Do state public schools really vary all that much from state to state?

[CasaAtreides]

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arvard is probably one of the best known and regarded colleges out there, but I would rather go to Penn State for engineering, for example.

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<p>Yes, this is entirely true. Generally, one should pick a school that exhibits a strong track record of departmental achievement in one’s interest, and not for an overall level of prestige.</p>

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i guess it still boils down to the “which college looks better on the grad school application” question.

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<p>No, not at all. While one’s undergraduate institution may affect graduate school admission, a stellar student from a lesser-ranked school is still highly competitive.</p>