I'm a second generation Hokie and 7 members of my family overall (including my wife and in-laws) are as well. But I tried very hard to steer my oldest son to make his own independent decision. To that point I encouraged him to explore the interest that several really great schools expressed in him during the college application and selection process (including one in particular located in Charlottesville).

My wife wasn't quite as open minded (particularly with regard to the possibility of UVa). I think she was willing to accept William & Mary as an outcome -- which is one of the other schools that Boy the First strongly considered. But her exact comment was that we would have to come up with some pretty creative financial arrangements for UVa, and things would be a lot simpler if he would just go to Tech.

We just dropped him off this past Sunday on campus in Blacksburg. Of course, living both in-state and relatively close by made it easier for us to justify our own biases.

The next semi-related issue along these lines pertains to Greek life. Boy the First says that he is interested in rushing Fiji. While that would certainly please me, I've advised him that he ought to check out a few other fraternities -- and also that it's perfectly okay if he doesn't choose to pursue anything at all along those lines. That one is a bit more complicated for me for a number of reasons.

Prepared to go through the same drill with my two younger boys. The 14 year old says he is not planning to attend college, but intends to enlist in the Air Force. The 12 year old says that he is planning to go to Virginia Tech and major in architecture. And I'd obviously be okay if that's the way things work out for both of them -- although we have a lot of time to change our minds.
[Post edited by Hokie Fiji at 08/20/2020 1:57PM]