My DD ended up at her safety - by choice - and it's been a terrific fit for her. She's in her third year and loves her program, her teachers, and is doing really well academically and socially. She got a nice merit aid package when she was accepted which sealed the deal for her. It's not the name brand SLAC she originally had her eyes on, but I'm proud of her for weighing all her options and making the best choice for her.

OP, some people end up preferring the cold. I'd prefer the snowy midwest to DC area summers or further south.

UW in Madison has a fantastic program. Nice college town and it is 45 degrees and sunny right now.

Hey, if you can survive upper midwest winter, you can survive anything! Besides, tends to make for great stories if you move elsewhere.

This is so kid dependent, but I think college is such a great time to try something new. And moving away from home, even to live on a college campus, requires and fosters so much independence. There's no "bring your laundry home every weekend" stuff going on. If you have a car, you have to figure out how to keep it in working order on your own. Can't rely on mom and dad to bring you groceries every week. it makes you grow up a lot more, in a good way.

FWIW, I'm from suburban Baltimore, went to a "directional" school in Minnesota (they don't have directionals, but I didn't attend University of Minnesota, let's put it that way), and did my grad work in International Relations in DC. I don't believe for one second that going to a non-elite mid-western undergrad held me back.

That's great! They SHOULD love their safeties!

If the mentor is a serious researcher in her field, which most state school faculty are, she will be a great mentor and write effective letters for the next step. Midwest winters are cold and snowy but it’s not THAT bad. (But I’m from there.) You may not need a SAD light. Snow reflects light and the Midwest is generally plenty sunny in winter. Summers are more bearable if she stays out there. I have friends who went to grad school at top schools who teach in midwestern state schools who could have ended up at “fancier” schools. There are limited job openings in academia and you go where you get an offer. OP your daughter sounds like a great student.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cyclone Ag alum here! It is a great school. When I was there as an undergrad, a lot of my classmates were from out-of-state. I’m now a professor at another Midwest land grant (in Ag) and can safely say ISU and CALS is a great choice.

and the Mideast is a really nice place to live.

Well that is an unfortunate typo!

Midwest.

She will*

Totally anecdotal but if it’s the school the above poster is mentioning (with the CALS program) I would just say about some of your fears 1. The Midwest is a great place. I lived in Chicago for some years so there were folks that had migrated down after going to that school and it’s definitely beloved and the town itself so much so, as well. And the Midwest is just a more relaxed, slower paced, place. I think it would be great for college honestly. 2. Don’t worry too much about the winter. It’s rough yes, but if she goes get her a “sad” lamp and some good gear, she will be totally fine. It’s bonding and people in these states make the best of it. She’ll have memories of huge storms and sledding with college friends, it will be all good. The distance is a little more difficult because I’m not sure about direct flights but I went a ways away and it was just fine.

Anyway good luck to you me daughter! Sounds like you’ve done a great job and will make the best decision for herself.

Anonymous wrote:U of IA- Des Moines? Iowa is the first place that I think of for agriculture.

U of Iowa is in Iowa City (east of Des Moines). Iowa State is in Ames. Both good college towns, and not as cold as Minnesota!

Anonymous wrote:Cyclone Ag alum here! It is a great school. When I was there as an undergrad, a lot of my classmates were from out-of-state. I’m now a professor at another Midwest land grant (in Ag) and can safely say ISU and CALS is a great choice.

and the Mideast is a really nice place to live.

Anonymous wrote:U of IA- Des Moines? Iowa is the first place that I think of for agriculture.

On second thought, you’re probably talking about Iowa State.

U of IA- Des Moines? Iowa is the first place that I think of for agriculture.

Cyclone Ag alum here! It is a great school. When I was there as an undergrad, a lot of my classmates were from out-of-state. I’m now a professor at another Midwest land grant (in Ag) and can safely say ISU and CALS is a great choice.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, if it is a safety, perhaps she will get some $$$.

She did. Cost is the same as our state school. Only down side is it is far, and we are worried about the distance and the winter.

It sounds like you are talking about UMN. If you are, it is a great place but you are right about it being cold. There are plenty of flights.

Just south of mn.