EsDad

UIUC is too expensive. I didn't mean to mislead....$58k. It's basically off the table. So, " school reputation does help (on visits, big departments were over-represented). If you work for a big name, their letter of recommendation means more." --> where do UCiny and Purdue rate? (if you know) Also...it's so irritating that Purdue has a budget squeeze and they're hard graders...but not enough to totally ding them....yet my daughter somehow liked the campus and people....there doesn't seem to be any slam dunk in the uc vs purdue decision You make a good point about research - perhaps the co-opping at UC would be good for my daughter... ??

Thanks so much for the terrific response. So, it sounds like Denison, Purdue, (And, I think it's safe to say, U of Cincy) are all rigorous. So, any will fit the bill. So, the tie-breaker would be comfort (she likes Purdue). Perhaps I'm worried Purdue is rigorous to the point of being harsh. (grade deflation) fwiw: She has an absolutely stellar work ethic. As a shy person, she is unnecessarily, but too-frequently intimidated by professors. (she doesn't speak up in class, rarely answers a question...). But gets her A's and a few B+'s based on putting in the work, every single day. I really thought she would prefer a small class size, but, not so. She prefers being anonymous in a large class; she's fine one-on-one i.e. labs will be no problem.

Please forgive - I posted this in another thread and realized I should start my own. My daughter is about to graduate high school, and needs help picking a University. She wants to major in Chemistry, or perhaps BioChem. (she's in Honors Bio right now). She is starting to like the idea of creating better anti-biotics or medicines, to combat infection or disease. But of course, who knows what she'll end up researching She is determined to go to graduate school in four years.. She's always been VERY studios, and is coming out of a top private school with a 4.0 average. Knowing that she wants to go to grad school eventually - What are the relative merits of the following schools? MOSTLY it's a choice between Purdue and the University of Cincinnati (honors program). Here's what I know so far... Purdue. Her top personal choice (she liked it there on our visit). But I've heard mixed things - Great reputation, Tough grades (i.e grade deflation - But, do graduate admissions counselors take low grades into account i.e. Is a B+ at Purdue = an A elsewhere?; Old equipment ? Professors to busy with research to make themselves available to teach/talk with students? University of Cincinnati. Honors program has some advantages. Co-op program - Good for her, or a distraction, since she will eventually go to grad school bound ? UIUC but TOO EXPENSIVE!! so...should be out of the question unless there is great reason. It's $30k more than the others. Denison. (but she doesn't want a small school). However - would small class sized translate into better grades for grad schoola pplications? vs - they don't do research there, do they ?! Fwiw she did get into Rose Hulman, NOT her kind of school, and it is engineering focused. Thanks so much for your advice.

Other side of the coin, here. My daughter is accepted into Purdue, University of Cincinnati (accepted into the Honors program), Miami University, Denison, and UIUC (but it's crazy expensive out of state). She's studious, has some social anxiety (reserved), high gpa in high school. She loves to learn, to read, and said that she IS going to graduate school. So, I want to compare undergrad colleges on that basis. So, Grades matter most? ***Does it matter much where you go to school (school reputation)?*** Is Research One important ? or is that a hindrance (I hear complaints of professors who are unavailable because so busy with research). If that's a major issue, we could even consider Denison, though she wants a big school (she is tired of her small school). But the place she personally liked was Purdue. It does have a reputation as a great school. But - Tough graders / grade deflation? Also - one guy told me - outdated equipment.