Anonymous wrote:So much has been made of wanting kids to be at a place where they are with a cohort of intellectual peers. With the poor mental health epidemic on college campuses, where’s the discussion on the kids’ mental health? My kid is surrounded by very driven peers at their T-25 but I constantly remind them they cannot function well without balance and perspective. I want my kid to be challenged but I also want them surrounded my classmates who are kind, thoughtful and well-adjusted. It’s sad how campus communities are now seen more as professional networks instead of a source of social/emotional support not just during college but beyond as well.

Dcum dramatizes a lot, often based on perception not the reality on campus. I have different kids at two different t10/ivy and another who recently graduated UVA. All three schools were /are challenging intellectually for each child, and all of them found many caring, humble, well adjusted kids as well as some who were not like that. Each of my kids would have done well at one of their siblings schools yet not the other and the answer of which would have not fit is different depending on the kid. In fact of the three the school that has the more cutthroat reputation had the highest percentage of kind helpful peers in our experience. Don’t believe everything on dcum. go visit schools and talk to students who are currently there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So much has been made of wanting kids to be at a place where they are with a cohort of intellectual peers. With the poor mental health epidemic on college campuses, where’s the discussion on the kids’ mental health? My kid is surrounded by very driven peers at their T-25 but I constantly remind them they cannot function well without balance and perspective. I want my kid to be challenged but I also want them surrounded my classmates who are kind, thoughtful and well-adjusted. It’s sad how campus communities are now seen more as professional networks instead of a source of social/emotional support not just during college but beyond as well.

Warm weather schools also help with mental health as opposed to cold, grey and long winter schools. A consideration for many considering colleges.

This often is a very important factor for some, but not all, students.

Check sunbelt suicide rates.

The weather is important, but I place more emphasis on the surroundings of the school.

Based on my observations and experiences, I prefer a school that is in a big & safe city, or at least very close to one.
Having social opportunities outside of academic time in the city is a huge plus.

After a long day of intense academic work, even a quick engagement with the city's infrastructure can be a great relief, enjoyable, and offer insights into adult life. The city makes all of this easier, without needing to plan a dedicated trip.

My daughter hates cities. She hates the smells, the crowds, and the noise. See how that works?

Interesting topic. We are now looking at schools for our DD who is entering her junior year of HS. A college counselor told us that James Madison University (JMU) has the happiest students, but he didn't elaborate. Now my DD wants to find out more about the school and why that is. Anyone have insight?

Anonymous wrote:Bigger cities, urban campuses, warm weather, residential college system tend to increase on campus interactions interaction and off campus exploration together.

Small town, small school, cold weather and athlete-non athlete divide tend to increase loneliness and alcoholism and drugs.

What makes you say this... am sincerely interested as my DS is a rising senior with high stats having a hard time cultivating a list. He's an outgoing, three sport athlete but doesn't think he wants to compete in college.

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Anonymous wrote:DD is high stats and has zero desire to attend college with a bunch grinders on the spectrum. These are the kind of classes that the T20 have cultivated with their excessive EC requirements and focus on "pointy".

WTF are ”grinders in the spectrum?”

DP. Half the Ivy kids. Tons in Silicon Valley.

I wish I knew as much as people on here, to have such astute observations and firsthand knowledge of literal percentages of a student bodies at eight different schools.

Or, your kid is just average. It’s okay, mine is too.

I think you just need to go on a few top20 college tours to see this played out in front of you. It's pretty obvious when you see the kids.
It's even more apparent at accepted student events. My kid committed to an Ivy and we recently went to an accepted student summer reception and I would say that 75% of the kids I talked to were on the spectrum.

My oldest is at an Ivy, completely disagree. Went to a few admit days and tours prior. I didn’t get that impression in the slightest and don’t know that they’ve been there. One school came off intense overall, but I don’t make claims about whether people I meet briefly are on the spectrum.

The Ivies are not a monolith.

