<p>I'm not quite as crazy as the students initially referred to in this thread, but I have a 4.3, 2200 SAT with perfect Reading, and numerous leaderships awards. I had absolutely zero interest in attending any of the "top tier" schools. They just didn't have anything that interested me. I only applied to one school, UCF, and was acceptable with a sizeable scholarship offer. It offers the major I'm interested in, hospitality (which is something else crazy for good students, a major not know for a high income), and the location and facilities were exactly what I wanted. I had all my teachers and counselor trying to convince me to apply to Cornell, but that just wouldn't be my type of place. </p>
<p>As for why I did so well in school if I was "settling" for a lesser university. My grades are good because I can't stand being anything less than the best. I naturally did well on my first try with the SAT and didn't bother to take it again, and the leadership awards came from involvement with Habitat for Humanity which I something I truly loved to do. Never once did I think I had to do something so a college would think of me as a better student or person.</p>
<p>The main point I'm trying to make is, not every student's dream is to go to the highest ranked school he/she can get into. Lots of other things go into the decision.</p>
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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?
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</p>
<p>A guy from my school got a 2400 and qualified for the USAMO and is attending the University of Maryland.</p>
<p>Coasterphil makes an excellent point: many other factors have to be considered when selecting a school. For some people, prestige is very important. It's a personal decision and, with soaring college costs, the bottom line for many students is financial aid/merit awards. The $ situation influences the final decision. My D is an excellent student and she received a full tuition scholarship to an OOS uni which doesn't rank that high in USNWR. But, who cares?? She likes the school, it has what she wants. It has the campus setting in which she's comfortable - and the money is the icing on the cake. I think people get too caught up in prestige and rankings...</p>
<p>My roommate for example got a 1530/1600 on his sat and was the valedictorian of his HS and had a 99.7 something% gpa, but he goes to University at Buffalo. His family is filled with doctors, his father an eye doctor and he has cardiologists and a brain surgeon. Just alot of doctors in his family, and they all told him to go to a cheap decent university as the Undergrad wasent worth anything. he wants or be a cardiothoratic surgeon. He loves his choice. BTW he got into all the top schools. but chose a Suny</p>
<p>Why would a prestigious family who has a ton of Money and could easily afford any school, send the next doctor in there family to a state school?</p>
<p>oh this is so totally the thread for me...2400 (second class :( ) SAT, nm commended scholar, nominated for presidential scholar, taking 5 APs this year, lots of ECs and service...</p>
<p>...and I'm probably going to RIT...not a bad school, but not even a "mini-ivy." </p>
<p>i know i sound a bit snobbish on that list there, but it's not intentional. i hate intellectual snobs which is why i refuse to go ivy. (although i did apply to princeton to see if i could get in...shame on me).</p>
<p>and yeah, it's also a money thing. i need full tuition at least, otherwise i'll have to take out a bazillion loans. ick.</p>
<p>My daughter certainly qualifies for this forum. She's graduating with a 3.9 GPA, scored in the 98th percentile on the ACT, has about 40 semester hours of college credit already from AP and college courses taken while in high school, recruited athlete, great ECs and recs, etc. She's interested in large animal veterinary medicine, so her choices for schools are relatively limited. One possibility was Cornell, which she visited and didn't much care for. Her counselor suggested that she look at some midwestern publics -- which is where most of the vet schools are -- including Kansas State University. We were skeptical, but we visited K-State and we both felt that it was a perfect fit for her. Strong preveterinary program, great vet school, nice facilities and an incredibly friendly and approachable faculty, staff and student body. So she applied. She was admitted easily, but she was also awarded a half-tuition merit scholarship, admission to the honors program, and a possibility of more scholarship money within her particular college (Agriculture) as well as for athletics (equestrian team). She's also got a good shot at guaranteed admission to the vet school provided that she maintains a 3.4 gpa and jumps through some other hoops. That's worth a lot given that getting into veterinary school through the front door is no easy task. As a Duke graduate, I certainly appreciate the value of a "top" school education, but I think it's important to remember that what's a top school to one student isn't necessarily a top school to another. It depends on what your goals are and where you feel most comfortable. Besides, you never know what you'll find at "lesser" -- and I personally don't like that term -- schools. In researching K-State, for example, I was surprised to find this: <a href="http://consider.k-state.edu/scholars/%5B/url%5D">http://consider.k-state.edu/scholars/</a> It just goes to show that you should never overlook "lesser" schools simply on the basis of prestige. I truly think that my daughter would have been miserable at Cornell, but that she'll flourish at K-State. It's a bargain, she'll fit in and, frankly, what difference does it make as long as she gets into vet school? Just my two cents . . .</p>
