<p>BHM…If I could fly in my PJs I would ABSOLUTELY have the perfect job!! I suggested it to my boss…but for some strange reason he seems to think it might erode the passengers’ trust in our professionalism. pffft!! All I know is a pair of comfortable, fuzzy house pants would certainly make flying during the winter months more enjoyable!!</p>
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<p>Exactly!! It’s frustrating to me when I see people who completely ignore and overlook a cc/satellite/directional/state public/flagship simply because they don’t feel it has enough “prestige” associated with it. They think if you don’t attend a private LAC or some other “selective” school that you’ve somehow “settled”. What a crock!!</p>
<p>I’ll admit that I’ve run into enough of these types of people that I probably lean towards the anti-prestige mindset because of it…but I wouldn’t let that get in the way of my kids visiting a school that they thought would be a good fit for them. As long as it might realistically be affordable for us, we’ll take a look at it. If it feels right for them, we can add it to the “take a shot” list.</p>
<p>Being from Michigan, what we see most often is the “Why would your kids ever go anywhere other than UMich?” mindset. It’s a fantastic school no doubt, but it’s hard to get some folks to understand that it’s not the best fit or the end-all/be-all for every student in the state.</p>
<p>My H isn’t so much into prestige but he is into a strong alumni base. I don’t know if the two go hand in hand but they seem to in his line of work. He just attended a wake with many people from his former firm. When they found out our oldest is a junior, college was the hot topic of conversation. Everyone tried to convince him that she should apply to their schools lol.</p>
<p>I think it’s easy to get caught up in that quest for prestige, and I imagine that many of us have heard, since our kids were fairly young, friends and relatives make little remarks about how our kids will probably get scholarships to (Insert prestigious school name here.) It becomes something that you might think you are supposed to strive for. The only prestige I am interested in for D is perhaps prestige within the profession she wants, and the schools that everyone knows aren’t necessarily the ones that have a good reputation in her field. Ultimately, for my D, I think fit is very important. It is so important to me that she find a place where she really feels comfortable.</p>
<p>Wolverine, yes, exactly. I end up in the anti-prestige camp because I’m SO sick and tired of the prestige or bust mindset that flourishes around here. Unlike you, I might actually stand in my D’s way of looking at reach schools…but I guess that’s what my H is there for. Poor kid, she has to deal with two crazy parents. Keepme, my H is also very loyal to his alma mater and is pushing it heavily. He understands that getting in isn’t the same as it was back in his day so he isn’t being awful, but he would be if she applied and got in. </p>
<p>I’m finding the scattergrams pretty useless unfortunately. They seem to overstate or understate the points at which students are accepted to various schools. What’s been helpful is cementing my understanding that once you are in range for admission anywhere, the variables that make the difference aren’t easily quantified because they aren’t easily predictable. </p>
<p>D is starting to draw up a list of schools to visit and is supposed to meet with her GC to get some help. There are some wonderful small schools in the midwest and east coast that will drop off the list once we figure out how difficult travel will be there. I don’t think flying 6+ hours and then driving another 2 is a great arrangement.</p>
<p>I am so with you about Ohio schools. Maybe it’s because of reading The Colleges that Change Lives and these CC boards, but I just adore every school in Ohio. My son needs to be in either NY or LA for college but I’ve been tempted to get in my car drive to Ohio and tour the Ohio schools myself, just for fun.</p>
<p>The problem with collegedata’s scattergrams is the same as cappex’s - it all depends on their own users - whoever signed up - and their own reporting of getting in or not.</p>
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<p>That said, I love that site and use it a lot. The net price part is a nice ballpark though in my experience with S’12, it underestimates aid.</p>
<p>OK, I had to go see what was up at Yale, hadn’t looked at the news yet today. Yikes, add me to the chorus of folks glad your D is safe at home!!</p>
<p>IJD I am glad that your D is safe. I heard about it today while eating with my friend who has a daughter at Yale law school. </p>
<p>My daughter is doing track this winter which works out nicely because it is much less intense than field hockey and provides her with a good outlet. She is home at 4:30 and the meets are on Fridays-not every Friday- not a bad schedule. Well our school requires parents to go to a sports meeting for every single seasons sport. I have been to TWELVE of these meetings so far and they are all the same. I just did this exact same meeting back in September for field hockey. Why do I need to do the exact same meeting again now?? My H is going as I am a bit cranky. </p>
<p>I did not realize that Collegedata required the student to input his own data. Not sure how reliable that is. </p>
<p>You know you are stressed when your tightly wound daughter is telling you to relax. My D12 comes home tomorrow - her class is now optional which bothers me because she could have come home this past weekend but stayed for the class. It’s also going to snow so they cancelled all classes after 1:00. Ugh. Her friends mom is taking them home. She called me a little while ago and asked if I wanted her to take a bus from school tonight with her roommate to Port Authority and then get on a bus home. Really?? What planet does she live on? I do not want her at Port Authority at night taking buses home. I told her to stick with the original plan- her friends mom is driving them home and my H drives back. </p>
<p>My D12 continues to be in a great mood. Not sure why but I will not complain. </p>
<p>I think I am stressed because of the SAT next week and the ACT the following week. Then I remind myself " who cares" LOL. I know she will go to school someplace.</p>
<p>I’m a little nervous, we drive from Ohio to NYC tomorrow and the weather looks awful We are leaving at 1 which is the very soonest D can get out of school and not miss anything crucial. In normal weather that would get us there by 10. Wish us luck.</p>
<p>Good luck OHMom. Do you know anything about Kenyon? I put my D on a mailing list a long time ago and they keep mailing her stuff. All I know is that it’s a small school in Ohio. I think it’s too small and I am wondering if Ohio State is too big ( my husbands feeling). My friend visited Ohio State and they loved it. </p>
<p>OHMom you are going to have a great time in NYC. Will you be there on Thanksgiving Day for the parade? Enjoy the school visits!</p>
simply because they don’t feel it has enough “prestige” associated with it. They think if you don’t attend a private LAC or some other “selective” school that you’ve somehow “settled”. What a crock!!</p>
We are leaving at 1 which is the very soonest D can get out of school and not miss anything crucial. In normal weather that would get us there by 10. Wish us luck.</p>