<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1532205-falling-love-my-safety-school.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1532205-falling-love-my-safety-school.html</a></p>
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<p>My D interviewed a few weeks ago then I was called in…we were basically assured she would be accepted to the 5 1/2 year OT program. Then, of course, I tried to get a merit aid figure…he said most likely 16-18K. I was surprised as her SAT did not meet that level( very high GPA though), we shall see. </p>
<p>Quinnipiac has many majors my D could go into, so I’m not too concerned if she goes there and happens to change her mind.</p>
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<p>My son’s program required maintaining a 3.0 GPA and NO GRE. Four or five students may have ended up dropping out and I can guarantee you that they weren’t replaced with 3.0 students. If a student is fairly certain of their major, these guaranteed programs are terrific.</p>
<p>ucbalumnus posted: “Note, however, that the “guaranteed” admission to professional degree programs often comes with conditions like maintaining a GPA worthy of normal admission and getting a high enough standardized test score on the usual exam for admission.”</p>
<p>This is true, but they would need those higher GPA’s and standardized tests (at my kid’s school, but not Toledo’s) to get into ANY graduate program. And the odds of getting into any other program are very slim with those grades/scores, so it makes a whole lot of sense to be in a 3 + 2 program where you know that you WILL get in, as opposed to MIGHT get in to a graduate program.</p>
<p>Decent advisors in any 3 + 2 program will be watching the students all the way through and encouraging them to switch majors at the end of year 2, while they can still attain a useful BA/BS. There really shouldn’t be anyone shocked to learn at the end of year 3 that they will not be admitted to the graduate phase.</p>
<p>We have three daughters in guaranteed admit programs; two are attending a school that some might consider a “lesser tier” but the merit money has been fantastic. We have been able to help with grad school expenses due to the undergrad merit money. The advantages of guaranteed admit and merit money outweigh any “prestige” concerns. The only thing we made sure of was that the licensure exam pass rates for each school were excellent.</p>
<p>I went to a tier 2 LAC (#68 currently) because of merit aid. I had a full merit scholarship there. I was also in the college honors program. I was literally the top applicant the year I went - they only give out 5 full scholarships a year. One of my teachers, when he heard where I was going, made a face and told me that I “could have done so much better.” (He was trying to be supportive, lol.) I graduated 5.5 years ago.</p>
<p>I still felt challenged at my college, but in a different way. The work itself wasn’t difficult - I could totally handle my workload. But I felt challenged to think critically, to think about ways in which to use my work to serve my community and my world, and to explore many avenues of study. I had really great professors who made time for students outside of class and got research experience starting in my sophomore year.</p>
<p>I made excellent friends who are doing awesome things now (a disproportionate number of my friends have master’s degrees and/or are working on PhDs now). I LOVE my alma mater; I give money every year and plan to be involved in the alumnae association when I finish grad school.</p>
<p>And oh yeah, I’m in an Ivy League PhD program that’s top 5 in my field. I will finish in June, and I already have a postdoc lined up at a top university.</p>
<p>Thank you for sharing your story, Juillet. Very inspiring.</p>
<p>S1 is attending a third-tier, no-name, regional state U which happens to be outstanding in his particular field. He has our state merit scholarship and has earned several departmental scholarships along the way. He’s had opportunities there that he probably wouldn’t have had at a brand name school and has done very well for himself. My advice is, look at the program, then at the school. You can find many pockets of excellence off the beaten path.</p>
<p>OP, my very good friend’s daughter was a top student at a top Ohio high school. She just graduated from the 6 year OT program at Quinnipiac…where she thrived. Remember that all the other students in that program are also high achievers. Same will be found at a lot of other campuses, in honors programs, special programs etc. </p>
<p>Another thing that I have come to realize is that even on “non-top tier” campuses-- a lot of the students are there because they were immature at 14 or 15 and so didn’t necessarily get top grades in 9th or 10th grade, and so didn’t have the 4.0 to get in to a “top” college. That has nothing to say about their ability, or about their maturity in college.</p>
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<p>right…from my research, the college doesn’t matter, it’s the license. I like the idea that my D is so focused and if she gets in and through this program(and I have no doubts she won’t) that jobs will most likely be waiting.</p>
<p>Quinnipiac’s health science campus looks amazing.</p>
<p>boysx3…did your friends D have job after graduation?</p>
<p>^^yes, she had a choice of several jobs.</p>
<p>^ fantastic…good for her</p>