Does it matter where you go to college?

Parents Forum
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@romanigypsyeyes, I did say mostly are not of the highest potential.

The top tier of students at MSU (or any large state school) are comparable to what you’d find at a super-selective elite (just the percentage of students in that tier would differ based on the school).

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I am aware- which is why I disagreed with you.

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@ Romanigypsyeyes"I believe students who would be successful at Harvard would be do just as well at msu."

I agree. I also agree that the best MSU students would be fine at Harvard. Some of the best students are amazing. I am just saying that the average MSU student is not prepared for an Ivy League work load. They think that they get a lot of homework, but they have no idea about the amount of homework piled on at top schools and they do not have years of experience in managing a heavy work load.

“I disagree that msu doesn’t have the “highest potential” students for starters.”

Well, the phrase “highest potential” is complicated. MSU does have students who have the “highest potential.” However, in many cases it will be difficult to identify them because they have not been through the crucible that most students at a top 10 school have been through. That means you may have a student with a 26 ACT whose potential is just as high as a student with a 36, but they were not raised in an environment where that talent was extensively cultivated from an early age. The potential is still there, however.

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I think it does matter to some degree but it’s not absolute or certain. I like to borrow And quote Lawrence of Arabia, nothing is written.

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Can I compare to Harvard? No. I can compare MSU students to UMich students though. Honestly, I don’t see a difference between the student bodies. Do I know that they have different HS GPAs and ACT/SAT scores? Yes, absolutely. However, having been in many classes and going over the work of many different students from the two institutions- I don’t really see a difference in their intelligence or quality of work. This is my experience and it is what it is.

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…"Can I compare to Harvard? "

  • Here is the fact that I have mentioned several times. D, actuallyu is in position to compare to Harvard, she has been for 4 years, The Grad. School (including Med. School) is a great equalizer. There are many in D’s Med. School class who graduated from Harvard, Yale, many other top Elite colleges and Graduate schools, including PhD from Harvard. And here is my “simpleton” D. who not only graduated from in-state publinc (not U of Mich) but also was sent to school a bit early, never gap year, so she was one of the youngest. And the result - every single med. student is on the same footing, no advantages were obtained at elite colleges that put them ahead. One very small group was a bit ahead - Masters of Anatomy (maybe couple of them in D’s class, people who originally did not get into Med. School). None of the UG differences were reflected in the residency matching process either. D’s matched to her first choice in very selective specialty, while many others did not accomplish that. I can brag about her forever, but it is not the point. The point is that the name of UG was not important in her story. What was very important that she attended at the place that was a perfect fit for her and in addition, it was tuition free. She will not cry over the fact that “Harvard” is NOT attached to her name. But as mentioned many times, if this is the main goal, then attend at Harvard, why not?
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Miami, you might want to look up that word in the dictionary… just saying.

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I agree where you go to college really doesnt matter in the big scheme of things and actually lines fade and blur as the timeline grows wider.
Also I would like to throw in another factor… its generally the Ivy league or prestigious college alumnus or wannabes that add that pressure to their kids. We as parents could not probably get there but maybe their children should try and can…and earn better. Grass is greener on the other side as always.

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I don’t think it’s flattering to call one’s soon to be medical school graduate a simpleton. Actually, I think it’s insulting.

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I think Miami was being sarcastic about the “simpleton.”

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DAP has told us many times the D is not a simpleton. But her daughter’s path is not the only right way. Lots of roads lead to Rome. But the person has to have the desire to get to Rome or they won’t take the first steps. So to say.

We have so many examples around us of people who get to their goals in different ways. It’s almost too CC to argue whether one school or another magically greases the wheels. For some kids, the milieu at a competitive encourages them; for others, leading is the impetus they need. Know your kids. In fact, know the folks around you and you’ll see the many ways they accomplished what they did.