Agree, not the one needing to be told, the one who decided half are on the spectrum sure does though. Clearly haven’t actually been or they'd know better.

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Anonymous wrote:DD is high stats and has zero desire to attend college with a bunch grinders on the spectrum. These are the kind of classes that the T20 have cultivated with their excessive EC requirements and focus on "pointy".

WTF are ”grinders in the spectrum?”

DP. Half the Ivy kids. Tons in Silicon Valley.

I wish I knew as much as people on here, to have such astute observations and firsthand knowledge of literal percentages of a student bodies at eight different schools.

Or, your kid is just average. It’s okay, mine is too.

I think you just need to go on a few top20 college tours to see this played out in front of you. It's pretty obvious when you see the kids.
It's even more apparent at accepted student events. My kid committed to an Ivy and we recently went to an accepted student summer reception and I would say that 75% of the kids I talked to were on the spectrum.

My oldest is at an Ivy, completely disagree. Went to a few admit days and tours prior. I didn’t get that impression in the slightest and don’t know that they’ve been there. One school came off intense overall, but I don’t make claims about whether people I meet briefly are on the spectrum.

Our experience is much like yours. But there are certain types of DCUM posters who think they can diagnose strangers.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is high stats and has zero desire to attend college with a bunch grinders on the spectrum. These are the kind of classes that the T20 have cultivated with their excessive EC requirements and focus on "pointy".

WTF are ”grinders in the spectrum?”

DP. Half the Ivy kids. Tons in Silicon Valley.

I wish I knew as much as people on here, to have such astute observations and firsthand knowledge of literal percentages of a student bodies at eight different schools.

Or, your kid is just average. It’s okay, mine is too.

I think you just need to go on a few top20 college tours to see this played out in front of you. It's pretty obvious when you see the kids.
It's even more apparent at accepted student events. My kid committed to an Ivy and we recently went to an accepted student summer reception and I would say that 75% of the kids I talked to were on the spectrum.

My oldest is at an Ivy, completely disagree. Went to a few admit days and tours prior. I didn’t get that impression in the slightest and don’t know that they’ve been there. One school came off intense overall, but I don’t make claims about whether people I meet briefly are on the spectrum.

The Ivies are not a monolith.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So much has been made of wanting kids to be at a place where they are with a cohort of intellectual peers. With the poor mental health epidemic on college campuses, where’s the discussion on the kids’ mental health? My kid is surrounded by very driven peers at their T-25 but I constantly remind them they cannot function well without balance and perspective. I want my kid to be challenged but I also want them surrounded my classmates who are kind, thoughtful and well-adjusted. It’s sad how campus communities are now seen more as professional networks instead of a source of social/emotional support not just during college but beyond as well.

Warm weather schools also help with mental health as opposed to cold, grey and long winter schools. A consideration for many considering colleges.

This often is a very important factor for some, but not all, students.

Check sunbelt suicide rates.

The weather is important, but I place more emphasis on the surroundings of the school.

Based on my observations and experiences, I prefer a school that is in a big & safe city, or at least very close to one.
Having social opportunities outside of academic time in the city is a huge plus.

After a long day of intense academic work, even a quick engagement with the city's infrastructure can be a great relief, enjoyable, and offer insights into adult life. The city makes all of this easier, without needing to plan a dedicated trip.

+1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So much has been made of wanting kids to be at a place where they are with a cohort of intellectual peers. With the poor mental health epidemic on college campuses, where’s the discussion on the kids’ mental health? My kid is surrounded by very driven peers at their T-25 but I constantly remind them they cannot function well without balance and perspective. I want my kid to be challenged but I also want them surrounded my classmates who are kind, thoughtful and well-adjusted. It’s sad how campus communities are now seen more as professional networks instead of a source of social/emotional support not just during college but beyond as well.

Warm weather schools also help with mental health as opposed to cold, grey and long winter schools. A consideration for many considering colleges.

This often is a very important factor for some, but not all, students.

Check sunbelt suicide rates.

The weather is important, but I place more emphasis on the surroundings of the school.

