Fair enough Fan. Your argument is congruent with what I guess I'd describe as conventional wisdom on the topic. I would add this: There are many, many other schools that a student can attend and have just as many, and in some cases, more opportunities. There actually has been a fair bit of research on this topic and while it certainly used to be true that people with Ivy League education had a greater chance at super-success, now it looks like one can graduate from just about anywhere and with a certain amount of "pluck", meet with the same success as those graduating from your top 6 (+4). Sometimes those folks from "lesser known" institutions are more successful...perhaps they don't expect the institution to open doors but that they will need to open doors for themselves.

If one looks at Medical, Pharmacy, and Law School acceptance as well as who is the CEO, CFO, and CIO of major companies, you might be surprised to see what institutions REALLY breed success. I'll give one example: Wabash College in Crawfordsville, IN. I don't recall their actual "rank" but in terms of undergraduate institutions with the most alums as CEO's, they are very high on the list...and it isn't prorated or adjusted to accommodate for the size of an institution - just a straight list. Wabash is somewhere around the top 10 and yet, they have only about 900 undergraduate men on their campus.

So, I stand by the philosophy that a student should go where they honestly feel they "fit" best. If that's Stanford, lucky them because that is ONE BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS!

There's no doubt that other schools can provide as great if not greater long term opportunities. However, consider me one who likes to go with the greatest percentages and odds. Lawyers are commonly criticized for being risk adverse....I prefer to call it rational and calculated.

And I'm only sold on the "where they fit best" argument when one is considering small schools. If a kid can't "fit" at a Big Ten University (or similar sized college), then that kid has some other problem that needs to be addressed.

As all know, I went to Illinois. I never visited the place before setting foot on campus as there was no chance I was ever going to go there....until the disappointment of my Dartmouth rejection letter finally set in causing me to pick the "safe school."

Thank God that rejection letter came as a green flag would totally clash with my house.

"Looks like the University of Illinois!"

Clam, idiots? I had no idea you met my family

quote:

Originally posted by M:
Clam, idiots? I had no idea you met my family

Sorry! Must have misread something. I thought you meant that the NW golf team reps wanted him to see the weather this time of year.

I'm certain that your family is very...familyish.

Clam - who are you kidding? It's the first week of March. The Northwestern team is somewhere awesome I bet.

EDIT - Yes, as expected, they are somewhere awesome.

quote:

Originally posted by GE Fan:
Thank God that rejection letter came as a green flag would totally clash with my house.

Yeah, orange and blue is SO much more attractive!



And I'll buy - to a certain extent - your argument but Stanford, Yale, Princeton, MIT, U Chicago, and I think a few others from your list are not big schools. Even Northwestern isn't the size of the rest of the Big 10's....and fit does matter even at big schools. I can tell you all about kids who decided to go to any number of larger schools and found themselves unhappy with the atmosphere. I see it go all different ways so research is a very good idea when looking at college options.

I don't think M's family will be too fond of our winters. Though Northwestern's view of the lake is rather pretty.

quote:

Originally posted by GE Fan:


Maybe I'll even extend my list to include the following:
1. Penn
2. MIT
3. Northwestern
4. University of Chicago

And Michigan. I'd put Michigan in that list.

I wouldn't. In fact, if Michigan were inserted onto that list, I would print it out and pee on it. Don't even get me started as to what I would do if someone tried inserting Notre Dame onto it.

Fan - It would appear your last post has left everyone speechless.

We can't wait to see more your of your college selection process advice!

LOL!

I have issues....seems I still harbor some hate from years ago. Thank you for pointing that out.

Now ask Ruydah what he thinks of UMich.

I'm a little nervous about asking. Is he going to say something Triumph the Insult Comic Dog would say????

Nephew has verbally commited to Northwestern for fall, 2009. He was impressed with their facilities, coach and current team. His dad is an alumni. All of our family and the in-laws live in this area. Not sure about his academic pursuits because all the talk is golf. I would guess business. I'm not even sure how strong of a student he is. He doesn't think the weather will be an issue. He's lived in AZ since he was seven. He may be in for a surprise on that one. Well, time will tell.

It's warmer near the lake in the winter.

Any other parents of academically talented kids less than thrilled with the fact that NU offers sports scholarships, but NO financial assistance based on academic merit?

But they meet full need based on FAFSA.

It would be difficult for NU to give academic merit scholarships since pretty much all of their students would qualify!

Is that true?!?

It's not on junior's short list - The assessment was that the area around campus looked "too much like Glen Ellyn." I think he wants get farther away than that.

I can't imagine why.

Still no ACT scores in the mail, btw.

About NU financial aid and scholarships? Yes.

Wow - those scores are starting to get pretty close to late. Six weeks is typically the max.

quote:

Originally posted by Amy:
But they meet full need based on FAFSA.

It would be difficult for NU to give academic merit scholarships since pretty much all of their students would qualify!

I'm not quite sure what your first sentence means.

With respect to your second, Harvard offers various merit-based aid, as well as need-based far exceeding FAFSA.

I just am not a big fan of athletes getting a benefit academic achievers are not offered.

OK, I'm not sure which part you didn't understand. I know you know about FAFSA but just in case others don't, here's the breakdown.

Submit FAFSA ASAP after Jan 1 of senior year.
Get SAR (Student Aid Report) back and look for EFC (Expected Family Contribution).
Colleges get the SAR data and compile fin aid packages based on that data.

Cost of college minus EFC equals Need.

NU meets 100% of need based on the FAFSA.

Harvard does have some special programs for families making under certain income thresholds. It's likely that most any school known for meeting 100% of need would give many of the same grants/scholarships/loans/work-study.

I'm all for kids getting money for college any way they can...as long as it's legal.