DS applied to 4 hard to get into schools and was waitlisted at 3 of them. That made his decision easy! He has enjoyed his first year at Vanderbilt. We knew less about Vandy than the other 3 schools on this list prior to applying (only spent 2 hours total on campus the previous summer for a tour). He is learning lots and enjoying the challenge. He loves studying all subjects which is the best part of a liberal arts education. I’m not sure if he would of picked it if he had been accepted to some of the other schools, but it has been a great place for him.
@Kelowna … Enjoy your European travels!! Don’t order the schnitzel…they’re using Schnauzer :)) It’s always a good day when you can throw a “Stripes” quote into the mix.
No regrets in our household. D2 and S are both thriving in their respective universities, and S has realized that living at home while attending college isn’t such a bad thing after all. Maybe they’ll figure out that Mom and Dad might just know a little more than they give us credit for? Nah…that’s just crazy talk. 8-}
@wolverine96 - we will definitely have a schnitzel at least once, no matter where the meat comes from 
But seriousl
@KSMom1518 - My daughter absolutely loved Vanderbilt, no wonder your son is having such a wonderful time !
Mine had no trouble choosing. She would have been happy at any of the eight schools that she applied to. She did not get into the one reach, which was fine because once we learned we would be full pay we realized that she should not have bothered to apply in the first place. We needed to chase merit. She got increasingly better merit offers with each admission and it did drag on from early October until middle April. She had three schools that were very much dependent on big merit to make them doable financially. In the middle of April we were on spring break ready to make one enrollment deposit and she got an unexpected phone call from admissions at one of those match/financial reachy schools offering a full tuition award. She really wanted that school, but knew it would not be a go without a very big merit offer, so she was over the moon when it happened and has been ecstatic at her school all year. Even with a couple weeks left and lots to do, she still chats with palpable enthusiasm. She is doing well and having a great time.
We live in Asia and she is on the east coast, and she has never really lived in the US except for vacations in the summer. Even though college and living on campus isn’t exactly “real adult life” she has managed culture shock and being on her own very well. I can hardly wait to see her again in two weeks. She’ll be the one dogging the Asian cuisine, so we get it @Kelowna .
Thankfully no agonizing decision last year as my D only got accepted into one university 
She only applied to reaches (top 20’s, (rejected by 4, waitlisted by 4)), with her current college as somewhat of an afterthought because they didn’t require a personal essay and by then she didn’t want to write anymore We figured she’d get in but didn’t think we could afford it if she did (small expensive private). Thankfully they offered her a full tuition scholarship (plus some) so it was a very easy choice. She was so happy that she got a large scholarship–it made her feel wanted. The school turns out to be a perfect fit for her she now wouldn’t consider anywhere else.
Similar to @NorthernMom61, my D grew up outside the US. So US college is really a whole new experience for her. In fact she didn’t want to go to university in the US as she was worried she would feel like a foreigner in her own country (with everyone expecting her to be “American”). She wanted to study in Europe but agreed to apply to US universities after some encouragement from dad That’s why she only applied to reaches because she figured if she couldn’t get into Chicago or Stanford that she’d go study in Germany. She still wants to go to Germany - perhaps for grad school (engineering).
She’s grown so much this past year. I miss her terribly but thrilled with her progress.
Good luck to your daughter @jennie11, I am sure it has been a long year.
We didn’t have to agonize at all. DS was deferred ED, then denied RD, from his reachy reach (MIT) which was sad for him. I think this was the first time in his life that he got rejected from anything! But he bounced back and when the second school on his list accepted him with excellent FA there was no debate at all. He’s thriving there and it’s a perfect fit.
@jennie11, I’m really sorry your D has had a tough year. I hope she lands at a school where she is happy.
My D struggled just a little with her decision, but not much. She’s had a very good year and is happy with her choice.
Only about a week left for my D, can’t believe how fast the first two semesters went by!
I would love to tag along with those of you going to Germany! My parents and siblings all live there, hopefully next year we will be able to visit.
No regrets here, D was able to go to her first choice school when she got a scholarship that made it affordable.
Currently she is looking for a summer job.
My S struggled mightily with the decision…going back and forth between 2 schools…I’m thrilled to report that he is so happy with his ultimate decision. I’m happy that he’s happy.
I knew my daughter has trouble making decisions…she had a clear, affordable favorite so I encourage her just to apply ED instead of having to decide later on.
@jennie11 So sorry to hear this. Good luck with the transfer. I do hope she finds a better fit. Sometimes, it does feel like a crap shoot.
@mom23travelers My daughter normally struggles to make decisions. However, her choice of college ended up much easier than expected.
She applied to 9 and got into all 9 (no reaches, we were chasing merit). She probably would have been happy at most, if not all of them. Two of the 9 were clear front runners for her. She had a definite #1 through the process based more on reputation/ranking/prestige than anything else. She visited twice, one visit was an overnight. When she visited #2 at the end of March for accepted students day, it sealed the deal for #2. By the time we hit I-90 on our way home, she announced her decision. I offered to bring her back to the original #1, but she felt very set in her decision. I was happy for her, as I thought it was a great fit for her all along, but I stayed quiet. Maybe that was the key!
Her decision wasn’t just based on a feeling though. There were distinct features she really liked, and specific observations she made during her last visit. Though some of it was just a good feeling about it.
Throughout the process, I reminded her often that she had a great list of choices and if one didn’t rise to the top, it’s probably ok. She would just pick one. Since she is not decisive, I wanted to take the pressure off.
Facebook reminded me that today is one year to the day that D chose her college. And she is thrilled with it, no reservations at all. I think that was true almost from the start.
Am I the only one with a kid who will be transferring in the fall? S made his decision easily last spring, but he’s switching to a school that’s larger, has more school spirit/sports, and offers a major that holds more appeal. Proximity to home isn’t as crucial as it was. This past year has been one of major growth and change.
@oneofthosemoms – working on a transfer here also. Not sure to where though.
@jennie11, one of the nice things about transferring vs. applying as a freshman is that the deadlines seem to be later. So there’s not that same pressure to make an early decision.
Mine had no trouble choosing and she is still happy as can be. We are absolutely thrilled with her growth as well as the opportunities she has available to her. Every time she tells us something new she’s doing, we look at each other and say “she absolutely couldn’t have picked a better college for herself.”
D likes her college, but not necessarily the location. She went from the west to small town southern. She isn’t fond of the homogeneous nature of the campus and the very conservative (political) nature of the campus. But the academics are great and she is doing incredibly well academically. Because of that she will have excellent opportunities throughout her schooling.
I continue to thank my lucky stars for an easy choice last year. Even more, it seems to be a good one. Despite some ups-and-downs in her personal life, it’s increasingly clear that “home” to D is now upstate NY and no longer where we live.
@jennie11 I hope your D finds the place where she fits!