My daughter realized that nothing but a truly open integrated city campus would do and chose NYU. Just the opposite of the PP!

So glad there's a college for everyone and definitely second the notion that visits are crucial.

DD has discovered that she strongly dislikes urban environments, so accepted students days in cities were not positive experiences. I am so glad we went to them. Chose UVA.

KID 1: Vibes, diversity, wanted to be in the city and not next to it(sorry UMD).

KID 2: Didn't want to go to a sports or party school, wanted more serious students

Anonymous wrote:By May 1, I think he will have picked UMD. Right now, leaning that way but still trying to decide between that and Wisconsin, Purdue and Univ of Illinois U-C. He's engineering but may switch to another STEM. UMD looks good with strong research + internship options and lots of MoCo friends will be there. The others look good, too, but UMD is half the cost of WI and UIUC.

I think my kid will also pick UMD for the same reasons.

Anonymous wrote:My kid only applied to one early, rolling admission, and was accepted and committed early on. Just recently he’s been saying little comments like - maybe I shouldn’t go. Maybe I should wait. It came up for a bit last night again. It’s a time of cold feet.

They grow so much and some have different interests between the summer before senior year and by the end of senior year in HS.

My kid only applied to one early, rolling admission, and was accepted and committed early on. Just recently he’s been saying little comments like - maybe I shouldn’t go. Maybe I should wait. It came up for a bit last night again. It’s a time of cold feet.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:By May 1, I think he will have picked UMD. Right now, leaning that way but still trying to decide between that and Wisconsin, Purdue and Univ of Illinois U-C. He's engineering but may switch to another STEM. UMD looks good with strong research + internship options and lots of MoCo friends will be there. The others look good, too, but UMD is half the cost of WI and UIUC.

Ugh feel for some of these kids

Is that sarcasm? These kids are so lucky!

Our kid decided after the admitted students day a few weeks ago, but I think the decision has been pretty clear the whole time.
Not necessarily in this order, but the decision came down to the strength of the program, school spirit, general vibe, campus layout/architecture/geographic/town setting, club options, and a good friend's experience there, including some really challenging roommate issues.

Anonymous wrote:By May 1, I think he will have picked UMD. Right now, leaning that way but still trying to decide between that and Wisconsin, Purdue and Univ of Illinois U-C. He's engineering but may switch to another STEM. UMD looks good with strong research + internship options and lots of MoCo friends will be there. The others look good, too, but UMD is half the cost of WI and UIUC.

Ugh feel for some of these kids

By May 1, I think he will have picked UMD. Right now, leaning that way but still trying to decide between that and Wisconsin, Purdue and Univ of Illinois U-C. He's engineering but may switch to another STEM. UMD looks good with strong research + internship options and lots of MoCo friends will be there. The others look good, too, but UMD is half the cost of WI and UIUC.

I left the decision to my DD. She did not look strictly at career outcomes. In the end, soft factors won.

Vibes
Selectivity
Peer group
Weather

We submitted the deposit and are thrilled with her choice.

^ did officially decline others a few weeks ago.

No decision yet here either.

One more admitted event.

Down to two.

Haven’t decided but leaning towards one:

Size (mid -12k undergrad)
Lack of Greek life dominating
Has competitive club team for preferred sport
Merit aid made it palatable
And she won’t say this, but probably perception from peers

School size
Matched in state tuition
Highly ranked program for their major
Greek life
Amazing tour
Flat topography - yeah, that was mentioned as a plus!