Hi All! I’m looking for some wisdom from some unbiased folks.
I'm a rising senior who is narrowing my choices down for college. A couple weeks ago, I thought my dream school was Furman University in Greenville, SC. I've been in love for a long time and I can see myself there. While not nationally known, it is an excellent academic environment that I am looking for. I will be pre-law, hopefully on track for entry into a T-14 law program. Furman can put me on this track, but I do have some concerns that I've put on the back burner. I feel like I might outgrow it and things might get monotonous at some points. I've also read that the social scene is lacking, and I'd like to go to parties (not crazy frat) and not be confined to a frat scene every weekend.
I'm very close with my English teacher who is also my debate coach. She's known me since I was a 7th grader and I respect her advice and guidance a lot. She has always motivated me to dream big and to not limit myself, especially when it comes to college admissions. While chatting with her at the beginning of the summer she mentioned that she thinks I shouldn't settle for Furman because she knows I can do better. I think she is right, but I've never been the one to shoot for an Ivy or top school. I know wherever I will go I will be successful, but I don't want to go to college with "What Ifs."
Then I got my ACT score back and it was a 33.
I felt like a lot more options opened up for me. I attended my cousins graduation from Georgetown Law and my frame of mind shifted a little bit. I want to be where he is; a nearly 300k salary in an amazing job on the Hill. Then, I toured and interviewed at the College of William and Mary this past weekend. I really enjoyed Colonial Williamsburg and the environment. I'm out of state (I live in NC) and tuition is steep. I talked with my dad and he said he would do research on ways for me to be in state. We are military, so I don't know how this impacts things. My brother attends Virginia Tech and pays in state tuition because my dad was stationed at the Pentagon when my brother was applying, so that made things easy.
At this point I'm very conflicted. W&M now seems like a top contender for me. Furman now looks like a "safe" choice for me. In terms of environment, I've grown up in a preppy southern town (that I'm not particularly fond of) and Furman seems like an extension of that. W&M feels like a new adventure, which genuinely excites me. Prestige goes to W&M hands down, although I know that isn't a big factor in law school admissions. I'm more confused at this point and I feel like my plan has been ripped out from under me.
My questions:
What steps should I take to truly find what I want?
I'm currently competitive for significant merit aid at Furman. It will probably be significantly cheaper than W&M. Would the education at W&M be worth the extra cost?
What would you tell your child/student in this very confusing situation? I have a dilemma but I'm not sure how to go about navigating it. I'm taking 6 APs this year and I know once the school year starts I won't have time to think about things like this.
Would you consider Furman "settling?" W&M has opportunities that Furman does not. If I do well in undergrad, I will be competitive for W&M Law which could be an enticing option if T-14 is not an option.
If schools are affordable, there is no reason to decide now. You shouldn’t have one dream school anyway. Too many things can go wrong. Apply to a range of schools you think you could enjoy. Keep an open mind and go back for accepted student days at your top few choices.
Make a list of things you want and need in a school, and things that are deal breakers.
Apply at both, figure it out later after months of sleeping on it. Assuming you get into both schools, which we can't know now... Plan for both scenarios.
I am a recently graduated high school senior and a rising college freshmen. Apply to both, and you will have many months to keep researching, apply to other schools, and sleep on it. You never know. Personally, at the beginning of last year, I assumed I would be going to a public school in state because it would be most affordable. Actually, a private school out is state is more affordable for me.... That's where I'm going. I never could've guessed that last summer. Everybody's FAFSA is different.
Yes. I don't know much about pre-law, but it would still be good to keep it as a safety school and a point of comparison for affordability.
Not sure how much the following is affecting your decision making:
“I attended my cousins graduation from Georgetown Law and my frame of mind shifted a little bit. I want to be where he is; a nearly 300k salary in an amazing job on the Hill.”
If it is, could you please supply more information? I am unaware of any new law grads making $300,000/year, especially if they are working on Capitol Hill.
@SouthFloridaMom9 I hated CH when I toured. I also stayed overnight with one of my friends and went to her classes for the day. They were all large, lecture hall style with a TA droning on and on in front of a PowerPoint. I’m looking for a different feeling and a smaller atmosphere. It’s really just not for me. It checks the box for prestige and affordability but it’s not enough for me to consider.
I don’t know enough about Furman to decide if it is ‘settling.’
If my son (who just graduated h.s.) were in your shoes I’d tell him to “cast the net” as widely as reasonably possible. Try to create a list of reach, match, and safety schools. You’ve got solid stats and should have plenty of exciting options. For instance, my DS applied to 10 schools, and got into 9. There was one or two that - in hindsight - we probably should have dropped off the list.
I’d spend the next couple of weeks working on this list. You’re right; once the school year starts, things get crazy. Senior year goes lightning fast.
If there are Ivy or ‘elite’ schools on your reach list - start checking on Common App and/or look at each school’s admissions page.
In-state option for Virginia may be tougher than you think. Give yourself (and your dad) time to look into that too.
@crankyoldman I’m really not sure what he’s doing. He’s a Counsel advisor, but also has other things he does on side. I texted my aunt last night and she really doesn’t know specifics. But his success is weighing heavy on the strategies that I’m taking with my college apps. I don’t know if I should reach a bit higher, maybe take on a bit more debt if it means I’ll get a clearer path to where I want to be. I’m just very confused. I know what I want, but I’m not really sure how to get there.
If a top law school is on the horizon, I’d stick with an affordable, relatively prestigious state university. This is why I was curious about why UNC is not higher on your list. It’s a serious bargain in-state.
When I was in law school a long time ago I had a classmate and spouse - both in law school - with $240K in student loans between the two of them. This seriously hampers what you can do career and family-wise.
Why do you need to decide before you have all the facts? Apply to a wide range of schools that you would be happy to attend, see where you get in, see what is affordable and take it from there.
I think the biggest thing is that I legitimately want to make that decision now. I’ve got a really clear head now and can imagine all of the “what ifs.” I think my final decision will be between Furman and W&M. I think I’m applying to 8 schools, but none of them feel like those two. I know that once the school year starts I’ll basically be on auto-pilot. I’m mostly just concerned that I will hastily choose a school that could be a safe choice.
As a lawyer I’d say what your cousin is doing NOW has no relationship to what will be happening in the profession in 8 years when you might graduate from law school. It may be boom, it may be bust.
A lot depends on the NPCs and what your family can afford, what your other stats are, how generous the schools are, but if you like smaller classes and want prestige then maybe you can look into Davidson, Wash and Lee and Wake Forest if you want to stay in the South.
^Yep, like all the kids who decided to major in petroleum engineering in the early 80s. When the price of oil collapsed in 1986, they were out of luck, lucky to have any job at all, much less a high-paying one.
@mom2collegekids Yes, I will have two years of GI. My dad contacted FA and hasn’t heard back. He said he would call within the week to get more info. My brother pays in state tuition at Virginia Tech. Do you know if this could help me get in state tuition?
