Anonymous
Post 05/01/2026 12:44     Subject: It's May 1st. How and why did your kid decide on that college/university?
Anonymous wrote:The day is here


And just as stressful as 'Is it Cake?' 1 or 2, no wait #3, or #4???? Which one which one, lock it in, it's 11:59pm May 1st.
Anonymous
Post 05/01/2026 12:40     Subject: It's May 1st. How and why did your kid decide on that college/university?
The day is here
Anonymous
Post 04/25/2026 09:25     Subject: It's May 1st. How and why did your kid decide on that college/university?
DC loved loved loved the vibe of Pitt - loved being in the city, the new honors dorm, collaborative feel of engineering school. Assumed he’d go here.

Ruled out other schools that were very cold and required buses to get from engineering campus to main campus.

At a school that gave him full ride instead. Not in city but takes public transport in many weekends. Surprisingly happy.
Anonymous
Post 04/24/2026 23:32     Subject: It's May 1st. How and why did your kid decide on that college/university?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The admitted student day was very well run and we met lots of lovely families and students, and we were separated for some mock classes and events which also were helpful.

But at the end of the day, it was long conversations my son had with professors and current students that convinced him that out of many choices that all seemed great on paper, this was the right one for him. It was the substance, not the style that sold him.


Sounds like an ideal result. Where did your DS land?


Thank you, he chose Tufts!
Anonymous
Post 04/24/2026 23:17     Subject: It's May 1st. How and why did your kid decide on that college/university?
Anonymous wrote:The admitted student day was very well run and we met lots of lovely families and students, and we were separated for some mock classes and events which also were helpful.

But at the end of the day, it was long conversations my son had with professors and current students that convinced him that out of many choices that all seemed great on paper, this was the right one for him. It was the substance, not the style that sold him.


Sounds like an ideal result. Where did your DS land?
Anonymous
Post 04/24/2026 22:41     Subject: It's May 1st. How and why did your kid decide on that college/university?
The admitted student day was very well run and we met lots of lovely families and students, and we were separated for some mock classes and events which also were helpful.

But at the end of the day, it was long conversations my son had with professors and current students that convinced him that out of many choices that all seemed great on paper, this was the right one for him. It was the substance, not the style that sold him.
Anonymous
Post 04/24/2026 21:46     Subject: It's May 1st. How and why did your kid decide on that college/university?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:warm sunny days and great parties


I can tell you the life outcomes for people who have those priorities for college, but you probably don’t want to know…


I fell in love with my university because it was sunny and had palm trees on the campus. 30+ years later and life is great! You sound like a peach 😛
Anonymous
Post 04/24/2026 21:02     Subject: It's May 1st. How and why did your kid decide on that college/university?
Anonymous wrote:warm sunny days and great parties


I can tell you the life outcomes for people who have those priorities for college, but you probably don’t want to know…
Anonymous
Post 04/24/2026 21:00     Subject: It's May 1st. How and why did your kid decide on that college/university?
Cost, location, diversity, non rah-rah, active Catholic community on campus, climate, job opportunities
Anonymous
Post 04/24/2026 19:32     Subject: Re:It's May 1st. How and why did your kid decide on that college/university?
DC chose because of the program within the university, vibe and unexpected scholarship to bring cost down.
Anonymous
Post 04/24/2026 19:22     Subject: It's May 1st. How and why did your kid decide on that college/university?
Committed and DC is talking to other students, filling out the paperwork etc.

Kept their next choice open just in case they had second thoughts but will close that this weekend.

Has a T20 waiting list out there and could shake it all up on the off chance that comes through.
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2026 22:26     Subject: It's May 1st. How and why did your kid decide on that college/university?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Narrowed it down to 3 quickly (one regret: should have had her log onto portals immediately to officially decline the others - we hadn't really realized how things work.)

Did official admit visit day for 1 and class-visit / self arranged visits for the other 2. Had 1 that was the likely lead candidate, and after visits it was. Committed a few hours after leaving last visit this week then declined all other spots.

The visits as an admitted student were particularly helpful, especially the option to sit in on classes. But really the final distinction came down to location and vibes, as they were all SLACs.


Why decline right away?


To be polite to the schools / help them assess yield and target their efforts to kids seriously considering them / help kids on the waitlist. This is for the schools that were definite NOs as soon as all the results came in, not for the 3 still in consideration.

Anonymous
Post 04/23/2026 21:57     Subject: It's May 1st. How and why did your kid decide on that college/university?
Anonymous wrote:Narrowed it down to 3 quickly (one regret: should have had her log onto portals immediately to officially decline the others - we hadn't really realized how things work.)

Did official admit visit day for 1 and class-visit / self arranged visits for the other 2. Had 1 that was the likely lead candidate, and after visits it was. Committed a few hours after leaving last visit this week then declined all other spots.

The visits as an admitted student were particularly helpful, especially the option to sit in on classes. But really the final distinction came down to location and vibes, as they were all SLACs.


Why decline right away?
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2026 21:10     Subject: It's May 1st. How and why did your kid decide on that college/university?
This is really hard. DC didn't get admitted to top choices. Has great options but none is a great fit. Doesn't help that DC doesn't have a really clear idea of potential majors. Maybe will get off some waitlists.
Anonymous
Post 04/23/2026 19:03     Subject: It's May 1st. How and why did your kid decide on that college/university?
Narrowed it down to 3 quickly (one regret: should have had her log onto portals immediately to officially decline the others - we hadn't really realized how things work.)

Did official admit visit day for 1 and class-visit / self arranged visits for the other 2. Had 1 that was the likely lead candidate, and after visits it was. Committed a few hours after leaving last visit this week then declined all other spots.

The visits as an admitted student were particularly helpful, especially the option to sit in on classes. But really the final distinction came down to location and vibes, as they were all SLACs.