<p>My youngest son has good stats (1470 m/v) good weighted GPA and some decent EC’s.
Right now the only two colleges he is definitely applying to are the state flagship U (DS#1 attends), and the “directional” U where DS#2 has had an exceptional experience in the honors college.</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure he’ll get accepted at d.u., and he has a good shot at flagship. But I’m really encouraging him to actually look at some of the websites of some of the schools that have been sending him mail, and find at least one school that he would love to attend (reach, super reach, match, safety - I don’t care) and one school in our state system that is much smaller than the two he’s already applying to (we are in FL, so the 100% Bright Futures Scholarship does come into play).</p>
<p>This is a funny, mathy, different-drummer kid. He doesn’t have his essays done for the two schools he WANTS to apply to, so that comes first. Once those are DONE, should I push him to look beyond the (VERY!!!) familiar schools and spread his wings, or should I just be thankful that he sees himself happy at these two schools (one of which has rolling admissions, so he could have an acceptance in hand within weeks), or should I push him to cast the net further?</p>
<p>Oh, he’s undecided about majors, but only about 65% sure that he wants to go the math/science/engineering route, so we aren’t looking so much at the serious tech schools.</p>
<p>If your son is a different drummer kind of person, then I wouldn’t worry that he’s thinking of following in his brothers’ footsteps because he lacks the initiative or imagination to look elsewhere. It sounds like your two older sons are happy with their decisions. So maybe those same choices just look good to S3, too–for his own reasons. Kids spread their wings in different ways. He just might be able to be his own person no matter where he his. If I were in your shoes, though, I’d still nudge him to search for other possibilities, just to be sure he is aware of what his options are. </p>
<p>You have other kids, so this is probably a “duh” statement (since I have only one). We reach a point as parents when we have to separate who they are from who we are. My son (a freshman) narrowed his own options because of the major he wanted–something he has been excited about since sixth grade. I tried to get him to branch out, but he was determined. At that point I realized how unlike me he is (confident and focused at 18, which I wasn’t), and I just let go. He loves where he is, and I don’t think he’ll have any regrets. And if he does, he’ll decide what he needs to do differently.</p>
<p>Familiarity sometimes breeds contentment, rather than contempt, and some 18-year-olds want a familiar environment. Later on, things may change.</p>
<p>When my son was a senior in high school, he applied to only two colleges, our state flagship (which is rather selective and was not a sure thing for him), and another college not very far away with less selective admissions. He ended up being admitted to the flagship, which is only 40 minutes from home, and had four good years there.</p>
<p>Then he decided to go to graduate school – on the opposite side of the country, where he knows nobody. At 22, he is ready for that. At 18, he wasn’t.</p>
<p>With #3 everything is less intense. I just don’t want him to miss out on looking at some great schools because - stick me with a fork - I am done!</p>
<p>Trying not to feel that way. Definitely push push pushing for him to get the apps in. But beyond that… not so much.</p>
<p>Is your son even willing to look further? We couldn’t make our son apply to schools. Do not make it a power struggle or otherwise ruin your last fall with him if he is unwilling to apply to other schools.</p>
<p>While my son was open to more schools, he was procrastinating re: the actual admission process. I made some charts for him w/links to the online apps. If your son does a few schools w/the common app, he’ll have a lot less work to do. You can always stress that he doesn’t have to go to the schools he applies to – they are just there as options.</p>
<p>Count your blessings that he does not have his heart set on an expensive school that gives no merit aid! </p>
<p>Bright Futures is hard to beat but there are some nice merit scholarships out there, at good schools, that would provide very economical and further away or more adventurous college experiences for him, if he is willing to consider them as options.</p>
<p>Has he ruled out New College? Their best department is Math; they’ve even had a student win a Fields medal. And they cater to smart kids that want to follow their bliss as they define it.</p>
