Would you let your DC attend an inferior university because they wanted rah-rah sports culture?

[Anonymous]

Or, assuming parents are paying (i.e. not an Alabama full ride on merit), would you and your husband say cheering on the football or basketball team is an absurd and immature reason to go to a certain university?

[Anonymous]

Yes, If my child would rather go to a large university for school spirit over a SLAC or a Bucknell, I would allow it.

[Anonymous]

Not at all. You can get a good education at (nearly) any college if you put your mind to it. A HUGE part of picking a school is student life and the campus culture- for example, would you ridicule a girl who wanted to attend Sarah Lawrence because of the campus vibe? Probably not.

[Anonymous]

No, but it's their decision. Being 18 and al .... .

[Anonymous]

So, to you, a state school is inferior? I would rather my kid follow a football team than a girlfriend or boyfriend. Plenty of kids go to big schools. I am not understanding the problem.

[Anonymous]

Assuming the school has a reasonably good program in my child's chosen area of study/interests, then yes, I'd be okay with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, but it's their decision. Being 18 and al .... .

being 18 and all ...

[Anonymous]

It's a total package, and social development is part of the process. If the environment is important to your kid, then why would you argue with them including it as a consideration in deciding where to go?

My kid ended up at a Big 10 school, for a variety of reasons having nothing to do with the sports programs, and I'm astounded by her involvement as a fan and supporter of the teams and how that involvement extends to her pride and enthusiasm for the school overall.

[Anonymous]

Depends (in part) on the schools in question. Skipping Harvard to attend Mizzou? I'd shudder a little bit, granted. Skipping Brown to attend Virginia Tech or UCLA? Totally different story.

[Anonymous]

The specifics matter here. I'd oppose my kid turning down Harvard to go to Auburn for that reason. But if they liked Colgate more than Williams because of the D1 factor, it's a different discussion.

[Anonymous]

OP, I assume you mean "would you pay for it," not "would you let them." How would you "not let them?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a total package, and social development is part of the process. If the environment is important to your kid, then why would you argue with them including it as a consideration in deciding where to go?

My kid ended up at a Big 10 school, for a variety of reasons having nothing to do with the sports programs, and I'm astounded by her involvement as a fan and supporter of the teams and how that involvement extends to her pride and enthusiasm for the school overall.

This. Students will do better if they thrive in the school environment and love their school. They won't get a better education skipping classes and feeling adrift at William and Mary than they would as an enthusiastic, happy- to- be- here, independent student at big state school with a strong football program

[Anonymous]

I allow/allowed my kids to pick any university they wanted. My wife graduated from an Ivy and I graduated from a pretty big rah-rah sports culture school (WVU) and yet, we met at work doing the same job. We've obviously changed jobs since then, but both of us are very successful and live very comfortable lives.

It's not about the school, it's about the knowledge within the person and their drive to succeed.

[Anonymous]

Don't negate the connections the kids at big sports schools can make. Bigger school means bigger network.

[Anonymous]

The only good schools with football programs are Southern Cal and Notre Dame. (Occasionally Cal Berkeley will slip in there).