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<p>Yes, they were “likely” letters – with outright acceptance offers.</p>
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<p>I guess it depends how you define “as good.” Certainly UIUC has a wider range of classes. But Williams is much smaller, with more personalized attention by professors, and more cross-disciplinary classes — a good fit for my son; it also wouldn’t be hard to mimic a course in the UIUC catalog through an independent study arrangement. The top LACs also act as feeders to the best graduate programs and, in the US, it’s where you went to grad school that’s most important.</p>
<p>Yes, all things considered, I rather take the option that allows my son to finish his undergrad degree with no student loan repayment burden. Who wants to start his career $40,000 or more in debt?</p>
<p>Of course, nothing’s finalized yet — we haven’t gotten financial aid figures yet from UIUC. My older son expects to begin grad school in CS there next year, so there might still be a reason for my younger son to pick UIUC if the numbers are close (or NOT, to “make his own space”). There are also other possible acceptances still pending at Brown, Princeton, Rice and Northwestern (ISP) that may also need to be considered.</p>
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<p>UCLA is a pretty tough school to get into. You still prefer UIUC? Or just because it’s $15,000 a year cheaper?</p>