<p>Hmm, just wondering why are liberal artsy educations bashed so much. Looking at say Columbia's core curriculum of 2 years language, literature, Art, music, contemporary civilisations, science, then add on your major, isn't it harder to perform consistently well in subjects from all different categories than simply focusing on one subject for four years, and presuming you have affinity for. Liberal arts also shows adaptability, to think in different ways etc. Why are SATs mainly about math and verbal, and economics SAT II isn't even offered, and you don't get students just taking every single econ course at school and community college ignoring art electives, literature etc. to apply. </p>
<p>You're gonna be learning everything at graduate school anyway. If you've studied the mba program, that trumps any knowledge you learnt at undergrad anyway. So really, employers are comparing someone with MBA knowledge who can handle everything from Plato to Picasso, versus someone with MBA knowledge, and some more lower level business knowledge. Or am i missing part of the picture here?</p>
<p>Top students in NC/Va/MI go to their state U for several reasons.</p>
<h1>1 -money- so much cheaper see Kiplinger's report just out.</h1>
<h1>2 - money- Morehead scholars are in essence being bought to come to UNC. Other schools have similar incentives.</h1>
<h1>3 - Fun- These large state schools have hot students and lots of parties and sporting events.</h1>
<h1>4 Local- some people just dont want to go far from home. If you live in the South/Midwest you dont have many "prestigous" options.</h1>
<h1>5 Tradition- UNC/UVA et al have families that have been going there for generations. If you dont aspire to leave your home state, then staying at your State U might be even more advantageous for career options than Amherst or Rice.</h1>
<p>They might not be the most "prestigeous" but for lots of good students they are the perfect fit.</p>
<p>It isn't where you go but what you make of when you are there. Some kids are the big fish in small ponds and do extraordinarily well in high school, and then don't achieve those same results in college. I have seen kids drop out of the big name schools, and other less qualified students transfer to those schools and graduate. </p>
<p>In the end, after college is over, very few people will care where you went to college. The key is to get an education. And graduate. Preferably in 4 or so years. </p>
<p>So what is the big deal if a student chooses a 2nd tier school over HPY or one of those schools? The pressure to achieve is tremendous. When I first started college, a professor told us that we should look to our neighbor to the left, and to the right, and realize that one of us wouldn't graduate. How bad do you think that would be at one of those top tier schools? Isn't it better to get a degree where you know you will not only be successful, but maybe the top of the class instead of a potential drop-out? </p>
<p>You can achieve great things wherever you go if you put your mind to the objective to work hard and learn.</p>
<p>Some of these top students may also be one of several siblings who are heading to college and have made the decision to spare themselves and their parents by taking a full ride at a state U. or other school that is particularly good for their their intended major!</p>
<p>It's not like anyone takes away your brain, passions, or ability if you decline to attend HPY. Bloom where you are planted!</p>
<p>I'm a National Merit Finalist, have a 3.83 (weighted) GPA...I struggled with depression early in HS so my grades aren't amazing...taking 5 AP classes this year...and the only Ivy I'm considering is Cornell. Basically it's the money issue; I love learning and definitely see myself going on to either med or grad school, so I don't want to spend too much at a Harvard or Yale. Also, I'm much less likely to get scholarships at Ivies than at, say, Baylor, Austin College, or OU, to which I've already been accepted. UTD recently offered me a full-tuition scholarship with allowances for living expenses, books, and study abroad, so they've jumped onto my list as well, especially since I've heard good things about their science programs.</p>
<p>If that Georgetown person and his/her many dissenters are still around, PLEASE stop arguing on this board; no one is going to gain as much from your argument as they would from discussion over the topic.</p>
<p>I ranked well with a 2230 SAT. It wasn't so much for aiming for a great school but I just enjoyed and did well in tough classes. I went for my state school because it simply was the best deal; I even applied early so I was all set by December. I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't have cared what my chances would have been applying to a top tier school but I still stand by my decision because I'm certain my state school is where I'd have enrolled. One regret came when Harvard upped their free-ride threshold to 60k. A free-ride would have been nice but that still assumes I'd have gotten into Harvard. As far as I have heard, I haven't seen so bold an initiative in other similar schools.</p>
<p>I do still get a lot of head-shaking when people learn of my numbers and that I applied to just one school. I'm still around plenty of serious scholars so I still see little reason to regret my approach to a process that's more like a whirlwind to other people.</p>