Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess it’s a good list for those looking for massive merit aid. I think the schools are FINE. As in there is nothing wrong with them. There’s also nothing massively impressive or redeeming or unique about any of them. Many are literally interchangeable. In which case why bother CHOOSING a school at all- just go in state.

I know three kids going to schools on that list out of state but paying less than it would cost to go in state.

Especially in Virginia, in state schools are not always the cheapest option.

Anonymous wrote:I guess it’s a good list for those looking for massive merit aid. I think the schools are FINE. As in there is nothing wrong with them. There’s also nothing massively impressive or redeeming or unique about any of them. Many are literally interchangeable. In which case why bother CHOOSING a school at all- just go in state.

Anonymous wrote:List of new "Dream Schools". He adds more detail and "stand-out factor" for each in his new book:

Large Leaders:
Arizona State University (AZ)
Case Western Reserve University (OH)
Clemson University (SC)
Colorado State University (CO)
Drexel University (PA)
Fordham University (NY)
Howard University (DC)
Indiana University - Bloomington (IN)
Miami University of Ohio (OH)
Michigan State University (MI)
North Carolina State University (NC)
Oregon State University (OR)
Rochester Institute of Technology (NY)
Rutgers University (NJ)
Southern Methodist University (TX)
Spelman College (GA)
Syracuse University (NY)
Texas A&M University (TX)
University of Alabama (AL)
University of California, Davis (CA)
University of California, San Diego (CA)
University of Connecticut (CT)
University of Delaware (DE)
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (IL)
University of Iowa (IA)
University of Kentucky (KY)
University of Maryland, College Park (MD)
University of Massachusetts, Amherst (MA)
University of Minnesota (MN)
University of Missouri - Columbia (MO)
University of Oklahoma (OK)
University of Pittsburgh (PA)
University of Utah (UT)
Virginia Tech (VA)
College of William & Mary (VA)

This is a good list of schools that are rising in demand. I know several kids in our school whose parents say they are really happy and thriving at the above schools I BOLDED above.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The "hidden value" list is a list of schools I would not spend my money on. If those are my kids options, in-state it is.

Isn't the assumption that those would be nearly free due to merit? Otherwise, I 100% agree with you.

Anonymous wrote:The "hidden value" list is a list of schools I would not spend my money on. If those are my kids options, in-state it is.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The "hidden value" list is a list of schools I would not spend my money on. If those are my kids options, in-state it is.

Isn't the assumption that those would be nearly free due to merit? Otherwise, I 100% agree with you.

Anonymous wrote:The "hidden value" list is a list of schools I would not spend my money on. If those are my kids options, in-state it is.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this basically a list of very solid colleges and universities that aren't super selective or very expensive?

yes. nothing impressive.

I think the point of the book is that students, and parents especially, are looking at college search the wrong way. People try to get into the "best" college they can get into, without critically assessing fit or value or colleges that can provide both but aren't even on their radar. The book starts with a profile of student who got into Columbia but was unhappy and did not find the student culture a fit at all, he ended up transferring to University of Minnesota, where he did find better fit and vibe had more content and less stressed students. Top ranked college is not equal to happiness. We all know this but he shares some powerful stories and data. He also shares that there isn't enough space in top colleges and they don't give enough aid, so many more of these other schools should be considered. Like a person who got into Bowdoin with zero aid and ended up another college with nearly full aid and lots of oter perks.

This! 4 of the 8 schools my older kid applied to are on that "large leaders" list, due to fit. Kid was accepted to Duke and turned it down - chose VT instead. And cost would have been nearly the same due to factors not relevant here. I've seen DCUM folks ridicule anyone who would turn down a T10 for a place like VT but I can tell you, my kid is living their best life in Blacksburg, has had paid internships every summer, and doesn't regret the choice for a minute. Fit was a huge factor in our search for schools my Hokie and their younger sibling. Prestige isn't the end all be all.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this basically a list of very solid colleges and universities that aren't super selective or very expensive?

yes. nothing impressive.

I think the point of the book is that students, and parents especially, are looking at college search the wrong way. People try to get into the "best" college they can get into, without critically assessing fit or value or colleges that can provide both but aren't even on their radar. The book starts with a profile of student who got into Columbia but was unhappy and did not find the student culture a fit at all, he ended up transferring to University of Minnesota, where he did find better fit and vibe had more content and less stressed students. Top ranked college is not equal to happiness. We all know this but he shares some powerful stories and data. He also shares that there isn't enough space in top colleges and they don't give enough aid, so many more of these other schools should be considered. Like a person who got into Bowdoin with zero aid and ended up another college with nearly full aid and lots of oter perks.

This! 4 of the 8 schools my older kid applied to are on that "large leaders" list, due to fit. Kid was accepted to Duke and turned it down - chose VT instead. And cost would have been nearly the same due to factors not relevant here. I've seen DCUM folks ridicule anyone who would turn down a T10 for a place like VT but I can tell you, my kid is living their best life in Blacksburg, has had paid internships every summer, and doesn't regret the choice for a minute. Fit was a huge factor in our search for schools my Hokie and their younger sibling. Prestige isn't the end all be all.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this basically a list of very solid colleges and universities that aren't super selective or very expensive?

yes. nothing impressive.

I think the point of the book is that students, and parents especially, are looking at college search the wrong way. People try to get into the "best" college they can get into, without critically assessing fit or value or colleges that can provide both but aren't even on their radar. The book starts with a profile of student who got into Columbia but was unhappy and did not find the student culture a fit at all, he ended up transferring to University of Minnesota, where he did find better fit and vibe had more content and less stressed students. Top ranked college is not equal to happiness. We all know this but he shares some powerful stories and data. He also shares that there isn't enough space in top colleges and they don't give enough aid, so many more of these other schools should be considered. Like a person who got into Bowdoin with zero aid and ended up another college with nearly full aid and lots of oter perks.