Parents of college students…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC is at their dream school (thank goodness it worked out!). Fit for DC was big city, lots of stuff to do on campus and off campus, weather, friendly happy students, smart social and driven but not totally introverted or geeky. They would have been fine at any of their safeties and targets as well bc we picked schools of similar profile. I’m not sure how a student applies to 20 schools because at some point I think you’re chasing prestige or a name over real fit.

They apply yo 20 b/c they aren't sure of "fit". Or, their "fit" schools have low acceptance rates and they cast a wide net.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter went to a large, chaotic high school and was very much seeking a quieter college experience. She noticed things like whether students seemed happy and friendly, and how well-spoken and welcoming the faculty seemed. Very happy at a mid-range SLAC. (Think rank between 50 and 100)

Mine is the opposite. They are at a large HS and rejected all SLACs b/c they didn't want to go somewhere with a smaller population than their HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If he substitute the word “reputation” for ranking, I still stand by the idea that ranking is part of the fit. I’m just saying it’s not the only part of the equation when people come to decide on colleges.

You should see the reaction I get when I tell people one of my kids is at a top 20 school, versus the other kid who is also doing great at a top 150 school. Very big difference, and I’m sure the kids can feel it. They will have that reputation thing to deal with the rest of their life after they choose a school. That is part of the fit— How do I feel about going to a lesser ranked school?

NO. Reputation is not related to fit. There is a reason the Stanford paper is called “A Fit Over Rankings.” Because they are two separate concepts.

Fit is not about how you feel when you tell people where you go to school. It is about how you feel on a Tuesday in November at college. Do you have friends. Do you feel connected with your professors. Are you involved in campus activities. Are you miserable and just slogging through because you want that degree or are you living your best life and thinking “this is soooo much better than high school.”

It’s how genuinely HAPPY is the student, not how SMUG is the student.