Denial, Handicapping, and Wardrobe Questions

Several members of the G:TB family have sent kids off to college, and a few more of us are on the cusp. My 18 year-old has completed all of her applications, written her essay (it's pretty good - she must have good writing/bullshitting genes), taken her SAT (a second time, and boy did she need it), and visited a decent number of campuses (this is a feature of the college search process, says this college town-loving dad).

In an effort to maintain some rationality about the process, and avoid thinking about how different my house will feel without her buoyant, emotive, large personality, herewith a catalog of the schools to which she's applied, along with some typically Gheorghian commentary (fluffy and largely made up). We'll go in alphabetical order:

College of Charleston
Charleston, SC
Undergraduate Population: 10,488
Tuition, Room & Board: $45,000 (out of state)
Colors: Maroon and White
Odds of Attendance: 25-1

Charleston is the farthest distance away from our home, some 9.5 hours by car. It's also, as you likely know, a phenomenal town - full of history, great restaurants, and a pleasant coastal climate. The College is smack in the middle of the city, just blocks away from an eclectic dining and shopping district. She'll probably get in here, but my sense is that she's only applying because she thinks her folks would like to visit Charleston more often.

Franklin & Marshall College
Lancaster, PA
Undergraduate Population: 2,324
Tuition, Room & Board: $74,600 (private)
Colors: Blue, Light Blue, and White
Odds of Attendance: 25-1

Each year for the past six, she's competed in a dance competition at the convention center smack in the middle of downtown Lancaster. As a result, we've enjoyed the opportunity to get to know a bit about the little town in Amish country. F&M is on the outskirts of Lancaster, just outside the downtown area. It's a beautiful campus, a mix of very old and modern with a ton of green space. There's a surprisingly robust food and beer scene, and more arts than I'd have expected in the middle of Trumpland. I've posted relatively long odds largely because I don't think she'll get in - F&M is highly competitive, and while she's got very good grades and above average SATs, I don't think that'll be enough.

Ithaca College
Ithaca, New York
Undergraduate Population: 5,852
Tuition, Room & Board: $59,600 (private)
Colors: Blue, Gold, and Gray
Odds of Attendance: 20-1

If we'd visited Ithaca as a standalone, I think it'd rank higher on her list. But we visited it on the same weekend we visited Skidmore, and as we'll learn later, she loved that little school. Ithaca's a great college town, with both IC and Cornell within a handful of miles of one another. Ithaca College is on top of a hill with spectacular views of Cayuga Lake. The downside to that location is that the winter winds whip across the relatively open campus, making three months of the year a dismal proposition. While I don't think she'll wind up here, we did have killer Thai soup at a little joint in Ithaca's funky downtown.

James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA
Undergraduate Population: 20,779
Tuition, Room & Board: $22,600 (in-state)
Colors: Purple and Gold
Odds of Attendance: 10-1

Her mom (JMU '95) isn't being terribly subtle about her preference. My daughter, though, isn't as high on JMU as I think she should be. Her complaint: "All of Loudoun County goes to JMU. I want to meet new people." While I think that's a bit dramatic (one thing she can do is drama), I take her point. She wants to have an opportunity to at least minor in dance in college, and if she's serious about that, JMU is likely her best bet. As one of her two in-state options, there a good deal of financial appeal, too. And I was more impressed than I expected to be when we toured the school - JMU has a ton of support programs in place to help kids succeed.

Skidmore College
Saratoga Springs, NY
Undergraduate Population: 2,680
Tuition, Room & Board: $71,200 (private)
Colors: Green and Yellow
Odds of Attendance: 15-1

There may be cooler college towns than Saratoga Springs, but there aren't many. Town and gown are pretty tightly interwoven. As we drove through the (very) upscale avenue that leads to campus, my daughter expressed intimidation at just how preppy-cute the place is. But once we got on campus proper (led by one of the most exuberant tour guides I've yet seen - dance/drama major, natch), my kid had her head turned. Skidmore has small classes, very student-driven academic tracks, a large emphasis on international study, and a really fucking high price tag. If she gets in, I think she's really going to want to go. A potential silver lining for me and Mom: like F&M, I'm not sure she'll be able to get in. (Bonus Skidmore fact: the school is about 45 minutes from the Teej's hometown. That's gotta be worth something.)

Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA
Undergraduate Population: 24,051
Tuition, Room & Board: $26,000 (in-state)
Colors: Black and Gold
Odds of Attendance: 4-1

Personally, I think VCU is the best fit for my girl. It's diverse, quirky, just far enough from home, offers dance and academic programs that align with her interests, and is replete with musical and artistic opportunities. Selfishly, it's a pretty good fit for me, too - the price is right (or as right as any college price can be) and I'll have an excuse to get down to Richmond to hang out with FOG:TB Mike Litos and watch the Rams play ball.

It'll be a few months before we start hearing from schools. Time enough to keep working on my daughter's understanding of just how much $70,000 is. We'll keep you posted on our progress. I think I'll look good in Havoc.