Reply to Why do you want your child to go to a "top" college?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I went to an Ivy and the only reason I might care (I have a long way to go and haven't thought much about it) is for the peer group that my kids would be surrounded by at a top school.  I thought most of the people I went to school with were exceptional at the time (smart, funny, intersting, etc.) and 15+ years later they still are.  And most now have interesting and good jobs, which doesn't hurt for networking.

I know this is terribly un PC and I will get flamed, [b]but I had a roomate throughout my 20s who had gone to a large and mediocre state school.  I could see the difference in her friend group from this college[/b].  Most were not terribly bright or interesting to be around.  And yes, it's possible that these were just her friends and everyone else walking around this school was a genius with a terrific personality.[/quote]

I think this is true, and I went to one of those schools. And in the south, no less. I want my kids to care more about football tailgating every weekend, and what bowl game &quot;they&quot; end up going to.[/quote]

That's a good point.  I also grew up in the south, and many of my friends & classmates (&gt;50%) went to SEC schools.  Most of them really seem to have been limited by their college experiences.  Maybe the world is more fluid and open now, so more post-college options would be available.  But I'd rather my child have as much exposure as possible to other options.[/quote]

The key word is "options." As we let our kids go and they make their own decisions, the best we can provide for them is a range of options. It is a reasonable inference that the better the school, the more options available to the graduates. Of course, if the better school is not the right "fit" and the student will not achieve in that environment, then the fact that a school is higher ranked does not make it the better school for that student. So, that is why you will see an Ivy League qualifier choosing to go to a Notre Dame or a UVa -- the fit is better. With so many forks in the road in terms of careers and opportunities, a parent who does not help their child maximize their options is not helping the student prepare for the future. The "I want them to be happy" answer sounds good, but it is not mutually exclusive with helping the child find the right college that will open the most doors. [/quote]

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