Reply to How is your gifted kid doing at a lower-ranked college?

Forum Index » College and University Discussion

Reply to "How is your gifted kid doing at a lower-ranked college? "

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]She should look at liberal arts colleges that give merit aid. You might be able to get close to what the state schools cost and she could have smaller classes.  [/quote]

We tried this route with our older kids, and they didn't get enough merit aid (even at much lower-ranked schools) to fill the gap. Our older kids went to state colleges purely because of price.

If anyone has a gifted kid who was/is happy at a lower-ranked school, please post. Thanks! [/quote]

I was CTY eligible and a female NMF.  I tried PSU's Honors College.  PSU profs and classes were good but the social life was lacking in intellectual heft.  I transferred to Pitt and took Honors and regular classes.  I loved Pitt.  My grad degree is an MBA from Michigan.  Also loved Michigan.  So there are 3 flagships where I succeeded academically and met learning goals.

UMD is getting good reviews on DCUM these days.  I recently met a very happy journalism major from our non-MD high school who was top of her college.  Nothing but positivity.  Sounds to me to be like my Pitt experience.  Pitt was considered more gritty and humble 30 years ago.  But there's nothing wrong with being gritty and humble. UMD is also in a bigger metro area with a wider range of employers.

I think your daughter will thrive at a flagship if she selects smaller classes, reading-intensive classes, and meets/communicates actively with professors.  Look for smaller humanities classes, freshman seminars, honors classes, etc.  The peers don't even matter if the professors are good and care about your questions and your learning.  If they are quiet, more focus on you.  My son observed this in a freshman seminar at his flagship.  Now he has a professor who is interested in him doing research for her.  Because he was the star student.

My family is big school friendly.  The real world is a big place.  Better to get used to it.[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics