Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stanford. Her average peer at Stanford will be overwhelmingly of higher academic caliber than her average peer at UMBC. Also, the resources at Stanford are simply in a different league altogether--the two schools aren't even in a comparable cohort of schools.

-Professor at research u.

Another prof here.
Unless you or your daughter are somehow concerned she couldn't cut it at stanford, it's worth it. She'd be exposed to a completely different, really special peer group at Stanford that would be her network starting out and later on. And the standards she be held to would be really extreme.

I have had many PhD students, and honestly my experience is that middle of the road students from places like Stanford often outpace the 4.0 students from places like UMBC. I don't think it's because the stanford students are necessarily more gifted, but that they learned something good at these places.

I agree that it's not a guaranteed ticket to greatness, and UMBC is in no way a ticket to something other than greatness. But you're definitely tilting the odds in making this choice. At least from the perspective of a researcher. Iv'e worked in industry too and I think the needs are a little bit more different. But if you daughter wants to be a biology major (did I read that?) then she wants to do research (or medicine, which will be similar). Stanford will be worth it.

Yet research shows the exact opposite. A top student at UMD outpaces a middle student from an Ivy.

Funny how 1 persons perception is so inaccurate, I suspect that is why eyewitness accounts are so inaccurate.

Anonymous wrote:Stanford. Her average peer at Stanford will be overwhelmingly of higher academic caliber than her average peer at UMBC. Also, the resources at Stanford are simply in a different league altogether--the two schools aren't even in a comparable cohort of schools.

-Professor at research u.

Another prof here.
Unless you or your daughter are somehow concerned she couldn't cut it at stanford, it's worth it. She'd be exposed to a completely different, really special peer group at Stanford that would be her network starting out and later on. And the standards she be held to would be really extreme.

I have had many PhD students, and honestly my experience is that middle of the road students from places like Stanford often outpace the 4.0 students from places like UMBC. I don't think it's because the stanford students are necessarily more gifted, but that they learned something good at these places.

I agree that it's not a guaranteed ticket to greatness, and UMBC is in no way a ticket to something other than greatness. But you're definitely tilting the odds in making this choice. At least from the perspective of a researcher. Iv'e worked in industry too and I think the needs are a little bit more different. But if you daughter wants to be a biology major (did I read that?) then she wants to do research (or medicine, which will be similar). Stanford will be worth it.

If money is not an issue, Stanford. If it were UM at College Park, that would be far better. UMBC is a small school that is going to not have much socially.

Anonymous wrote:It would be a mistake not to go to Stanford

This. And your DC will be fighting the absence of that credential, and will be bitter about it, if DC winds up at UMBC.

Stanford. Not even a question, period.

If you -did- have financial issues, still Stanford, which is net-cheaper when financial aid is factored in, and Stanford doesn't require any undergrad to take out loans.

Anonymous wrote:It would be a mistake not to go to Stanford

Really? Tell that to Isaac Kinde. http://www.60secondrecap.com/isaac-kinde-turned-down-stanford-for-maryland-now-at-johns-hopkins-medical-school/

If your kid wanty Stanford and you can only afford UMBC, let the kid figure out how to pay the difference.

If any of you have read, Frank Bruni's book, will know this was an actual decision taken by a student who chose UMBC over Stanford, went onto JHU for MD/PhD and is quite successful.

Where you go does not define who you are.

Anonymous wrote:I got in to Stanford and Berkeley - I went to Berkeley b/c my parents were not thrilled about Stanford $$$. To this day - and I am a very successfully employed adult - i am a little (teeny teeny teeny - b/c I am super happy with my lot) bitter that my parents didn't suck it up to send me to Stanford. I think the smaller, more individually focussed campus would have served me better at Stanford. It really depends on your kid. My kid would DEFINITELY do better at a smaller school like Stanford.

My mother is 70 and her parents wouldn't let her go to Stanford. She is still bitter about it.

I got in to Stanford and Berkeley - I went to Berkeley b/c my parents were not thrilled about Stanford $$$. To this day - and I am a very successfully employed adult - i am a little (teeny teeny teeny - b/c I am super happy with my lot) bitter that my parents didn't suck it up to send me to Stanford. I think the smaller, more individually focussed campus would have served me better at Stanford. It really depends on your kid. My kid would DEFINITELY do better at a smaller school like Stanford.

It would be a mistake not to go to Stanford

Are you kidding? Stanford! My brother went there -- it is a-mazing. Just walking through the campus. Oh my. Please send your dd there.

if you can afford it, another vote for Stanford. And it's great for her to travel out of the area where she grew up, too.

If you want to persuade her, have her go to the weekend for prospective freshmen. I think if she still doesn't want to go after that, then you've done all you can and she knows what she'll be turning down.

Also, it's not about the name for me...it's about the experience. I went to Stanford and it was incredible. The other students, the resources, the abroad program, research opportunities...list goes on. Good luck and congratulations to your DC!

Define "willing to pay the costs." If that includes taking out large loans, the full ride makes the most sense. What does your daughter think she wants to do?

Stanford. Her average peer at Stanford will be overwhelmingly of higher academic caliber than her average peer at UMBC. Also, the resources at Stanford are simply in a different league altogether--the two schools aren't even in a comparable cohort of schools.

-Professor at research u.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am serious. Why take on tremendous debt for Stanford when you can be just as more successful than your Stanford peers?

http://www.60secondrecap.com/forbes-30-under-30-colleges/

You said you could pay for it. You didn't mention that you would have to take on tremendous debt to do it. If you need to take on tremendous debt and have no college savings then didn't your DD qualify for need based aid from Stanford?

I think there is a second poster that is poo pooing Stanford. OP said she would prefer that her DD go to Stanford and would pay for it.

Let your DD decide, but I would push hard for Stanford. Not many schools that I would, but that one is a definite.