<p>Lots of good advice on the thread. I agree that disentangling the various issues here and talking about them one at a time is a smart approach.</p>
<p>“I’d still worry about an unintended pregnancy to complicate matters, if there’s pressure to “get serious” straight out of HS.”</p>
<p>That’s just what I was thinking, although I wouldn’t always call such pregnancies unintended, at least where one party is concerned.</p>
<p>Seniormom:</p>
<p>I have also heard that it is more difficult to transfer into UW than to be accepted as a freshman (59% vs. 39% admission rate last year, from their website), no matter which program – not impossible, just more difficult. UW also takes admission to their majors and programs very seriously: students apply to a major and can be accepted or rejected, it isn’t an automatic given that they are allowed to receive a degree in anything they want (from their own admissions information session, last fall). So there is no guarantee the same opportunity he has now will come around again, nor any promise it won’t. I realize that could add more pressure to your son’s decision.</p>
<p>I am not really going to step into the “small town/metropolis debate.” For your son, right now, where does he feel better? If you are in-state, and I am assuming you are, I would get him in the car (sans his girlfriend, sorry this is a choice he will have to live with), and take him to both schools over 2 days (during the week, even if you have been there before), do the tour, eat with the kids in the dining hall. I would be pretty quiet about my own opinion, but watch his reactions. Which feels better to him? In my son’s words, his least favorite (one of our safety state schools) felt way too much “like high school.” The better safety school for him felt “like somebody else’s high school.” For some young people, that is very confining, for others, it is a comfortable kind of home. </p>
<p>I respect how hard you are working to mentor your son through this tough decision and wish you both the best luck. No matter which way he chooses, he will learn something and grow. Please keep us/the thread posted. It could help someone down the road trying to make a similar decision.</p>
<p>Update: My son has decided to accept the offer of direct admission to engineering at University of Washington. He is also going to take an accounting class in the fall and continue to explore that possiblity. He seems good with it and says his girlfriend is as well…hard to really tell as he is not a talker and is super busy with school, grad events and a great summer job that has already started (yeah!). </p>
<p>Thanks to all of you for your thoughts on the subject. These are stressful decisions and I appreciate your time!</p>
<p>Sounds good. Thanks for letting us know!</p>
<p>All the best to him! Sounds like a great outcome.</p>
<p>Wonderful. You must be so happy. Good luck to him.</p>
<p>Great outcome. Here’s hoping he has an enjoyable and educational 4 years. :)</p>