<p>Recently, I've seen many people debating between the idioms of big fish in a small pond and small fish in a big pond, and which of the two is better to be. In the general case for which I'm raising this, they essentially translate to being a "top" undergraduate at a relatively unknown university versus being a "regular" student at an illustrious university. Which is better, to be a prominent student at an anonymous university/college or to be a normal student at a prominent university? </p>
<p>Someone might read this, and easily say they'd rather be the top student at the unknown university due to the possible awards they'd receive that'd could result in them becoming prominent, but someone else could counter that point by stating how an incalculable amount of top students at unknown universities/colleges attempt to transfer to prestigious universities, every year.
On the other hand, some might say that they'd rather be a normal student at a prominent university due to the profusion of invaluable connections available to them, but that could also be countered by stating the possibility for the top students at unknown universities to attend prominent universities for post-graduate schooling.</p>
<p>As you’ve stated it depends largely on a student’s future plans. If he or she only plans on attending undergrad, and doesn’t depend greatly on financial aid, the prominent university might be the better choice for the connections reputation of undergrad etc.If a student plans on grad school standing out at their school will be a major plus, in addition to saving on undergrad.</p>
<p>Also generally speaking, students who can get into prominent schools and who also have the opportunity to attend schools where they’d be a big fish, tend to get into in between schools that may be a balance between the two, academically and possibly financially. I imagine regionally these in between schools tend to be schools that get recruited heavily by regional employers and are great choices that are not always necessarily available to all high school students.</p>
Right, and as in most debates between opposing factions of an issue, the advocators of each particular faction will subjectively argue based on the standpoint of their respective faction.
In some cases, some factions are clearly superior over others, but in this case it is definitely more variant, though still bias.</p>