<p>Well, I've been engaged in my college search and selection for quite some time now, but I still have yet to come to a conclusive decision. My situation is that right now, I intend on pursuing a bachelor's degree in international business (perhaps accompanied with another business major) with the intent of going to law school upon graduation.</p>
<p>Here's my situation: I realize that your undergraduate school isn't as important as your graduate school. However, if I compromise and go to a lesser known/mediocre undergraduate school - that puts me in a pickle if I choose not to go to law school. Since I will be paying for most of my tuition, I'm torn between which approach I should take. Thus, I'm not sure if I can afford to pay for both a solid undergraduate and graduate school.</p>
<p>I try to understand your situation, but I cannot. Why do you have to compromise? What stop you from going to the best school that you can get into? There is some information missing.</p>
<p>Are you implying a better school will also cost more? That is not necessary the case. Some very selective schools are actually cheaper for students that do not have the financial means to pay for it, those are schools that promise to meet 100% of the need of the accepted students.</p>
<p>For people who are certain they want to go to med or law school, a gaudy grade point average from a mediocre school is often better than a mediocre gpa at a good school. Of course, a gaudy gpa at a great school is best, but by going to a great college you are taking a risk. I knew a really bright guy who got a 2.8 at Cornell, and there were some mediocre grad schools that rejected him (seems like a LOT of even mediocre grad schools say they require a 3.0 minimum for entry). He was convinced (and I agree) that a 2.8 at Cornell was equal to at least a 3.2 at, say, UMass or Ohio U.</p>
<p>All is not lost if you get a 2.8 at a great college, however, as you can take some non-degree classes, get a second bachelor's, or go to grad school at night (usually lower admissions requirements for "night" schools) and get the gpa way up over the 3.0 that most grad schools say is their minimum.</p>
<p>To leungpy1: Since I will be paying for most of my tuition, I'm torn between which approach I should take. Obviously finances are the issue. My family (in theory) has the financial means to pay for a good portion of the tuition ($20,000 a year EFC), but due to some special circumstances, I likely will be forced to borrow much of my family's EFC, regardless of what school I attend.</p>
<p>If you're an intelligent person, you'll have the same opportunity to be successful no matter where you go. Too many people don't realize that. Sure, a fancy name looks nice on paper, but that's not what employers really care about. </p>
<p>Think of some of the most successful people out there - sure, some went to prestigious privates, but just as many (if not more) hailed from their state flagships or other less prestigious institutions.</p>