<p>I got accepted into UC Berkeley (ranked #21), which, I admit, did surprise me. It used to be my dream school until I realized that I wanted to go into pharmacy. I also got accepted into St. John's University in Queens, NY (ranked #152) for their 6 year PharmD program, and after much contemplation, I decided to attend there rather than Cal. Though I'm content with my choice, everyone around me is always asking, "Why didn't you choose Cal?" or "How could you reject Cal for StJ?" These comments really leave me questioning my future, and I honestly feel a tinge of regret when everyone comments on my decision. Do you all think I've made a "stupid" decision as everyone else around me does?</p>
<p>If you chose your school for any of the good reasons - cost, availability of program, location, fit, etc. - then you made the right choice. Prestige is way, way overrated. And as far as comments from ignorant friends - whose life and future is it, yours of theirs?</p>
<p>kpharm, why the he!! did you go to St.JU when you have also been admitted to Berkeley!!! lol</p>
<p>Seriously, St. John’s isn’t Berkeley, obviously. But there’s only a few school on earth that can really rival’s prestige, to begin with. And, you don’t need to be from a school of Berkeley’s highly esteemed reputation to succeed well in a field like pharmacy.</p>
<p>Prestige of a college is arguably one of the most important factors one should consider. Cal definitely will open more doors than St. John’s for you in your future career. If cost is not an issue, Cal is an obvious choice for me.</p>
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<p>Argue all you want - but there’s a large body of juried research that shows just the opposite.</p>
<p>Good schools open lots of doors, and you can only walk through so many at one time anyway. And it is very dependent on career, interests, and who you hang around with. You know, there’s basically nowhere in the city of Chicago that one couldn’t go with a U of Illinois degree, even though by CC standards it’s not “prestigious.”</p>
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<p>Because he wants to go into pharmacy. He said that in his post. Why should he go to a school that doesn’t offer what he wants?</p>
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<p>Same could be said for an NIU degree.</p>
<p>Nope, don’t agree with that one.</p>
<p>Then you need to get out more. I know lots and lots of NIU grads that have made very fine careers in the Chicago area. The degree is not looked down on at all, except by those few benighted souls benighted by prestige.</p>
<p>I don’t agree that “there’s no place in Chicago you can’t get to with an NIU degree.” That is a different concept from “there is no (or there are few) NIU grads that have made very fine careers in the Chicago area.” Of course there are plenty.</p>
<p>I would argue that, even in Chicago, one with a Cal degree would get more opportunities than one with a degree from U of I.</p>
<p>Wow, way to hijack a thread! :D</p>
<p>Last time I looked, neither UCB nor St. John’s was located in Chicago . . . so why not keep your personal agenda out of it and just give the OP the advice he/she was looking for?</p>
<p>kpharm - You found a program that will get you to exactly where you want to be in six years . . . how could that be anything other than your first choice? As for your friends, send them a copy of your first paycheck in year 7 and then ask them what they think!</p>
<p>The only thing that matters is whether the people doing the hiring in your field have heard of St. John’s . . . if they have, and if you do well during your six years there, that’s all that matters.</p>
<p>So exactly where in Chicago, PG, would you not be able to go with a NIU degree?</p>
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<p>Oh, I don’t think so, at all. You’re not familiar with Chicago, so don’t try and pretend that you “know” what the magic-name-of-Berkeley would do. They don’t genuflect to it the way that Californians think they do. It’s really not even on the radar screen for most of the bright hs students, unless they had famliy/ friends in CA. Which is not to say that Berkeley isn’t an excellent school - of course it is - but if the topic is “what do people elsewhere think of it,” it, like virtually every school in the country, is strongest in its home region and weaker outside of that.</p>
<p>Did you get more aid from StJ? Why didn’t you apply to private universities that would have gave you a near full ride?</p>
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<p>Do the looks of your significant other really matter? Of course they do. People would be naive to say that it didn’t at least matter some. However, with universities and people, there’s much much more to the picture than just prestige and looks respectively.</p>
<p>If you feel comfortable at StJ, you should go there. Simple as that.</p>
<p>I agree with ‘Pizzagirl’ on this one! And I live in arguably the most affluent and influential area in downtown Chicago, a block away from NU Med/Law campus, less than 5 minutes walk from Michigan Ave - Mag Mile, and right across from Navy Pier and the financial district.</p>
<p>Berkeley doesn’t have a pharmacy school. SJU does have one. You want to get into pharmacy. What does it matter if Cal is more prestigious when it doesn’t even offer your professional degree of preference? You will get a well paying job almost anywhere in this country with your pharmacy degree from any accredited school. Good luck to you and, in this case, stop worrying about what school is listed on your diploma. :-)</p>
<p>Nice area Sparkeye7. :-)</p>