<p>The reputation of the university or the reputation of the program? (I'll be doing my undergrad in Canada, and my grad in the US, by the way.) </p>
<p>I'm trying to decide what university to attend next year, and I feel tempted to go to the most reputable/prestigious one, but I have to maintain a high GPA for grad school. One of the schools I'm considering probably isn't that well-known in the US, but the specific program is strong and might be known by professors in that field. I also think I might be able to achieve higher marks there. What should my priorities be?</p>
<p>Reputation matters less than what courses you’ve taken, what research you’ve done, and with which professors you’ve worked. Either school could work for that; without knowing exact circumstances, it’s difficult to give a recommendation.</p>
<p>Many people overestimate the importance of GPA for graduate admissions, I think. While there is a certain level of competence desirable (3.5+ in your major), graduate programs do not parse transcripts the way law or medical schools do.</p>