<p>I read sh60614’s post with interest. Like in political debates, where the candidate spends his time bashing the opponent as opposed to stating his own strengths, I tried to figure out why sh60614 was so defensive. I am seeing the pot calling the kettle black here “with a real need to overcompensate”?</p>
<p>I’m sorry that OSU’s administration apparently doesn’t believe in their school? </p>
<p>I am also assuming that he finds something “negative” about earning over $100k - which suggests he might be majoring in social work or something altruistic? Good for him. And that he has never met anyone worth knowing who earns more than that, which perhaps is an area he will grow in while at school. Maybe OSU has a token rich kid or two he can befriend. It’s interesting that he sees Miami as an “also ran” school - a second choice or worse, but doesn’t see Ohio State that way. </p>
<p>I do not live in Ohio, so I do not fully understand the competitive aspects between the schools. To me, they are very different schools. D did not apply to OSU; it was not a fit. Nothing offensive in that - it is merely one of 3000 or so schools she did not apply to. She chose only to apply to schools with a focus on undergrads. I’m guessing that the “few Miami kids that I’ve met who grew disenchanted with the place” did not choose their school based on fit. One of the things that impressed me with MU when we were looking was how many, many alumni and current students we met who absolutely love their school. I believe it was stronger there than at any other school we looked at. In fact, I think they have a huge percentage of legacy admits.</p>
<p>However, there is some truth in what sh60614 writes. We do earn over 100k. My D is attractive. Miami was not D’s first choice; it was merely the one that gave her the most outstanding scholarship. Although I believe it has turned out to be the best choice for D, I suspect she is holding out for a week or two before making her final judgement. She is not an impulsive, rah-rah school type, so it’s probably good that she didn’t go to that kind of school.</p>
<p>I was concerned about the “snob” reputation of the school, because my D is decidedly NOT a snob. I am happy to know that in the first week of school, everyone she has met has been extremely kind and friendly. By golly, everyone there seems really happy that there is a Wal-Mart in town. Judging from how crowded it was on move-in day, apparently not too many people are “too good” to shop there. </p>
<p>Depite the “white bread” aspect of MU, my D seems to have collected friends of several different colors, sexual orientations, religions, majors, all within the first few days. Maybe they’re all being nice to her because we earn enough? (But as far as I know, nobody asked.) Her roomie is a first-generation college student. We forgot to ask how much her father earns.</p>
<p>Re: the comment about Public Ivy, “despite it being a quarter century out of date” - I believe the last time it was named a Public Ivy was 2001, but maybe time is flying even faster than I thought. I have another child, though, who graduated from a “Private Ivy” - and we always thought of Ivy as a football conference term. Since none of us play football, it was a non-issue. My kids chose their schools for other reasons.</p>
<p>[Apologize in advance for the sarcasm. It comes too easily to me, and I usually edit it out, but don’t have time today.]</p>