<p>Some kids do well in any environment. My D is that type. She was accepted at both Oberlin and Smith, but went to a small Catholic college that offered her a generous merit award and a paved path to med school. BIg difference in campus atmosphere. She has had some regrets as the school is outright deficient in the arts, where she has interest and ability. She has had some regrets about that. My niece, who turned down Cornell for a small, unknown school that gave her basically a full ride blossomed ever so much in that environment. She shared with us recently that her therapist felt very strongly that the good match she made in a college was a key factor in the way she bloomed. They say “Bloom where you are planted” but some kids are a bit more finicky about the soil.</p>