<p>For some people, college is just a step of your life, not your ultimate goal.
If it's a step, why don't you go to the best school there is and get scholarship?
People go to Harvard because it's one way to prove themselves; they can go
wherever they want to go, and beyond. So if you didn't get to a prestigious college,
you can't make excuse of your inability of getting in.</p>
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[quote]
Well, usually, if you are bright yourself, it doesn't matter if you go to a school in the top 10 or top 50. But tier 2 and tier 3 is stretching it, and I'm afraid you are gonna miss a lot of opportunities and interaction with talented people if you go to one of these schools.
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<p>You've got me all wrong. Going to a Tier 2/Tier 3 school isn't stretching it, for a student like me. Just because my bro is a biochem major at Harvard (he's even in the top 5% there!) doesn't mean that I did as well as he did in h.s. Sure, if I worked to my full potential since freshman year, I could've scaled the ivy-covered walls this fall, but with my spotted performance, I'm unlikely to be accepted to the Ivies, Top 10, even Top 50. I really screwed up in h.s. I aimed low and chose schools where my SAT I score could make up for my low GPA. (9th: 3.3, 10th: 3.3, 11th:2.83--How could I be so stupid?! :( 12th: 4.4) Except for Case Western (my "super-duper reach"), my SATs at all of the schools I applied to were above the 75th %ile. I applied to Penn State, which is in the Top 50, but to the Abington campus, not U. Park because I knew they wouldn't accept me with such a low GPA. :sigh: I've given in to laziness and procrastination in h.s., and now it's come back to sting me.</p>
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Elbereth, which schools gave you the largest merit aid? I'd like to look at those schools
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<p>Well...I have heard back and been accepted from 7 schools so far--Drexel, Penn State, Bloomsburg, Kutztown, Agnes Scott, Rosemont, and Albright.</p>
<p>3 of them offered me merit scholarships so far:
*Rosemont: 70k, Tier 3 LAC
*Agnes Scott (i hadn't heard of this college until they randomly mailed me the "Priority Scholars Application" based on my "exemplary achievements" lol): 40k, but I will get more $$ if I visit the campus and have a scholarship interview. Tier 2 LAC
*Albright: 8k minority scholarship (yes, i know, not much but it would help my folks a bit) Tier 3 LAC</p>
<p>dstark...you can check out their profiles at collegeboard.com, xap.com, or in the US News Rankings.</p>
<p>Thanks. I will look at them. Good luck to you.</p>
<p>＞Rosemont: 70k</p>
<p>I suppose it's for 4 years. It's crazy if it's for 1 year.</p>
<p>Elbereth: if worse comes to worse, you can always go to a local CC and apply to Penn State-UP as a transfer; there are always options open. Also, although it isn't terribly frequent, there are people from a CC who have transferred into Top-25 colleges, although I imagine that had near-perfect grades and such.</p>
<p>Oh yes vampire, they're all for four years, lol, 70k/yr would be insane!</p>
<p>ohnoes, yeah, I read in US News about a girl who did poorly in high school, went to a CC in jersey, had near-perfect grades and leadership positions in clubs at her cc, and transferred to Columbia after getting her associates degree. Miracles do happen...</p>
<p>It's not like my parents can only afford state schools like Penn State, and in fact they were willing to pay any cost because they value education and think it's a really good investment no matter what the price. But, I feel bad putting a lot of financial strain on them in addition to my bro's sky-high Harvard tuition, when there are cheaper alternatives. If I get into Case (highly unlikely!!) hopefully they offer decent FA.</p>
<p>Also, my parents and bro think that when I applied to colleges, I aimed a bit too low, and I should've tried more competitive schools. And that I should've applied to Penn State with the U. Park campus as a first choice b/c admissions is formula-driven at such a huge school. Do you guys think that is an accurate assessment? I, personally, was pretty shocked that I got into any of these schools given my crappy GPA, esp. Junior year.</p>
<p>Elizabethm you're a minority? Case may not be that much of a reach. It sounds like you now have your act together and are ready to work hard in college. It also sounds like your parents want the best for you. Maybe between what they contribute and summer jobs and loans you can make the best school you are accepted to work for your family. Don't beat yourself up over what you didn't do in the past. Your current GPA and your SAT score show your clear potential. Go for it!</p>
<p>can you still apply to penn state UP? if you can, then do it cos it might be the best choice for you. you'll be at a good school and your parents wont have to pay that much money. </p>
<p>also im just curious to know which state unis do you guys think are "first tier"... ?</p>
<p>Hey jazzpiano...thanks for the encouragement! I'm not going to slack off for the second semester of senior year, and doing well in school now will prepare me for college-level work. I'll also continue my part-time job at the library to help my folks pay tuition.</p>
<p>Yes, I am a minority, but I'm Asian so that won't really give me a boost. Would the fact that my cousin was a very good student there for undergrad and now attends Case's med school help?</p>
<p>I know that Case is considered to be a school full of very studious, serious students, and I like rubbing shoulders with bright, talented people. I don't mind a bit of friendly competiton amongst high-flying students, but I'm wondering--is the academic environment there cutthroat? (I'd imagine it would be for engineering, but I'm actually more interested in liberal arts and humanities) I mean, I want to be academically challenged, but not to the point where my health is deteriorating, I get 2 hours of sleep per night, I have no extracurricular/social life etc. </p>
