Anonymous
Post 02/21/2026 18:03     Subject: It's May 1st. How and why did your kid decide on that college/university?
Anonymous wrote:Went to 3 admitted days in April 2024. Drove to all 3 places: Atlanta, Evanston, Ithaca. Then the kid chose a school and made the deposit. This year will be going to only 1 admitted day since the kid has already committed. Admitted days are so fun! Can’t wait!


Let me guess. Emory, Northwestern, and Ithaca College.
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2026 17:59     Subject: It's May 1st. How and why did your kid decide on that college/university?
Anonymous wrote:If they hadn't ED or accepted an offer prior to May 1? Was it cost / aid? Distance from home? Program?


Wanted big rah rah and UCLA was highest ranked for that.
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2026 17:38     Subject: It's May 1st. How and why did your kid decide on that college/university?
Anonymous wrote:Went to 3 admitted days in April 2024. Drove to all 3 places: Atlanta, Evanston, Ithaca. Then the kid chose a school and made the deposit. This year will be going to only 1 admitted day since the kid has already committed. Admitted days are so fun! Can’t wait!


Ok then.
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2026 17:15     Subject: It's May 1st. How and why did your kid decide on that college/university?
Life long dream come true.
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2026 17:14     Subject: It's May 1st. How and why did your kid decide on that college/university?
I had one kid go to three admitted student days and the next go to two. Kid two chose as I expected, but Kid one surprised me. Admitted student days were huge.
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2026 17:01     Subject: It's May 1st. How and why did your kid decide on that college/university?
Class size, undergraduate research oppurtunities, scholarships, connections with faculty on admitted student days were the big factors for final choice of school.
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2026 17:00     Subject: It's May 1st. How and why did your kid decide on that college/university?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:10:30 pm on May 1: tons of merit aid vs “higher” ranked school.

Thankfully chose the cheaper school. Other school wasn’t that much higher ranked and is known for not being a great undergrad experience.


And how did it work out for kid with this "cheaper" school?


Very well. She’s been happy and so glad she didn’t chose the other school.
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2026 16:57     Subject: It's May 1st. How and why did your kid decide on that college/university?
Went to 3 admitted days in April 2024. Drove to all 3 places: Atlanta, Evanston, Ithaca. Then the kid chose a school and made the deposit. This year will be going to only 1 admitted day since the kid has already committed. Admitted days are so fun! Can’t wait!
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2026 16:47     Subject: It's May 1st. How and why did your kid decide on that college/university?
Anonymous wrote:Can’t believe the “smokeshow” guy & the “family planning” lady haven’t yet checked in to share their keen isight.

I have no idea what this is referencing but now I’m curious…!
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2026 16:36     Subject: It's May 1st. How and why did your kid decide on that college/university?
Anonymous wrote:10:30 pm on May 1: tons of merit aid vs “higher” ranked school.

Thankfully chose the cheaper school. Other school wasn’t that much higher ranked and is known for not being a great undergrad experience.


And how did it work out for kid with this "cheaper" school?
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2026 13:10     Subject: It's May 1st. How and why did your kid decide on that college/university?
10:30 pm on May 1: tons of merit aid vs “higher” ranked school.

Thankfully chose the cheaper school. Other school wasn’t that much higher ranked and is known for not being a great undergrad experience.
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2026 11:45     Subject: It's May 1st. How and why did your kid decide on that college/university?
Can’t believe the “smokeshow” guy & the “family planning” lady haven’t yet checked in to share their keen isight.
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2026 11:40     Subject: It's May 1st. How and why did your kid decide on that college/university?
There is a 1 week spring break that we plan to use for touring the campuses.
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2026 11:37     Subject: It's May 1st. How and why did your kid decide on that college/university?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If they hadn't ED or accepted an offer prior to May 1? Was it cost / aid? Distance from home? Program?

First, you wait to see what the RD offers are in March - that's still a month away from today.

Then, you lay out the costs and try to narrow down your choices. You book admitted student visits if possible.

Kinda hard to say much more in a vacuum.


Were you able to make it (logistically) to more than one admitted day between April 1 (or whenever most all schools' decisions are out) and the end of April?


We flew to top two schools (clear front runners) for admitted students’ days.
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2026 11:34     Subject: It's May 1st. How and why did your kid decide on that college/university?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If they hadn't ED or accepted an offer prior to May 1? Was it cost / aid? Distance from home? Program?

First, you wait to see what the RD offers are in March - that's still a month away from today.

Then, you lay out the costs and try to narrow down your choices. You book admitted student visits if possible.

Kinda hard to say much more in a vacuum.


Were you able to make it (logistically) to more than one admitted day between April 1 (or whenever most all schools' decisions are out) and the end of April?


Np. We actually went to 6 admitted student days last spring. It was a lot, but 4 of them were within driving distance