<p>D1 is choosing between state school with a lesser general repution, where she will likely do better and have a less stressful experience, and a state school with a great academic reputation, which will be a real challenge. Being one of the smarter kids at the easier school vs. having to work much harder just to keep up and probably not stand out or shine? Thoughts?</p>
<p>If your D wasn’t up for the challenge, she would not have been accepted at the better school. The lesser reputation school may not offer her the intellectual stimulation she would enjoy with people at and above her academic level. It’s nice to have students who can challenge you to work higher than what you might do on your own. Unless it would be just too stressful and overwhelming. You know your student best. She just might shine and grow at the tougher school.</p>
<p>Is she planning to go on to graduate school? Does she need a high GPA for that? What will her major be?</p>
<p>Is one better for her major in terms of employment or internships?</p>
<p>Don’t assume she will do better at the lesser school. If she is unchallenged, she may not put the effort in to succeed.</p>
<p>At any rate, I’d leave the decision entirely in her hands. She is good enough to go to either, and smart enough to work this out for herself. You don’t want to be blamed for a “wrong” decision.</p>
<p>Depending on the major, I don’t necessarily think that the lower ranked state school will be easier. </p>
<p>For example, the average ACT at Northwestern is something like 32. Yet they routinely admit quite a few athletes with ACT scores in the 22-25 range. These athletes end up graduating at about a 100% rate with decent GPAs. How can that be if it is so hard? They do it by picking from the pretty large list of majors at NU that are not all that difficult.</p>
<p>Based upon my experience, I can tell you that the Poli Sci major at Northwestern is easier than the Geology major at Iowa State.</p>
<p>Go by fit - how does she feel she will fit in with the type of student at either school. Is she the type who is happy only hanging out with high achievers, etc.</p>
<p>Is the OP the parent or the student? The OP’s account has a number of other posts that look like a student who was admitted to Penn State, with intended major of business, communications, public relations, economics, or some such.</p>