…and i’m using “expensive” rather than "top-tier’ to avoid the pitfalls. But I was looking at the MIT admissions blog last night (not sure why…i don’t even know anyone who applied and saw that they’re breaking with tradition and announcing their decisions tomorrow (PI Day) at 9:26 in the morning (more math goodness) and they created the darn best video about it…its worth the 120 seconds:
and then i read some of the hundreds of student comments at the bottom…and those kids sounded so insanely intriguing and smart and witty…
And i started thinking, “If i had the money…and if my kid could get into one of these places…I would do it…even if it meant a huge financial sacrifice…”
Now in our case (and i’m going to write a post called “Our Search for Merit Aid” on April 1 because, oy, what a journey we’ve had), it looks like the money is going to lead us to an OOS, mid-level school that is offering a great deal…but there are times where i can see the appeal of these schools…not just the tradition…not just the professors…but also the students who choose to attend.
And, yes, i get it…everybody lands in the right place…but I have come to see the appeal of the education.
In my daughter’s case it’s been worth it… she went to schools that opened doors to opportunities she would not have had through our own state’s flagship U, which was her safety, and cost considerably less.
That said, our next door neighbors spent a fortune on their daughter’s private high school and elite LAC… and for the past 2 years she’s been working at a doggie day care, trying to decide what she wants to do when she grows up. They’re questioning their investment.
D1 went to an expensive, with very doable aid. Perfect for her, expanded her beyond our expectations. D2 went to an expensive, applied ED, good aid, that turned out to be, too late to do anything about it, the wrong personal match. She may have found her stride better elsewhere. But both are very well educated and are employed. It’s true D2 had some growth issues to get through. But here’s the irony: both went to the same college. So it’s always YMMV.
^No there aren’t. I’ve seen kids make the most of their education at all kinds of schools. That said I have no regrets about sending our oldest to Carnegie Mellon. It’s not the only school where he could have been happy, but for him a high powered computer science program really was a must - not because he couldn’t have learned enough elsewhere - but because for the first time in his life he was surrounded by kids who got him and many who were more accomplished than him. It was good for him not to be the top dog. If he’d had to take out loans he’d have easily repaid them.
Younger son got a wonderful education, that’s much less likely to pay off monetarily. He’s had a great internship in the fall and is still job hunting, so the jury is still out on what he’ll be doing, but I think there’s an excellent chance that ten years down the road he’ll be doing more to make this world a better, safer place than his older brother.
My daughter decided to go to an excellent college, partly because of its unique curriculum, partly because she loved the campus and felt at home there immediately, and partly because we were offered substantial merit aid. It’s a great school…but is not “top tier” according to CC standards.
I’ve been reading the student stats and comments on the the school’s board here on CC recently as prospective students have been getting RD decisions. And, guess what, I’ve been blown away by the those kids, too. They’re smart, funny, accomplished. I’m excited by the fact that they will be my daughter’s classmates. There is nothing “second tier” about the students going to that school either.
."and i’m using “expensive” rather than “top-tier’ to avoid the pitfalls”
Just thought I’d mention that there are a lot of expensive colleges - just as expensive as HYSPM - which are not even in the top 100. Some are even only ranked in the regional rankings.
and saw that they’re breaking with tradition and announcing their decisions tomorrow (PI Day) at 9:26 in the morning (more math goodness) and they created the darn best video about it…its worth the 120 seconds: