<p>I am not "selling myself short"...but I NEVER wanted to go to Harvard, Yale, Princeton and other IVY League schools. I always felt they were given too much credit. Does it make a difference if I attend a school that would make me happy such as Wesley (DE) or Temple (PA)?? </p>
<p>Real quick story of why I decided to change goals in life..if u care to know =)
I attended this MSI program at the Bronx High School of Science. (Very competitive school, one of the specialized High Schools). I had a math teacher who spoke horrible English. I asked her a question, and she said..and I quote "DON'T WASTE MY TIME AND THE CLASS TIME WITH THAT QUESTION. COME TO ME ON YOUR OWN TIME, MATTER A FACT, YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT ANSWER AND IF YOU DON'T YOU ARE IN THE WRONG CLASS." Her English was horrible, but when she said that it was CLEAR!! Mind you, I was the ONLY African American girl in the class with about 15 other Asians and Caucasians. I am NOT playing the race card but that DAMAGED me! I took the test and I got accepted to American Studies High School but I decided NOT to go there. I decided based on a seminar class where it was basically a dictatorship. I hope college is not like this because I am the first person to ask questions if I don't understand something. </p>
<p>So sorry for the long post..but my question is, can a person succeed in life, in their endeavors even if they get a degree from a "less prominent" college?</p>
<p>The only school you’re “supposed” to go to is the one that is a fit for you and your needs, be it a CC, a state school, an LAC, an ivy, whatever. Success comes from what you put into it.</p>
<p>Oh, and the great thing about college is that you can choose your professors (and classes) to a large degree. Some large lecture classes may not not particularly accommodating to questions, but there are always office hours.</p>
<p>to be honest, i regret choosing my prestigious school over going to a public school for free. pm me as i was in a similar boat a few years ago and since going to college, my perspective has totally changed.</p>
<p>Go where YOU will be happy and you will thrive both academically and socially. As others have noted, it matters less where you attend college than what you do while you’re there. The drive to succeed in life comes from within yourself, not from the college you attend.</p>
<p>I felt the same way, I never desired to go to an Ivy League although I have not doubt I would have gotten in…they’re just overrated and I don’t need to live and breathe that academic pressure 24/7. You can succeed without the name. It’s all about your way of thinking. :)</p>
<p>it may be that you’d be happier at a less competitive college. However, your reason for making that decision isn’t well thought out. Just because one teacher was rude to you on one occasion doesn’t mean that’s what you’d expect at a highly competitive college. There are rude people everywhere. There also are nice people everywhere.</p>
<p>I suggest visiting some colleges - including match, reach and safety schools – and sitting in some college classes to help make up your mind about what kind of college would make you most happy and fulfilled.</p>
<p>And, yes, there are plenty of people who are highly successful who didn’t attend top colleges.</p>
<p>What matters most is your attitude towards college. Harvard, Yale, Princeton, etc. don’t necessarily provide the best undergraduate education just because they’re overall the best (one can argue). Graduate > undergraduate anyday and you will still get into great graduates like harvard, yale, princeton ,etc. by going to undergrads like wellesley, Berkeley, etc. which are fantastic colleges even if they aren’t as famous as aforementioned. In any case, if I were you, I’d change my attitude. Not to be mean, but your stats don’t qualify you AT ALL for HYP, or any other top college. Even if you are valedictorian, your SAT score shows the low level difficulty of your school’s courses (unless your SAT improved). </p>
<p>To answer your last question, HYP are obscenely wealthy schools with small class sizes so professors do have plenty of time to answer your questions and focus on you individually whereas at larger, poorer schools, you won’t have that one on one quality time. Plus professors are generally more accessible during office hours.</p>
<p>I dont know why you keep ignoring everyone who tells you this, but Wesley is a terrible, terrible school. Temple is a significantly better choice, especially for you.</p>
<p>Yes. I’m sure I could have been accepted to a more “elite” college, but I never wanted to. I wanted to get my degree and be on my way. I really don’t consider college classes all too important either. I learn from actually doing it… internships, volunteer work, jobs, fieldwork, not listening to Professor Brown talk about the theory of relativity. </p>
<p>I think its what you make of it and someone from a state university can be just as intelligent as someone from an IVY.</p>
<p>Thank you all for the comments!! SOad and Dreamin in Japan obviously understands where I am coming from. And yes although my scores are low (first time taking it with no prior class nor prep) I have sat in many classes over the school year and that is how I made up my mind about not attending such schools…the reason I used that example is because I feel it makes the point quickly.</p>
<p>Diontechristmas::: Do you remember my first post about Temple…the feeling I had for Temple is how I feel for Wesley. I am going back to Temple for a “freshmen orientation” even though I am just entering my Senior Yr…I will be able to shadow an Owl and get a feel for it. I will do the same at Wesley on Oct. 17…THEN I will make my decision. I love ur ethusiasm for your school =)</p>
<p>I know what you mean. I know someone so arrogant and they make me afraid to ask questions but I should learn not to care what other people think and just ask questions anyway. It’s hard but try to not succumb into peer pressure. </p>
<p>I know tons of people at my school that if they have high GPAs and are smart, they succeed very well. Our school has had like three Rhodes Scholars or something. If you work hard wherever you go, TRUST ME, you’ll do good.</p>