<p>DadofB&G, I think your daughter has great choices. It sounds like she applied to schools she liked, and it doesn’t matter if there weren’t any in the 15-25 top schools in someone’s report. As many others have said, there’s just not that much difference between that range and the 26-30 range. (I’m just making up numbers here.) My daughter loved Hamilton too; we all did. We got the feeling that they really wanted to provide a heady and exciting intellectual experience for their students. I really hope you are feeling better about it all after reading the messages here.</p>
<p>DadBG, you are so right. She has gone through this whole process without getting sucked into the crap. I’ve been amazed at every turn in the road. Best of luck on the Dartmouth decision! </p>
<p>I think the weirdest thing about the whole process is the fact that at the end of it the kids will actually GO! I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it…</p>
<p>ez</p>
<p>I’m often amazed at how often we fall into thinking about environments as complex as colleges as if they can be hierarchically arranged, from worst to best. I know, I know, we all follow the ratings… I like to think that the acceptances, scholarships, etc. come from ours sons/daughters wisely selecting environments that are wonderful fits, and that the admissions’ personnel are wise enough and experienced enough to recognize and appreciate what fine additions our sons/daughters will make to their campus. Just enjoy this wonderful success!</p>
<p>
These are also a number of people’s first choices. The “ranking” mentality" that assumes that in every case and in every department one school well within similar ranges of SATs (since any score is actually a range of 100 points) is “better” than another baffles me. And people are always shocked - shocked! - when someone turns down Princeton or Brown for Bowdoin, or Dartmouth or Williams for Georgetown (actual cases I know of).</p>
<p>Don’t fret, Colgate, Hamilton and Rochester are wonderful colleges and your daughter should be honored and happy to be able to choose among them. Our son’s friend attends Colgate and absolutely loves it there.</p>
<p>True, but in the practical application (no pun intended)of the admissions game, it’s hard - at least for me - not to get sucked into that vortex of ranking, prestige, alumni connections, etc. that masquerade as “what’s right for my kid.”</p>
<p>DadofB&G, how did it go?</p>
<p>Just back from the first night of D’s last and S’s first HS musical. D had a pretty good role and S was waaaaay in the back, but they both had a good time.</p>
<p>D was waitlisted at Dartmouth. 5 acceptances and 2 waitlists. Her reaction was at first subdued and then…“ho hum, time to move on; let’s schedule visits to Colgate, Hamilton and U of R”</p>
<p>We’re all good here.</p>
<p>I see her being very happy at Colgate.</p>
<p>DadofB&G, In retrospect, after having been at Williams I can better understand why my son was so keen on Hamilton. There are a lot of similarities – size, culture, physical environment, outdoorsy atmosphere – all within a warm and supportive community. As I said, I really don’t remember why he eliminated Colgate early on (maybe it was the frats) but comparison aside, he really liked Hamilton’s ambience as well as their focus on the arts.</p>