<p>Hello all.
I just wanted to give some advice which I believe can't be stressed enough around this time of the year (college apps).</p>
<p>I came to this board the summer after my 11th grade year....beginning college search, and Im very privileged to have had the chance to find this forum. As I began to think of which colleges I wanted to go to, I began looking at prestige a bit hard. These ideas seem to put down a state school which wasn't one of those ones in the CC Top Universities category. I almost went to another school and was ruling out my safety state school because of some of the views of the people on this board who seem to REALLY value this thing we all perceive as prestige. I actually ended up changing my mind when I went to visit my state school and have been happy ever since.</p>
<p>Ive kept a great GPA....made great friends...had a lot of fun....gotten involved...and had many opportunities. For those who think a school doesnt have opportunities because its not top 25....your wrong. I think I am a good point in that. Ive had internship offers from several companies & organizations including NASA and Intel (just to name 2). </p>
<p>So....for all of you who think that you have to go to a top 25 school.....just to do good in school...don't worry all YOU have to do is work hard and the opportunities will come to you. </p>
<p>more of a rant.....but I think its important that people know that you dont have to break your bank to get a good education.</p>
<p>I personally find that the intellectual environment in top 25-30 schools is much better than in other schools. Sure you can go to a less respectable school, get a great GPA and eventually get good job opportunities. However, if you have the money, why not pay the extra amount and go to a much better school where you'll meet smarter and more competitive people? I'm not pointing to you specifically but it seems that anyone who tries to justify going to a lower ranked school over a better one (by claiming that it doesn't make a difference where you went later in life) is just bitter about not getting into that top school.</p>
<p>Many state universities and some lower rank schools have very strong Honors College/Programs where you are surrounded by very smart and hard working/motivated students. You are taught by the best professors and indeed in a similar intellectual environment as some top 25-30 or higher rank schools. Also most those students decided not to go to higher rank schools was not because they cannot get into them but rather because of financial cost.</p>
<p>
[quote]
However, if you have the money, why not pay the extra amount and go to a much better school where you'll meet smarter and more competitive people? I'm not pointing to you specifically but it seems that anyone who tries to justify going to a lower ranked school over a better one (by claiming that it doesn't make a difference where you went later in life) is just bitter about not getting into that top school.
[/quote]
I disagree. In the real world, when it comes to finding a job, a degree is a degree. It doesn't matter where it comes from. Employers don't care. That's not bitterness, that's the truth. </p>
<p>So if you think you can be equally happy at your state school, why not save yourself $100k?</p>
<p>I goto Penn State. No Im not in the honors Program. To tell the truth...I didnt see a reason to join. I can still hang around smart people and not be in the honors college. BTW - two of the smartest guys I know (one decided not to go to harvard) is not in the honors college either ;).</p>
<p>Yes, this forum is wildly skewed toward blind acceptance of the USNWR rankings as gospel. And yes, the predictable response to threads like this is "People are just jealous because they can't get into a top-25."</p>
<p>But if you can ignore that aspect of it, I've found CC to be quite helpful.</p>
<p>I didn't even apply to a top-25. Not interested in what they have to offer. I want a different environment.</p>
<p>I'm probably going to a so-called "fourth-tier" school... which is actually one of the best small public research universities in America, boasting tiny classes, a 13-to-1 faculty/student ratio and WUE OOS tuition of $7k per year.</p>
<p>@CH121S
I agree completely, most flagship state schools are pretty good. But if you are at top school, you will have a running start, lets not discount this fact.</p>