<p>This sounds so familiar to me! D2 put a four hour driving cap on schools to look at so her net definitely wasn’t cast very far! It was a little disheartening when we realized she was giving up some great opportunities at fabulous schools but she knew how much she could handle. We suggested she consider schools that were recruiting her but let her decide. They seem to figure it out!</p>
<p>M2three- my first two kids had the nationwide, 6-10, full on college app adventure that is common on CC. My D3 watched it all, I had learned a lot about what would work best for our family; two years ago she looked at several schools in a particular category, chose one for a definite future app. Applied there last fall, was admitted and never applied any where else.</p>
<p>She gave serious consideration to other schools, but nothing else was “worth the essay” She liked her #1 choice and she is there now and happy with it.</p>
<p>I did feel guilty as it was a relief for me to have it be so simple and done so early compared to the others; I even felt like I was wasting all my knowledge! So, try not to stress on the guilt part ;)</p>
<p>On the other hand, sometimes kids do end up attending a school they would not personally put on their list. I kind of “encouraged” my son to apply to a school he originally had no interest in and he unexpectedly ended up choosing it over his “dream school.” He did not take it seriously at first, but the more he learned, the more he learned it would be a great fit. Still, he thought he would never go there. He recently told me he cannot imagine being anywhere else. So you never know. If there is a particularly good school for your son, you can always ask him to do you the favor of sending in an application and considering it should he get in. If you meet a lot of resistance, then let it go. I know for a fact that my son reached a point his senior year where he absolutely was not going to write one more essay or ask for one more recommendation. There were local scholarships he may have had a chance at, but I didn’t push it because I knew he was DONE. So, judge the situation and your son and act accordingly. These things do have a way of working out and kids are usually happy wherever they land. Good luck.</p>
<p>It is really amazing how often the kids always end up loving where they are, isn’t it? Kids from my daughter’s HS are in every part of the U.S., at every Ivy, at out of state publics we had never heard of before, everywhere, and whenever I see a fellow grad mom and ask, “How is Freddie/Flossie doing at college?” the answer is always that the kid “loves it!”</p>
<p>did your other sons look at other schools before picking the school they decided to attend? could they be advocates that he checks out some other possibilities of what HE might enjoy the most?</p>
<p>I don’t understand why you’re upset or worried. Following in footsteps of brothers is not bad at all. My son was legacy child at a PAC 10 school. It was very helpful to have actual knowlege of the school when he had questions. </p>
<p>His sister traveled extensively playing soccer and cello and was prepared to attend a college on the other side of the country. Different kids with different needs.</p>
<p>As long as his choices are UF and an honors college why would you care?</p>
<p>If I had the OP’s situation, I’d care as well. It’s hard to imagine a 17 yo kid can envision all the possibilities out there and places where he might get an amazing and different education, unless he’s helped a bit to see them.</p>
<p>Then again, as mentioned, he could be completely happy at the ones selected. I can just relate to the OP’s desire to have son consider a variety of options (spoken by the mom who is funding over 20 apps for son, so take this w/a grain of salt, lol!).</p>
<p>OP, S1 had stats similiar to your S’s. In addition he had a tuition scholarship that could be used any school in the country where he could get admitted. So he had a huge choice. Where did he apply? He applied to three state schools within 3 hours of home. Same ones that tons of other kids from our h.s. go to. Did not see any point in traipsing all over the country when he was perfectly happy in his own “backyard”. </p>
<p>I was a little disappointed at first that he was not interested in venturing farther afield…it seemed like a buffet of choices and he was just opting for the same ol’ roast beef… but I bit my tongue and let him do it his way. He is now a senior at one of our big state u’s. He has loved his time there and has never regretted his decison.</p>
<p>I am tabling all thought of other schools until this child finishes his apps for the first two. At this rate he may end up at the local community college, because I am tired of bugging him.</p>
<p>AARRGHH.</p>
<p>Anyone in the market for a bright, nice, funny kid who is guaranteed to DRIVE YOU CRAZY???</p>