| A slip of the finger and the email goes to the | | | | some general ideas, and apply to a variety of |
| wrong person. It is mortifying. I always hope it | | | | schools, there is simply not one right answer for |
| would not be hurtful to anyone. Recently, though, | | | | brilliant kids, or any other kids for that matter. |
| I was on the receiving end. Someone was writing | | | | When my children were applying to college, I had |
| to a friend about me, and sent it to me instead! | | | | a very small college fund. I recognized that they |
| Not hurtful at all, but still... I think it is an | | | | would be well qualified for a small private Christian |
| opportunity to explain something. | | | | college, and would likely receive good financial aid. |
| "While she touts that her boys got into their "first | | | | At the same time, I knew that however smart |
| choice schools"...they are small, private Christian | | | | they are, most of the applicants at Harvard and |
| colleges. Not Stanford..." | | | | Yale would be just as smart - or smarter. The |
| When my boys were applying to college, there | | | | chances of financial aid would be slim. We needed |
| were certain requirements. I wanted a Christian | | | | big financial aid. |
| school that could minimize unwelcome socialization. | | | | When children are smart (or even very smart) it |
| I wanted a school within an hour drive of a family | | | | is tempting to look toward an Ivy League school. |
| member, in case of roommate disasters. For my | | | | Instead, I encourage people to look at the right |
| youngest son, it had to be a college within driving | | | | school. For some kids and for some families, that |
| distance from home, so that he could live at | | | | means avoiding some well ranked schools with |
| home until he was 18. For my older son, we | | | | great reputations. My children had near-perfect |
| needed an engineering college, and he did not | | | | SAT scores, but we did not even apply to |
| want to leave Washington State. | | | | Stanford, Harvard, Yale... They were not a fit for |
| Last week I heard a father boldly proclaim, "If | | | | my family. |
| your child can go to an Ivy League school, they | | | | Parents know best. Know your child and trust |
| SHOULD go to an Ivy League school." I disagree | | | | yourself. Even if someone else thinks they know |
| strongly. Only a parent will know their unique | | | | what is best for your child that does not make it |
| situation, and only the parents will know where a | | | | true. Only the mom and dad have all the details. |
| child should go to college. While it is nice to have | | | | |