Colorado: 80 percent accetance rate; number 1 school for smoking pot, number 2 for partying. $39,000 out of state tuition. Um... naw.

If she likes to ski, then Boulder. Otherwise, Penn State or UMD.

The other schools are very regional (as is UMD to an extent) whereas Penn State and Boulder are more national schools.

How the heck did she come up with this list?? And where does she think she wants to live after graduation - where you go undergrad has a big impact on that if your undergrad isn't a national name like an ivy or MIT or something.

If she wants to end up down south - Clemson/SC. In the DMV - JMU; Maryland; Virginia Tech. Up north - NY/NJ/PA - Penn State. Colorado - wildcard. She'd be competitive in the mountain states or she could spin a story about how she just wanted to live in Colorado for 4 yrs and couldn't pass up that opportunity - bc lots of people have this fantasy. Go to the career services websites - or have your DD call career services for each of these undergrad business schools and get a list of the companies that recruited there last yr. Guaranteed that most recruiting at these schools is regional -- so if she goes down to SC and her internships job offers lead her to SC/NC/ATL after graduation - would she be ok with that or is she hellbent on coming back to the DMV?

Personally I'd do Penn State (I assume she won't be on the football team) or Colorado. Way more job opportunities for a finance grad in NY/NJ than there are down here and lots of the ones down here are for think tanks/non profits and don't pay. Or Colorado for the experience and the story spin described above - honestly that story spin would get her more looks in the northeastern recruiting markets than an unknown school like JMU or the 600th Maryland resume that they see in recruiting season.

As earlier PP wrote, the only acceptances VT has sent out so far are for ED. They don't have EA. So if your DD was accepted at VT then she is bound to accept.

Anonymous wrote:I am a CPA, and I know tons of people who went to JMU and Va Tech. They all loved their schools. I wouldn't pay for out of state though.

This.

What state are you in and how much can you afford? All are good schools. I'd personally encourage a state school (live on campus) so we'd have enough money to pay for an MBA.

Anonymous wrote:I also sent my kid out to Colorado and the change in culture has made her a much, much happier person.

as a mom - reading this makes me really happy! I have a good feeling my son will go to Boulder and love it and potentially never move back east...he is a happy person now and laid back amongst so many that are really feeling the pressure of the DMV area and trying to succeed so I am hoping he loves it.

I also sent my kid out to Colorado and the change in culture has made her a much, much happier person.

My son is going to Boulder next year - fell in love after visiting! While we were hoping for in state - his heart is set and after visiting the town and University - it really is lovely! He got into a number of other schools but wants to try something different than the DMV area...

I have lived in Boulder. Wish I was bold enough to apply there from undergrad. Everyone I know who went there is doing what they LOVE.

Anonymous wrote:I am a CPA, and I know tons of people who went to JMU and Va Tech. They all loved their schools. I wouldn't pay for out of state though.

Especially for business. So not worth it.

umd is the clear choice because it allows her access to dc for year round internships while in school.

that is HUGE for being positioned to get a great job straight outta UG

Anonymous wrote:This is a great maturing moment without much risk. By owning this decision without parent influence, at this point, she will be taking on her first big, truly adult decision. She will own the decision. This is what you want. She will work hard at her chosen school to prove her decision was a good one. This is a great parenting postion to be in but only if you make it clear that this is on her. You have no crystal ball as to where each path will take her. You need her to embrace that hard reality, and it's more important than the difference between any of these schools. IMO. And congrats.

+1

Anonymous wrote:Surprised at all of the votes for Boulder!

uhh have you been there? it's one of the greatest spots in north america.

This is a great maturing moment without much risk. By owning this decision without parent influence, at this point, she will be taking on her first big, truly adult decision. She will own the decision. This is what you want. She will work hard at her chosen school to prove her decision was a good one. This is a great parenting postion to be in but only if you make it clear that this is on her. You have no crystal ball as to where each path will take her. You need her to embrace that hard reality, and it's more important than the difference between any of these schools. IMO. And congrats.