That costs have risen so fast that the stakes for this decision are high. When I was in high school, most kids were not already thinking about grad studies but now that is very common. Students are thinking through how to get to the head programs they want and trying to compete. It is a lot of pressure.

It's interesting to read these posts about how parents would not recommend their top colleges to their kids or others.

I went to Arizona State in the 1990's and truly loved the whole experience -- academics, social life, trips to the Sedona, etc. The weather was nice and sunny, and the campus looks like a resort.

I wish my kids could replicate that, but I always think that they should attend a prestigious college.

Hamilton - it’s small, cliquey, and primarily rich preppy kids who didn’t get into better SLAC. Party scene felt like high school with heavy binge drinking but now with “theme parties.” Location is horrendous, middle of nowhere upstate NY rural ex burb of the shittiest city in America, Utica. Weather is cold, overcast and snowy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grad school at University of Chicago. Intellectually, it was an amazing experience but I mostly learned about how I don't want to act toward other people.

University of Chicago Law School. SAME!

I'm going to disagree. I went to U of Chicago Law School in the late 90's, and it was tough but it has paid off. And I made a lot of friends.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to Columbia for grad school. I would not recommend it for undergrad except under very unique circumstances

Why so? I have a junior who is too in love with Columbia. I want to reduce the love a bit (gently) given how hard it is to get in.

Columbia is such a mess. I feel like it looks better the further you are away from it (like a butterfly).

-Parent of 2018 grad

Everybody looks at her small number of undergraduates at Columbia and forget that it is overwhelmingly filled with graduate students.

Original PP here. My philosophy is you want to go to a college where the undergrad experience is one of the university president's top five priorities. I just don't think that is true at Columbia. Plus I think it takes a special kind of kid to really love their core curriculum. That and when I was in grad school there I overheard to undergrads talking about some investment bankers hitting on them at a bar. I feel like you have the rest of your 20s to experience that. Spend your college years somewhere where you're hanging out w other college students.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to Columbia for grad school. I would not recommend it for undergrad except under very unique circumstances

Why so? I have a junior who is too in love with Columbia. I want to reduce the love a bit (gently) given how hard it is to get in.

Columbia is such a mess. I feel like it looks better the further you are away from it (like a butterfly).

-Parent of 2018 grad

You are the second parent who mentioned this. Why is it a mess? Housing or that teaching is by TAs mostly?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to Columbia for grad school. I would not recommend it for undergrad except under very unique circumstances

Why so? I have a junior who is too in love with Columbia. I want to reduce the love a bit (gently) given how hard it is to get in.

Columbia is such a mess. I feel like it looks better the further you are away from it (like a butterfly).

-Parent of 2018 grad

Everybody looks at her small number of undergraduates at Columbia and forget that it is overwhelmingly filled with graduate students.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to Columbia for grad school. I would not recommend it for undergrad except under very unique circumstances

Why so? I have a junior who is too in love with Columbia. I want to reduce the love a bit (gently) given how hard it is to get in.

Columbia is such a mess. I feel like it looks better the further you are away from it (like a butterfly).

-Parent of 2018 grad

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Michigan.

Too big. Curved courses are full of ruthless strivers who will throw their momma down the stairs to get ahead. Thousands of obnoxious cocaine addicted rich kids from CA-NY-NJ control the social scene. And way too much athlete worship.

Great medical and law school but I would not recommend undergrad there. Weather is terrible too.

I forgot to add, in retrospect I hate how everyone is basically kicked off campus 2nd-4th year. Many rich kids at U-M now even seek a ritzy apartment as a 1st year. My husband lived on campus all four years of undergrad (private college), which is the quintessential college ideal to me, and that is what we are seeking for our children.

You are not going to escape cliques of rich kids at top colleges. They are everywhere. The students are young adults and by college learn how to find a friend group and off they go. That is the beauty of maturing.

Anonymous wrote:I went to Columbia for grad school. I would not recommend it for undergrad except under very unique circumstances

Why so? I have a junior who is too in love with Columbia. I want to reduce the love a bit (gently) given how hard it is to get in.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Michigan.

Too big. Curved courses are full of ruthless strivers who will throw their momma down the stairs to get ahead. Thousands of obnoxious cocaine addicted rich kids from CA-NY-NJ control the social scene. And way too much athlete worship.

Great medical and law school but I would not recommend undergrad there. Weather is terrible too.

I forgot to add, in retrospect I hate how everyone is basically kicked off campus 2nd-4th year. Many rich kids at U-M now even seek a ritzy apartment as a 1st year. My husband lived on campus all four years of undergrad (private college), which is the quintessential college ideal to me, and that is what we are seeking for our children.

I would hate to be stuck on campus for four years in a dorm room. One or two years are enough. I’m glad I’m not one of your kids.

Anonymous wrote:Michigan.

Too big. Curved courses are full of ruthless strivers who will throw their momma down the stairs to get ahead. Thousands of obnoxious cocaine addicted rich kids from CA-NY-NJ control the social scene. And way too much athlete worship.

Great medical and law school but I would not recommend undergrad there. Weather is terrible too.

Great business school, engineering college, dental school, music school, pharmacy school, public health school, public policy school, social work school, education school, information school, nursing, architecture, art and design, and most departments in liberal arts. I just thought I’d remind everyone how great Michigan is overall. I’m sorry you had such a miserable time in Ann Arbor. You are in the small minority.

I went to Columbia for grad school. I would not recommend it for undergrad except under very unique circumstances

Anonymous wrote:Michigan.

Too big. Curved courses are full of ruthless strivers who will throw their momma down the stairs to get ahead. Thousands of obnoxious cocaine addicted rich kids from CA-NY-NJ control the social scene. And way too much athlete worship.

Great medical and law school but I would not recommend undergrad there. Weather is terrible too.

I forgot to add, in retrospect I hate how everyone is basically kicked off campus 2nd-4th year. Many rich kids at U-M now even seek a ritzy apartment as a 1st year. My husband lived on campus all four years of undergrad (private college), which is the quintessential college ideal to me, and that is what we are seeking for our children.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another vote for UMD. Had a great time socially, but it’s too large and the teaching leaves so much to be desired. Occasionally I’d luck out with a good adjunct or a decent TA, but for the most part my professors were awful.

I graduated 2007 and had some excellent teachers. one of them helped me get selected for a very competitive internship that was the stepping stone to starting my career. I would not be disappointed if my children decide to go there esp. for journalism, cs, engineering, politics and business. But, it's a large school, and would have liked an OOS experience. The school is pretty social (I made many long-term friends who still live in MD so I see them often). Its a good option for in state kids.

I had a pretty good experience at UMD. intro classes could be huge and impersonal, but once you get into upper level, I'd say most of my teachers were excellent but there were a couple that were so-so. I was a commuter student and would want my kids to live on campus. The CS, Business and Journalism programs are top notch. It's a good option but big and too close.