<p>I don't think elite schools are that much different unless you are dealing with the TOP and dealing with i-banking or law. If you are pre-professional, or going into the workforce, most people don't care where you graduated from.. and truthfully, most don't know about the rankings of schools.</p>
<p>
<p>My parents are paying for it and I am not taking out loans. I simply asked what I could do to reduce the cost.</p>
<p>
<p>In essence, there is a really no difference between a state school and an "elite" school.
</p>
<p>I disagree, there are many differences. The caliber of the students is much higher at an elite university. You cannot say that the students at your state university can compete with the students at Harvard (unless you go to Berkeley, UCLA, etc...then maybe). Also, my state universities have upwards of 40,000-50,000 students. I wanted more attention and smaller class sizes.</p>
<p>4orce, where are you going?</p>
<p>You could try becoming an RA. There are usually great incentives such as free housing, free meals, free parking, etc.</p>
<p>
[Quote]
I disagree, there are many differences. The caliber of the students is much higher at an elite university. You cannot say that the students at your state university can compete with the students at Harvard (unless you go to Berkeley, UCLA, etc...then maybe). Also, my state universities have upwards of 40,000-50,000 students. I wanted a more personalized college experience.
[/Quote]
</p>
<p>I think that parents should pay for their children's education if they have the money, but not an $180,000 education.</p>
<p>My state college has 20,000 students. </p>
<p>Anybody can compete with anybody. Look at the Fresno State baseball team. They beat out all of the odds and won the College World Series.</p>
<p>Some students at my university can compete with students at Harvard.</p>
<p>i found that i spent a lot less money if i took out a certain amount in cash from the ATM at the beginning of every week (usually like $30 because the ATMs on campus allowed you to withdraw in multiples of $10) and refrained from swiping my debit card because it was easier to keep track of my spending. also, if i didn't spend all the cash from one week, i'd have a little extra the next week, which was nice.</p>
<p>LOL, you cannot compare sports to academics. We are talking about getting an education, not winning the CWS. And there are maybe a few at your university that can, are there 5000? No.</p>
<p>4orce, the sports metaphor was actually not that bad. But where are you going to school?? I want to know now :D</p>
<p>
[Quote]
LOL, you cannot compare sports to academics. We are talking about getting an education, not winning the CWS. And there are maybe a few at your university that can, are there 5000? No.
[/Quote]
</p>
<p>How do you know? Can you supply some facts?</p>
<p>Like I said before, some of my professors at my state school have taught at Stanford, Harvard, etc. They said that all of the students at the "elite" schools and the state schools are the same, but the students at the "elite" schools just have more drive.</p>
<p>Therefore, anybody can compete with anybody. If you have the drive and determination, you can compete with anybody.</p>
<p>You can compare sports to academics. Did anybody think that Fresno State could compete with the "elite" schools? Probably very few people. They defied all odds and proved everybody wrong.</p>
<p>
[quote]
You cannot say that the students at your state university can compete with the students at Harvard (unless you go to Berkeley, UCLA, etc...then maybe).
[/quote]
</p>
<p>most students at my large state school had extremely impressive credentials in high school, and i really believe that the atmosphere at a large public university helps people to escape the ivory tower mentality and prepares them well for the real world--although, i definitely value diversity and understand that many people unfortunately don't..</p>
<p>plus, it's nice to be able to brag about our fabulous basketball team :) go heels!</p>
<p>Yeah, yeah, if you put your mind to it, you can do anything. Cliche. Do you honestly think that if you took the students 1 to 1 from your state school, they would match up at Harvard? Do I have facts? No, I have common sense. If you would provide me with the name of the school you attend, I would gladly look up high school credentials, acceptance to grad schools, and so on.</p>
<p>leah377, UNC, UVA, and Michigan were next in that "etc." list. Your baseball team isn't too shabby either. :)</p>
<p>
[Quote]
Yeah, yeah, if you put your mind to it, you can do anything. Cliche. Do you honestly think that if you took the students 1 to 1 from your state school, they would match up at Harvard? Do I have facts? No, I have common sense. If you would provide me with the name of the school you attend, I would gladly look up high school credentials, acceptance to grad schools, and so on.</p>
<p>leah377, UNC, UVA, and Michigan were next in that "etc." list. Your baseball team isn't too shabby either.
[/Quote]
</p>
<p>Just because somebody doesn't go to an "elite" school does not mean that they can't compete with somebody at an "eltie" school. There are some students who are capable of going to "elite" schools, but they are not as lucky as you to have parents who are willing to pay $180,000 on an education.</p>
<p>
[quote]
if you put your mind to it, you can do anything. Cliche
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Cliche, and also a very true statement.</p>
<p>I don't understand how people who go to "elite" schools think they are smarter than everybody that goes to state schools.</p>
<p>
[quote]
There are some students who are capable of going to "elite" schools, but they are not as lucky as you to have parents who are willing to pay $180,000 on an education.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Thats why there is such thing as financial aid and at elite schools, they usually meet 100% of need (or somewhere close).</p>
<p>
[Quote]
Thats why there is such thing as financial aid and at elite schools, they usually meet 100% of need (or somewhere close).
[/Quote]
</p>
<p>Some students don't qualify for financial aid and can't afford $180,000 on an education.</p>
<p>I think anything in the USNews top 100 will give you a great education. Hell you can be equally sucessfull coming from a tier 4 college. It all depends on what you plan to go into and what your degree is in. Let's not forget it also depends on the person, you need people skills, interview skills and just to understand how life and people work. If you cannot realate to others, chances are you won't be sucessfull whether you went to a community college or Yale.</p>
<p>i agree that it's not really the college you attend, it's what you make of your time there. name recognition helps, but so does determination.</p>
<p>I think anybody can be successful coming from any university. It is more important what you do with your degree than where you got the degree.</p>
<p>If they don't qualify for financial aid, don't recieve merit scholarships, and don't take out loans, then the next best thing would be a state university. But why do you see fewer people like that at state universities? They recieve or choose one of the above. If they didn't, enrollment would be down at top universities. And to attract these high achieveing but needy, elite schools have begun eliminating or reducing tuition for certain incomes.</p>
<p>I do agree with the last three posts, but I think that name recognition makes it easier than if you went to some obscure no name university.</p>