff lol

So both you and your son applied? If you both got in, was the plan to be roommates?

Why are you so offended by that that you need to point it out on every thread? I get it... Your kid does everything on their own and is paying on their own too....or you are paying but it's still only their experience alone...or it's your experience to an extent too, but only you know the acceptable way to talk about it.... Just stop. Parents using those words does not mean their children aren't highly independent and capable. You protest to the point it makes me think you have some regrets about your hands off strategy....

NP here. THANK YOU! And regarding Pedantic Parent's long explanation above, no one asked you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PITT!

Pitt was DS’s aha moment, one-and-done choice. Other DS wouldn’t consider it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:William and Mary for my daughter, that sample dorm room they show you on the tour.... ugh not homey at all. Was a shame because if they hadn't shown the dorm room it would have climbed to do the top of the list. Loved the campus and the vibe though my daughter noticed not alot of cute boys lol.

Also Georgetown, not that we were going to get in, but we went a few times just to explore and the last time we were there almost stepped on a dead rat in the middle of the walkway. That was enough to scare my son away once he read that rats and roaches are a big problem there. I'm sure that happens everywhere but it was a turnoff lol

So both you and your son applied? If you both got in, was the plan to be roommates?

Why are you so offended by that that you need to point it out on every thread? I get it... Your kid does everything on their own and is paying on their own too....or you are paying but it's still only their experience alone...or it's your experience to an extent too, but only you know the acceptable way to talk about it.... Just stop. Parents using those words does not mean their children aren't highly independent and capable. You protest to the point it makes me think you have some regrets about your hands off strategy....

Ok, I'll tell you how it worked for us. Our kids were practical. Each knew that wherever he or she ended up would be fine, and that if not they'd just transfer or whatever. They were looking for a college, not a spouse. So, each came up with short (four or five) and reasonable lists of where they wanted to apply, knowing in advance what we were willing to pay for (no second tier overpriced private liberal arts schools, for example). Once they made their lists, we suggested a couple additions here and there of similar schools. If the kid said they weren't interested, we were fine with that (one UVA applicant wouldn't even consider WM, for example, and another thought in the reverse). Only one of our kids had any serious interest in extensive college touring before applying, so we took that kid and a couple friends interested in the same/similar schools on a road trip, dropped them off on the campuses, and went our own way and didn't take the tours ourselves. Then, when each kid chose where to apply, they did the applications completely by themselves -- including essays, with zero input from us. Then, once accepted, they made the decision where to go themselves. So, in a very real sense, "we" didn't apply and "we" certainly didn't get in or not get in. "We" offered a few suggestions, to be sure, and "we" drove them around when requested, and "we" paid the tuition. I really think this is how it's supposed to work, sorry.

Awesome for you! You are wrong in making assumptions about how other peoples' families work because they use language in a way you wouldn't. You know how I think it's supposed to work? You let people live according to their own choices and language. Maybe some of those posters come from a different country or culture, and that's just how they talk, it doesn't carry the same meaning. Maybe it does carry the same meaning and they think of admission as a we thing. You should have some awareness that you are not perfect and people have different perspectives in life and not have the need to "call them out"! Maybe they are having a rough day and you insulting them made it worse. Are you proud of that?

[Anonymous]

Vanderbilt, William and Mary,

Princeton, university of Chicago,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Vanderbilt, William and Mary,

Princeton, university of Chicago,

People keep saying William & Mary — I’d love to know why. We were going to do a walk-ourselves-around tour over spring break but maybe my daughter won’t have an opportunity to get a good enough sense of the place without a tour guide.

[Anonymous]

Denison, on paper and visiting it seemed like an amazing school. But my DC couldn’t get over how dressed up/preppy the students were. Knocked off her list.

[Anonymous]

Went to grad school at Vanderbilt sight unseen because it was the top in my field and it was a huge mistake. The women there dress up just to go to regular classes. Was so strange to see coming from a northern undergrad. For a school with such bright students it had an old fashioned, off-putting “my main goal is to meet my husband” vibe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Duke

+1 Said campus was gorgeous, but nowhere to go.