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Ivys and other top tier schools are good, but picking the right school is a lot more than picking a name. There are unquestionable benefits to going to an Ivy (could have been Penn in my case), but they come in terms of networking (future senators as roommates), better facilities, and better immediate job prospects (NYC/Boston vs. DC or Atlanta), not particlarly in terms of academics or student life. The financial price and "gritty urban setting" weren't worth it to me back in '92 and I've never questioned the decision since.
Unless your son has his heart set on a VERY specific technical major, I'd strongly recommend a smaller liberal arts school for undergrad like my alma mater William and Mary. Coming from a small high school and a small town, a school like W&M was a perfect fit in terms of size and atmosphere. I was serious about biology and chemistry from the beginning, but there were a number of good majors I could have picked from. All the people I knew there got good jobs or were well prepared for grad/professional school no matter major they eventually chose. In addition I met a lot of smart, witty, interesting people there, many of whom I'm still lucky enough to call friends. It was small enough to have a real community feeling to it and I'm sure your son could play sports at a school like that if he wanted.
In contrast, right now I'm in school at the University of Michigan and I would NEVER send kids here right out of high school (except for engineering or music). The size, anonymity, uninterested faculty and clueless TAs could easily make the first year or two a disaster for many otherwise good students.
The single most important thing in picking a good school is the tour. That's how I knew UVA had a creepy "Old South" vibe, how I knew Penn State too large for me (even if the parties were fun), how I knew Penn was nice but it's neighborhood was NOT.
As far your senior's problem, early decision might have been an issue. Ivys get so many ED apps it tends to crowd out "normal" applicants for the rest of the spots. If your junior really wants to go to Harvard try early decision, the odds are probably better. Don't neglect the interview either, but one of the other posts already addressed that.
Well I've rambled on long enough, best of luck to you and both of your sons in their college plans.
-NateinAA
'96 Willam and Mary, BS
'04 University of Michigan, MS
'05(I hope!!) University of Michigan, PhD
, Thu, 14 Apr 2005 13:35:23
, Thu, 14 Apr 2005 13:43:48, Thu, 14 Apr 2005 14:30:24
, Thu, 14 Apr 2005 20:42:16, Fri, 15 Apr 2005 15:03:55, Tue, 19 Apr 2005 05:47:41, Fri, 15 Apr 2005 07:04:05, Fri, 15 Apr 2005 10:42:40, Fri, 15 Apr 2005 20:32:38, Thu, 14 Apr 2005 12:13:02
, Thu, 14 Apr 2005 10:24:03, Thu, 14 Apr 2005 09:26:55, Thu, 14 Apr 2005 20:40:11, Thu, 14 Apr 2005 10:56:40
, Thu, 14 Apr 2005 05:52:12, Wed, 13 Apr 2005 21:58:38, Wed, 13 Apr 2005 22:28:19, Wed, 13 Apr 2005 22:37:37, Wed, 13 Apr 2005 23:15:39, Thu, 14 Apr 2005 07:36:12
, Wed, 13 Apr 2005 21:34:52
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