<p>At the schools I mentioned where I was awarded scholarships, I'd probably have a much easier time and be one of the brightest ppl. in my class since I was at the higher end of the applicant pool. I will not be competing with many academic high-fliers or vying for the prof's attention. These schools are also luring me with a lot of material goodies(free t-shirts, key chains, waterbottles, duffle bags, etc.) and seem very desperate to have me enroll. Is it better to be a big fish in a small pond, i.e. "shine" at a lesser-known school? I mean, I'm sure none of you have heard of Albright College in Reading, PA, but according to their viewbook, students from there have attended top-ranked grad schools like NYU, Brown, Columbia, Johns Hopkins, Penn Denistry, Penn Vet, UVA, Lehigh, and Yale. I still feel split in two, although you guys definetely pushed me a bit towards Case.</p>
<p>mensa160,</p>
<p>regarding the post about 1400 being in the 99th% at a 1350 75th% private school, lowering the chances of any 1500-1600 students:</p>
<p>Wouldn't a 1600 student have a good chance a huge financial package?</p>
<p>Well, Ivies and near-Ivies such as Duke, Berk, Stanford, MIT, Uchig etc. pull the most 'prestige', and usually it's enough to make a huge difference. Aside from these top schools, it doesn't really matter much.....the prestige trickles down to an insignificant amount.</p>
<p>OP, do yourself a favor and look at the starting salary column of USNews for MBA graduates. Why do you think a Harvard grad make 120k compared to 60k at other schools?? I'm even surprised that you asked this question.....it's quite rhetorical and shallow. Nobody has every complained about their school being TOO prestigious, have they??</p>
<p>hmm ... Golubb_u, sorry I need to comment again on your post, not because of personal sentiment but it is because of your wrong and misleading post. </p>
<p>You have to look at the average profile of Harvard MBA students. Most of Harvard MBA students are already high salary/position employees, accordingly it is expected that Harvard MBA grads generally command the highest salary upon graduation. You said 60K at other schools ??? Look at Stanford, Columbia, Chicago, Kellog MBA grads' salary !!!</p>
<p>Gee, you really know nothing about what you are talking.</p>
<p>Prestige is certainly important. But, it is less important at the undergraduate level than it is at the graduate level.</p>
<p>If you want to be able to market yourselft, then you had better be sure you worked hard to get into a top, top school.</p>
<p>
[quote]
If you want to be able to market yourselft, then you had better be sure you worked hard to get into a top, top school.
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</p>
<p>It makes me sad the way that so many kids (including me sometimes) and adults on this board seem to view education mostly as a means to get money someday. When I was trying to teach myself this song by Bob Dylan on my guitar late last night, the words made me think about that problem. I'm not trying to be all profound and everything, but it made me think:</p>
<p>For them that must obey authority
That they do not respect in any degree
Who despise their jobs, their destinies
Cultivate their flowers to be
Nothing more than something
They invest in.</p>
<p>While preachers preach of evil fates
And Teachers teach that knowledge waits
Can lead to hundred-dollar plates
Goodness hides behind its gates
Meantime life outside goes on
All around you.</p>
<p>Mensa, in another post you spoke of wanting to join the "elite." Are you torn? I've lived with money and now I live with much less. There really is no moral right and wrong in the choice. Just follow your passions.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Mensa, in another post you spoke of wanting to join the "elite." Are you torn?
[/quote]
Yeah, somedays I do, somdays I'd rather play guitar all day and read.</p>
<p>Elbereth, Drexel has a good regional reputation here in the greater Philadelphia region. The co-op is popular, and although the campus isn't that great, Penn is literally next door. </p>
<p>Case would be a similar school to Drexel (urban, science and engineering is popular) but a step up in the academic quality of the student body. I wouldn't worry about cutthroat students there just because they're smart, but sometimes pre-meds have their own reputation.</p>
<p>"You said 60K at other schools ??? Look at Stanford, Columbia, Chicago, Kellog MBA grads' salary !!!"</p>
<p>...rtfsk, you prove my point exactly! The Ivies and near-Ivies take the lions share of the salaries, while many of the lower prestige schools end up with grads that only make 60k-70k per year. If you look the the average starting salaries of each of the schools, you'll see a HUGE difference!</p>
<p>The same prestige that gets you 120k per year starting off will also one day make you a VP, CEO, Board of director, President etc. in the future.</p>
<p>golubb_u, </p>
<p>I mean that you didn't count the profile of Harvard MBA students. You should know that many of Harvard MBA students are already established and successful people with more than 90K per year before they even start their MBA program.</p>
<p>carolyn, i respect yr point of view about work, but doesn't going to a great school enriche yr life in ways that going to the local state college doesn't. Do you feel that way at least a little?>></p>
<p>Mensa, Re-read my post. I'm not saying anyone SHOULDN'T choose a prestigious college.</p>
<p>What I am saying is that everyone should worry a lot less about the "name" attached to a school and a lot more about finding a school where they PERSONALLY will get the best education for THEIR particular needs. Sometimes, yes, a prestigious school is going to be the right answer --- but there are so many "great schools" out there that I always feel sorry for people who stop at "prestige" when looking at schools. </p>
<p>Bottomline: prestige is a nice add-on, an extra benefit, but it shouldn't be the FIRST reason you pick a school and it doesn't necessarily always translate into the best academic experience for every person.</p>