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<p>Hi usmomminuk … good luck with your search … for me there is another reason, and it is the main reason, I want my kids to go to the “best” school at which they feel a good fit and feel they will do well … the academic caliber of their classmates on a whole will be higher at “better” schools … and I believe the cohort group is a huge player in the book learning, life learning, and life experience at college. UMass (our local school) is a fine school and kids can get a great education there but I believe the experience can be even stronger at a school where the student population is academically stronger. How much should be paid for that difference? … that’s a tough question … for my wife and I the answer is a lot … but we certainly understand differing opinions on that one!</p>