<p>No. My alma mater was a poor fit. I would have been better off at a small LAC.</p>
<p>I definitely should have gone to a LaC or women’s college, but instead was in Honors program at state U. saved lots of money. Graduated in 2 1/2 years, which saved more. At least, I got to work at the women’s college for a few years. Worked at a HYP hospital for more than a dozen years, which included teaching interns/residents. So, things worked out. </p>
<p>When it came to my son, I encouraged him to cast a wide net, with the flagship as his safety. I paid for his private UG with no hesitation. 5 years later, he still sees his college friends (& I got to see his old roommate recently). I can see the potential of a wonderful career for him, a wonderful peer group, and I am pleased.</p>
<p>If we are talking about whether we would go to our school again back when we went there, I would say yes. I chose to apply to University of Chicago because of a PBS show with Milton Friedman. He had retired by the time I got there but my economics education was very sound, I learned a lot in many areas, and I met my now husband there who also got a great physics education there. </p>
<p>Now none of my kids will go there and I don’t mind at all. Oldest didn’t want an urban school. Middle was much more interested in going to a school in warmer climates and more conservative student body and my last one will most likely be going to a school that offers engineering, although she may consider a 3/2 program, but only at a LAC with an engineering school in the same town or close area so she would actually do the switch rather than not do it because she would miss her friends.</p>
<p>Kid1 just graduated from my alma mater, Kid2 is at a different school. I really loved my school, but now I’d go to Kid2’s school in a heartbeat. Less prestigious but better weather, less expensive, prettier and has a more obvious community feel. I really love that school.</p>
<p>Actually, if I had to go back and do it over, I wouldn’t say, “Thanks, but no thanks” when Princeton called to see if I wanted to apply and interview (yes, this was a LONG time ago). At the time I thought everyone at Princeton would be super smart and super rich and I wouldn’t fit in. I wish I had given it a try.</p>
<p>Dad, brother WW(wonderful wife) & I all attended the Same State Flagship, Dad was there with Benjamin Franklin & Henry Rutgers drinking pints of Ale at Old Queens Tavern - LOL!</p>
<p>Dad didn’t wasn’t thrilled with it, my brother hated it; WW enjoyed her time at the Women’s college & it treated me well.</p>
<p>DD has been on campus for football games & other events. She’ll apply next year and be accepted; where she matriculated is ultimately up to her.</p>
<p>I attended Stanford. I truly believe it was the best college in the world for me and would choose it again without hesitation. Some things I might have changed are:</p>
<p>-Taking advantage of more of the many opportunities available on campus</p>
<p>-Possibly majoring and/or pursuing grad school in CS instead of EE. Computer science was probably a bit better fit, but I chose EE instead because not owning a computer made projects awkward. </p>
<p>-Not limiting my job search to larger, well established companies, over new start-ups</p>
<p>I went to a SUNY University and while I had some good professors and good times and my career has turned out quite well, I would probably choose somewhere else because at the end of the day too many kids went home on the weekends and I would have benefited from a smaller school.</p>
<p>My university was a good fit for me academically, especially once I got into small, upper-level classes where I had personal contact with faculty. I think socially I would have done better at an LAC or women’s college. </p>
<p>It doesn’t bother me that neither of my kids will end up at our (both parents’) alma mater. I have one LAC kid and one who wants a big state school experience.</p>
<p>No. I would go someplace bigger (went to a small–tiny-- LAC, grad work at Rutgers) so I would find out more about majors that I literally did not know existed until I was well into my adult life. Someplace with more diversity, a study abroad program, and better concerts ;)</p>
<p>If I were to go back and choose again, yes, I would absolutely choose my alma mater (Embry-Riddle Prescott).</p>
<p>I feel very fortunate to have gone to school where I did. It was an ideal fit for me… Great campus feel, great weather year-round with four seasons, beautiful high-desert/mountain scenery (Arizona), tight-knit community, small town setting with big town shopping and dining options.</p>
<p>Absolutely-at the time UW-Madison was one of the most dynamic happening schools in the US. Politically, socially, the arts. All were stretched to form the new America. It’s different now but so is society.</p>
<p>This is a really interesting thread. I’m surprised at the number of people who say they’d do things differently if they had a do-over. I’m pretty sure I’d make the same choice, but hope I’d take more advantage of the wonderful opportunities (now that my 50 year old brain knows how wonderful they were!) I had on campus. When I got there, I was flake with horrible study habits. </p>
<p>My daughter also applied to my alma mater (Mount Holyoke), and was offered a great scholarship, but ultimately decided that Wellesley would be a better fit. I’m still glad she picked a women’s college, though!</p>
<p>Speaking of flakes with horrible study habits … </p>
<p>I bounced through 3 schools over a period of six years back in the 80’s
(when tuition was a whopping $800-$900/year - in Canada).</p>
<p>Hindsight is 20-20. I’d like to tell that young man how fortunate he was to be able to study at the University of Toronto (where I ultimately earned a B.Sc. in Computer Science).</p>
<p>But, yeah, I’d certainly attend the U of T again. Those *huge<a href=“200-500%20student”>/i</a> first-year classes never troubled me.</p>
<p>During the college application process last year, my son had no desire to apply to my alma mater, and that was fine by me. A small LAC would have definitely been a better fit for me personally. Knowing what I know now, I would choose Bowdoin over Yale in a heartbeat.</p>
<p>Definitely, yes. Compared to my state flagship, I got great aid and no more loans to go out of state and attend a program well known nationally. My alma mater was a perfect sized school for me. I do think that every school has tradeoffs, and for me, doing work study did take a lot of time. </p>
<p>My son is definitely interested in my alma mater and I believe it is among his handful of true favorites. If he is fortunate to get into any of them (it is so much harder now!), I hope we can pull it off.</p>
<p>Probably not. I went to a private university and could have obtained my degree from a good state school and saved my parents some money. I did have some scholarship, but it was a pricey school.</p>
<p>Most definitely!</p>
<p>I left small-town Iowa to study EECS at an urban school instead of staying in-state or going West. Probably the [second] best decision I’ve ever made! 30 years later, I’m in the Bay Area, still working in the niche of EE that I got excited about while in school. Every fall I interview 10-15 students applying to my alma mater. Every fall, my excitement for the school is re-ignited!</p>
<p>RRR</p>
<p>I bet we went to the same school. Both of my kids liked it when we toured. I think my younger child may just end up there. If so, I will look forward visiting on a regular basis.</p>
<p>Yes. My alma mater is awesome.</p>
<p>No and wouldn’t recommend it.</p>