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[quote=Anonymous]OP-  I have three in college.  And two at home getting ready for that big decision.  Just wanted to give you something to think about.  Look into the smaller schools that no one has ever heard of.  At least give them consideration.  Our experience:

-My oldest is in a HUGE party school in the south.  He is all about the Greek life, football, parties, tailgating....  All the stuff you associate with frat boy behavior.  He's always been that type of kid.  He was popular and outgoing in high school.  He loves to be surrounded by tons of people.  He thrives in that type of atmosphere.  He made decent, but certainly not great grades.  The school he got into was fairly competitive but his ACT scores were high enough to get him in.  He graduates this year.

-My second is very different from his brother.  He is quiet.  He made very average grades.  He had average scores on ACT/SAT.  He got into an O.K. state school.  He isn't into the Greek stuff at all.  But he does LOVE football.  His school is not as big as his brothers, but large nonetheless.  He is a sophomore and doing great at a less competitive school.

-My third is the one that really surprised us.  She is a National Merit Scholar.  She graduated with a 4.45 GPA.  She had colleges all over the country begging for her.  She had scholarship offers from everywhere.  She could have gone to any school she wanted to.  We really thought she would choose an Ivy because that seemed to be really important to her during her junior year.  She visited five schools (two ivys).  She decided on a school that we had never even heard of.  University of North Florida.  When we researched the school we learned this-[quote] In March 2006, The Princeton Review ranked UNF number five in their list of America's "Best Value" Colleges. UNF's status as a "Best Value" College was reaffirmed in 2007, 2009, and 2011. In 2007, 2009 and 2010, the university was named one of the "Best Southeastern Colleges" by The Princeton Review.[/quote]

She is an introvert.  Quiet with just a few close friends.  She isn't into partying, football, or Greek life.  She is kind crunchy.  Very liberal.  Into theater and music.  Very green.  And wanted a smaller college campus.  The campus is located on a nature preserve, which she loved.  What finally sold her was the Honors Program.  She is on a full scholarship and absolutely loves the school.

I know you said she doesn't want a southern school, but there are smaller schools like this all over the country.  They are worth looking at.  I would never have found it on my own.  A close friend (with a child at University of Florida) suggested we look at it after my daughter turned down Florida.   Apparently, a huge deal.  We were told that "no one turns down Florida".  :roll: [/quote]

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