Based on my observations and experiences, I prefer a school that is in a big & safe city, or at least very close to one.
Having social opportunities outside of academic time in the city is a huge plus.

After a long day of intense academic work, even a quick engagement with the city's infrastructure can be a great relief, enjoyable, and offer insights into adult life. The city makes all of this easier, without needing to plan a dedicated trip.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So much has been made of wanting kids to be at a place where they are with a cohort of intellectual peers. With the poor mental health epidemic on college campuses, where’s the discussion on the kids’ mental health? My kid is surrounded by very driven peers at their T-25 but I constantly remind them they cannot function well without balance and perspective. I want my kid to be challenged but I also want them surrounded my classmates who are kind, thoughtful and well-adjusted. It’s sad how campus communities are now seen more as professional networks instead of a source of social/emotional support not just during college but beyond as well.

Warm weather schools also help with mental health as opposed to cold, grey and long winter schools. A consideration for many considering colleges.

This often is a very important factor for some, but not all, students.

Check sunbelt suicide rates.

My kids won’t look at anything south of DC. Too hot. They want snow. To each, their own.

Yuck.

Thankfully, there are schools where people like you can be happy. Maybe.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is high stats and has zero desire to attend college with a bunch grinders on the spectrum. These are the kind of classes that the T20 have cultivated with their excessive EC requirements and focus on "pointy".

WTF are ”grinders in the spectrum?”

DP. Half the Ivy kids. Tons in Silicon Valley.

I wish I knew as much as people on here, to have such astute observations and firsthand knowledge of literal percentages of a student bodies at eight different schools.

Or, your kid is just average. It’s okay, mine is too.

I think you just need to go on a few top20 college tours to see this played out in front of you. It's pretty obvious when you see the kids.
It's even more apparent at accepted student events. My kid committed to an Ivy and we recently went to an accepted student summer reception and I would say that 75% of the kids I talked to were on the spectrum.

My oldest is at an Ivy, completely disagree. Went to a few admit days and tours prior. I didn’t get that impression in the slightest and don’t know that they’ve been there. One school came off intense overall, but I don’t make claims about whether people I meet briefly are on the spectrum.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is high stats and has zero desire to attend college with a bunch grinders on the spectrum. These are the kind of classes that the T20 have cultivated with their excessive EC requirements and focus on "pointy".

WTF are ”grinders in the spectrum?”

DP. Half the Ivy kids. Tons in Silicon Valley.

I wish I knew as much as people on here, to have such astute observations and firsthand knowledge of literal percentages of a student bodies at eight different schools.

Or, your kid is just average. It’s okay, mine is too.

I think you just need to go on a few top20 college tours to see this played out in front of you. It's pretty obvious when you see the kids.
It's even more apparent at accepted student events. My kid committed to an Ivy and we recently went to an accepted student summer reception and I would say that 75% of the kids I talked to were on the spectrum.

We're all on the spectrum. You too.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is high stats and has zero desire to attend college with a bunch grinders on the spectrum. These are the kind of classes that the T20 have cultivated with their excessive EC requirements and focus on "pointy".

WTF are ”grinders in the spectrum?”

DP. Half the Ivy kids. Tons in Silicon Valley.

I wish I knew as much as people on here, to have such astute observations and firsthand knowledge of literal percentages of a student bodies at eight different schools.

Or, your kid is just average. It’s okay, mine is too.

I think you just need to go on a few top20 college tours to see this played out in front of you. It's pretty obvious when you see the kids.
It's even more apparent at accepted student events. My kid committed to an Ivy and we recently went to an accepted student summer reception and I would say that 75% of the kids I talked to were on the spectrum.

Bigger cities, urban campuses, warm weather, residential college system tend to increase on campus interactions interaction and off campus exploration together.

Small town, small school, cold weather and athlete-non athlete divide tend to increase loneliness and alcoholism and drugs.

Catholic schools tend to have kinder people. Mine is only applying to Catholic schools.