<p>Seeing as I nearly was consigned to a safety school I wasn’t excited about by about hairlength’s shave (yes I realise it wasn’t a true safety) I am highly sympathetic if not empathetic to individuals who don’t make it to schools of reputation. Initially, I would hear of rather good friends [not deep/intimate relationships but friendly cordial ones with lots of talk] who were planning to go to state colleges or community colleges. In every possible case I encouraged them to do their best in whatever they do. Knowing that I was once almost on the verge of planning to enter a school where the average SAT seems to be about 500-530, I was (and continue to be) all ears to the idea that it’s the individual not the school.</p>
<p>But two months after decisions, only a handful had the ambition and determination to do their best or make their best of their options; for one such friend, I know she will go on to do great things; she underestimates her ability and is rather down to earth, but she does her best anyway. The other has endured great unspoken (in terms of public information) hardship. </p>
<p>But those are a minority of those who enter a lot of such schools – at least sampling those friends I know – other dozen don’t have the same drive. Maybe they’ll pick up their ambition in college, rather than before it.</p>