<p>It’s not out of reach at all. A good education is possible just about anywhere, if you know what to look for. My S1 is a rising junior at a fourth-tier no-name whose pocket of excellence happens to be in his major. He was accepted at a couple of more prestiegeous (sp?) schools but chose this one for the fin. aid and reputation in his major. He’s had opportunities he would never have had anywhere else, is doing fantastic academically and couldn’t be happier. Lots of kids thrive at non-brand-name schools, and in-state publics tend to be more supportive and forgiving of less than stellar high school stats.</p>