Reply to Jeff Selingo on people skipping "target schools"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I think fit is a weird thing.  Some kids take a 90 minute tour and it feels right.  some kids don't like the color of the uniforms. this is not really logical.

A lot of kids can be happy in a lot of schools.  Plenty of lower ranked schools have a lot more opportunities for intellectually curious kids (good luck writing for the Princeton paper if you were editor of your HS paper).  If you have a kid who wants to try new things instead of doing more of the same thing they've done before, look widely is my advice.

And if you had a kid who liked HS, they'll love college.  If you had a kid who hated HS, I think it can be trickier. [/quote]

My kid can be happy at a lot of schools.  But for one kid, we toured 10+ colleges in a week the summer before senior year.  They were targeted schools that they most likely would apply to.  A few my kid said, nope, no way I don't like it and hate the town, not spending 4 years there.  others were "yeah I like it, I can see myself there.  And I like it for X Y and Z---where X Y And Z are about academics and the opportunities for research and academic pursuits, along with a few ECs. "  There were two schools my kid just loved---one was a T10 (my alma mater)  and yes, it would be an excellent fit for my kid.  It's a great school, beautiful campus, smaller/mid size campus/size my kid wanted,  and offers all the majors my kid is interested in and has a lot of kids who are multi-dimensional as well (my kid is a CS/Engineer and loves to dance, might minor in it).  THe next school is one that is the right size, encourages kids to be multi-dimensional thru their "core curriculum" that really lets you focus on two areas outside of your major (you need courses in STEM, Humanities, and Social sciences---your major covers one and the CC covers the other 2).  My kid really liked the Core curriculum and the ability to focus on things they love, rather than taking 1 history, 1 English, 1 Philosophy, etc.  They also really really like the tour guides we had and could really see themselves on campus.  As a "non-geeky" engineering major (my kid didn't do robotics or the like---they spend 20hr+/week dancing in MS/HS), they could see that as well in the visitors as well as the students/tour guide.  We did two visits---both ironically my kid got a tour guide that was in their exact engineering major (hint it's not ME or BME) and that Gabe them a chance to see what students in their major are really like.  We also got a private tour (in April) from an engineering major (senior) who was gladly willing to show us engineering part of campus (there were no official tours that day).  That kid was so like my own kid, in drive, focus, desire, leadership, and when we discussed ECs and what clubs/activites kids do and how it fits with the CC, turns out the personal tour guide is also a dancer and set my kid up with lists of contacts for all the best clubs/activites.  (I personally had no clue the kid was a dancer, but I couldn't have asked for a better tour guide).  So despite this campus being in a "not a place my kid ever thought they would spend 4 years", my kid just lit up with each visit---for them it really is the best fit of all their choices.  And now that they've been on campus for a few years, I have to say they made the right choice.

sure they could have gone elsewhere and would turn out okay/fine.  But I honestly believe kids excel when they are happiest and in the best environment for them.  For my kid this school was their top choice (probably even better than the T10 who rejected them, so thanks to them for edging them along to make the best choice :-) )

But we encouraged our kids to make the choices for college about Fit and academics.  Not---I like the mascot and school colors better, or the dorms are so nice and fancy---make it about meaningful, substantial choices.

But yes, This town sucks and it's in the middle of nowhere, I won't live here is a viable reason.  (that was RPI---and I agree Troy NY is not a fun place and I wouldn't want to spend 4 years there)[/quote]

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