<p>Do you know anyone who's done extraordinary things like holding a national leadership position, winning national competitions, being in the top 1% of the class, having near 2400 SATs and near 2400 Subject SATs-- and despite all of that, they're not applying to the very top schools?</p>
<p>yes.
i know two
one graduated #10 overall(out of 750 kids)
and is now going to a tier 3 school in miami</p>
<p>he hates it</p>
<p>and is going to transfer to University of Miami or Univ. of Florida</p>
<p>the other just went to UF because he would not get any money from top schools(lesson learned from past sister who was school val.)</p>
<p>these two twins at my school last year were basically tied for valedicatorian of their class. they both decided on UGA, and they both enjoy it.</p>
<p>My brother is in the top 10 out of 540 kids, 33 ACT, NMSF, good EC, great recs...going to a tier four school in Ohio. Going to a combined degree program though, so I don't know if that counts.</p>
<p>In my estimation, going to UF for free is a better decision than paying in full for an Ivy.</p>
<p>The Val from last year only applied to tier 3 universities. The kid was a freak, he could have probably gone anywhere.</p>
<p>You act like there is something disastrous about not wanting to go to "top" school.</p>
<p>I know it's surprising, but the top schools don't always offer what students are looking for, and perhaps these kids are so smart they realize that prestige isn't really all that important in the grand scheme of things...</p>
<p>
[quote]
nd perhaps these kids are so smart they realize that prestige isn't really all that important in the grand scheme of things
[/quote]
</p>
<p>...too bad prestige isn't the only good thing about "top schools."</p>
<p>Then again, you didn't go to a top school. Why is it that most people who complain about top schools didn't actually attend one, and why do I get the feeling that if they did attend a top school, the such complaints would disappear?</p>
<p>I'm going to have to agree with nspeds. Looking past prestige, it becomes evident very quickly to motivated students that they don't belong at certain colleges. </p>
<p>Having fun with idiots is not having fun at all. Prestige comes with academic quality. That is what many of these schools have already attained, should they then choose to flaunt it, then they also have that right. Certain lower tier schools cannot rival the classroom of better institutions because of who you have in the class. </p>
<p>If the students are unmotivated and uncaring, you will find that much of the class feels dull and boring. In contrast, schools that have students that are willing to do the reading and do participate in the class, the class feels so much better.</p>
<p>I know of at least two.. mine. Why? because they did what they wanted to and not what somebody else told them they "should" do. They've been taught that they can be successful anywhere they are at because success is based on what they can do. </p>
<p>Our society has become such a "sold" society in the last couple of generations that to follow your own choices rather than doing what someone else "says" you should do has become strange. Someone tells you what clothes to wear, car to drive, food to eat and so on.. While all things are considered, finding what fits "you" the best should be the first basis in selection, without apology to anyone else who is certain you should do differently and thus be the "same."</p>
<p>Both ended up at good schools in the pnw, both are happy with their choices and neither has any regrets about not doing what somebody else said they should.</p>
<p>"Then again, you didn't go to a top school. Why is it that most people who complain about top schools didn't actually attend one, and why do I get the feeling that if they did attend a top school, the such complaints would disappear?"</p>
<p>Then again? you as a person don't have to rely on going to a top school to define who you are in the same way somebody else defines themselves by wearing a pair of "jordans". What do you bring to the table as an individual? If I have to be a (fill in the blank) to feel better about myself..what does that say?</p>
<p>Opie, I speak from my own experiences regarding undergraduate experience. It has been awful to receive looks when a teacher asks a difficult question in a row - and to be the only one who can consistently answer it. I am by no means a typical nerd - I'm in numerous clubs, write, play a division sport, and play two club sports ... but at the same time, students cannot help but feel that whoever answers the question is a "nerd/loser." - This is my current experience in college. Especially when one chooses to not drink due to personal reasons, when one attends a party school due to financial reasons, one can feel left behind.</p>
<p>I'm not arguing that students should "attend" top colleges to be successful, however, for many students, top colleges are the ones that necessarily "fit" them.</p>
<p>We attend college to diversity ourselves, not to be the pariahs of its culture.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Then again? you as a person don't have to rely on going to a top school to define who you are in the same way somebody else defines themselves by wearing a pair of "jordans". What do you bring to the table as an individual? If I have to be a (fill in the blank) to feel better about myself..what does that say?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I don't see how those two words logically implied your polemic, but it is humorous nonetheless. Kudos.</p>
<p>I could have most likely been admitted into Duke or perhaps even higher. I just didn't fall in love with other schools as I did Ohio State. I'm #1 in my class, and I have a satisfactory (though not perfect) ACT score. I only applied to 3 schools (one, a tiny Methodist private school; the second, Auburn Uni; and my dream school, Ohio State). It's all a matter a of preference. My family could readily afford a Dartmouth education, I just didn't want that.</p>
<p>Duke or perhaps higher.. talk is cheap Brit.</p>
<p>Talk ain't cheap; look how much Congress has spent already.</p>
<p>andrw313</p>
<p>i'm sure brit07 didn't mean to offend you. Obviously you are superior for your choice of schools.</p>
<p>I used to be a genius. But then I got lazy. Or others just caught up. With my 1700 PSAT, I'm going to community college, w00t!</p>
<p>1700 Psat ??????????????????????</p>
<p>Yes, like everyone I know is doing that. A few kids at my school are applying to Yale. One girl already got into Harvard I think but she's a huge genius. Most kids I know though are just applying to schools because they like them, not looking at ranks.</p>