Deciding on a college - parents or students?

<p>In our family it’s a mix. My boys know we will not pay for any ultra liberal school (liberal turned conservative by life experiences here) nor any that are far below their stats academically (the prof can only teach to the level of their students). We also prefer east of the Mississippi, but that is negotiable. This leaves them a wide range of options to choose from for applications.</p>

<p>Final decisions are made with finances in mind, but oldest got his first choice school.</p>