My LA-raised DD is having a blast in CT! She loves the 4 seasons and thinks CA-weather is overrated now. She has many friends who stayed in Southern CA and they complain that their dorms either have room air conditioners that don't work or break down or there is only AC in some dorms or common rooms that barely works. Very tough to endure 100 degree days in Aug, Sept and Oct!

Anonymous wrote:We put a 6 hour driving radius around DC, with a strong preference for in-state schools (VA) or merit aid. I know, absolutely blasphemy on these boards!

This is DC’s current choice, too. We aren’t forcing any limitations (other than being very clear about affordability) but DC doesn’t want to go too far and really likes the VA options.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or did you make them?

No, my DD only wants to apply to cold-weather schools! She hates the heat and so many West Coast dorms have non-existent or non-effective AC for 90 degree days which is her absolute nightmare. She wants a cozy Hogwarts-style college experience, not a lazy river.

Same with my DS!

Fwiw, when we visited the school my child chose for the orientation in June, it was 100 degrees in MA. The freshman dorms had no ac, so they had to put the kids up in the newer dorms that did have ac.

I attended school in NC, and the dorms didn’t have ac, either. I think they have renovated and added it, but we survived.

Anonymous wrote:The pampering of children continues. What happens when they get a job offer in Chicago? I guess staying in the DC area and being unemployed is more desirable.

Someone who hates Chicago’s weather probably isn’t applying to jobs in Chicago.

My kid started out only wanting warm weather schools but then didn't like any of the warm weather schools we toured and so it mostly applying in the north - plus 1 in Cali.

Anonymous wrote:The pampering of children continues. What happens when they get a job offer in Chicago? I guess staying in the DC area and being unemployed is more desirable.

yeah limiting your college search to easy weather only is ridiculous. it's higher learning, not a resort or vacation. they can always study abroad somewhere warm one winter term or take a sunny trip during spring break.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or did you make them?

No, my DD only wants to apply to cold-weather schools! She hates the heat and so many West Coast dorms have non-existent or non-effective AC for 90 degree days which is her absolute nightmare. She wants a cozy Hogwarts-style college experience, not a lazy river.

Same with my DS!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I shut down DC's silly protestation and sent him to Mich Tech

I visited Michigan Tech this summer when my kid was in engineering camp. I liked the campus. The school owns a little ski resort nearby. In the library, I quickly found four cool books in the donated resale section - evidence that people (profs?) have an intellectual life beyind school. I'd be good with it being on my kid's list. Snow and all.

I have a few friends in MI who happily send their kids to MI Tech. Again, my child strongly considered NMU in Marquette. We didn’t get a chance to visit, but we followed the IG feeds and I really hope to make it up there someday. Just looks like such a lovely place. Probably wouldn’t want to live there myself, but for those who love the outdoors and don’t mind cold weather, seems a great choice.

Anonymous wrote:We put a 6 hour driving radius around DC, with a strong preference for in-state schools (VA) or merit aid. I know, absolutely blasphemy on these boards!

I don’t think it’s blasphemy. I wanted my child to be within driving distance if possible. My own school was an 8 hour drive from where I grew up, and that seemed about as far as reasonable. My child wound up about the same distance.

6 hours from DC area includes a TON of great schools. That said, would expanding to Boston area be too much? A little farther, but considering how many good schools are in MA…

As you mentioned merit aid, don’t forget about the VTAG money in VA. My child really liked Randolph College and between their merit and VTAG, it was by far our cheapest option. We also considered Shenandoah and Emory & Henry (who just dropped their tuition). I know they aren’t the big names, but it is worth considering all options.

My kid refused to apply south. They hate the hot humid weather. I don't want them to be miserable, so it's fine. The schools they applied to are all good/decent schools. They aren't going for T50.

None of us like hot humid weather. MD is bad enough.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids refuse to apply to warm weather schools. DC is as warm as we're willing to live.

Me again. This has little to do with politics. It's just that we come from northern Europe and we can't stand the heat.

So you picked DC, because of its..... mild....... summers?

Anonymous wrote:My kids refuse to apply to warm weather schools. DC is as warm as we're willing to live.

Me again. This has little to do with politics. It's just that we come from northern Europe and we can't stand the heat.

One of my kids only applied to cold weather schools. The other will likely only apply to warm weather schools.

I encourage both kids to think not just about the school itself, but also about where they want to live for 4 years. Weather is right up there with city vs rural. Why would you want your kids to live someplace where they will be miserable in the climate?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or did you make them?

My kid is not stupid of course they didn’t apply to one southern school .

I bet your kid is an actual imbecile. I mean, their parent spends their time trolling on a mommy forum.

The last time I checked, there weren’t a lot of stupid kids running around Rice, Emory, Duke, Vanderbilt, etc. Northern transplant in the South and I’m shaking my head at the level of ignorance about the South. The South isn’t some giant uniform monolith.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or did you make them?

My kid is not stupid of course they didn’t apply to one southern school .

I bet your kid is an actual imbecile. I mean, their parent spends their time trolling on a mommy forum.