Hey so I’m a junior in high school and I was looking a lot at CU Boulder and it seems perfect, but the ranking is pretty bad, the acceptance rate is 84 percent. My parents are convinced I can get into “better schools.” It’s not my top choice though, just high up there. Should I go to a shool based on fit or prestige?
My dream school is UCSB though, but chances there are a bit slim because I’ll probably have a 3.93 UC GPA by the end of this year. I got a 2000 on my SAT but I should be able to bump that up about 50 points.
Fit over prestige of course. You’re going to be spending much of 4 years in that college and wouldn’t it be better if you liked where you are going? Perhaps you should consider looking at other “better” colleges and see if there is anywhere else that fits you.
I don’t know what the right answer is but I am pretty sure that going solely on prestige can be a disaster if it’s not a good fit. Seems like you have time to just keep the options open and weigh things when you have more info in front of you. As a parent I can understand your parents wanting ‘the best’ for you, but that will also mean a good fit too. Good luck!!
You should apply broadly and see what your choices are when the time comes. Prestige/ranking/selectivity can be important depending on your career goals.
^^^ I’m curious as to your evidence. In decades of working I education I have seen nothing of the sort outside of IB.
^^^ What makes you think I wasn’t thinking about IB/finance?
You should have a range of schools, don’t just fix on one particular college or university. OTOH it looks like you found your safety school (if it’s affordable). Congrats!
Now look for schools similar to it that you may like.
What does “fit” mean? Financial" fit"? The majors available are a" fit"? The campus culture and students are a “fit”? Location is a “fit”? I think most kids have several options, and I suggest that since you are a junior you should look at a number of schools. You may find that you have more than one fit. Schools may not be equal in the way they are a “fit” to others, but then you can weigh what is important. You will make better decisions later if you are well informed about all your options.
However, I would not personally choose prestige as a lone reason to go to a school. The fun of saying you go to (Fancypants) University wears off quickly if you are miserable. However, if there’s a great fit that is also prestigious, then go for it.
Why does this have to be a choice? It’s not like there is just one school out there that is a fit. There should be an entire range of schools at different levels of selectivity, all of which are reasonably good fits, OP.
It can be both. What qualities did you like about Boulder? Size? Location? School spirit? Choice of majors? Were there aspects you didn’t like? By identifying what “fit” for you, you can then look for other schools that have those qualities that might have different levels of competitiveness or price point.
Does UC-Boulder have an honors program?
Good luck.
CU has honors in Arts and Sciences as well as Engineering. It’s the best in-state public option in Colorado, and I know a lot of really smart graduates from my CO high school who have ended up in the honors programs there.
So, to make your parents happy, find a few other more selective schools that fit reasonably well and then apply. No point in having an argument over this now. Save the debate for when you actually have admissions offers in front of you along with the final cost figures. Some you won’t get into, so it’s a moot point. On the rest, parents can be brought around to ‘fit,’ when ‘fit’ includes a price tag that is half or less than that of the ‘prestige’ options. (Which is what all those very smart high school classmates in the honors programs figured out). If you throw in a mention of grad school and how you’d like to have some of that tuition money available to help pay for that too, your parents may be even more receptive, unless money is no object for them. In this unlikely case, you can both make them happy and find lots of expensive places that offer more bragging rights to them, and a comparable fit for you.
No reason to pick a school in the fall of your junior year. Visit and apply to a wide range of schools, see where you get in, see what is affordable and then decide. Of course fit is important, but don’t lock into any one school now – my guess is there is more than one school that would be a great fit.
Alright guys thanks for all the help! I guess when the time comes I’ll apply broadly and look into some other schools as well.
Would you rather have a miserable 4 years at Harvard or a the best 4 years of your life at a less competitive school? If you choose Havard, you likely wouldn’t be able to maximize on the opportunities because of your unhappiness. If you choose the less competitive school, you would get the most out of your experience and likely be more successful.
Depends.
How much better is the prestigious school?
How much do you like the fit school?
Value>Preference>Prestige>Price
That’s what I’d say
Fit is most important. A school that fits you in most ways (academically, socially, financially, locality) will be a much better experience–and you will make that experience for yourself-- than one that is merely recognizable. You can thrive anywhere, but it’s easier to do if you are comfortable from the get-go.
But do keep in mind that what fits you today may not be your best fit two years from now. You will grow a lot. Keep your options open with a variety of schools.
Fit is over hyped. What does it even mean?
fit and prestige if possible obviously but i think u should go wherever u would be happiest