How important is the undergraduate college you choose?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Everyone is freaking me out about college applications and acceptance/rejection letters, I'm sort of lost in the process. The main thing I've been wondering is how important the college you choose is. Can I still have a successful career going to a mediocre school? </p>

<p>I've talked to people that make it seem like if you don't get into the very top school your state has to offer, you will surely fail in life.</p>

<p>Personally, there's a top school in my state that is very prestigious but I don't think I would be able to get in and I don't think I would fit in there. However, people make it seem like getting in there will set you for life. The school I want to go to is lesser known but, I feel, would be a great fit for me and my personality. </p>

<p>Is there anyone out there who went to a not so great school for undergraduate but still has a successful life and career? I just want a little reassurance. </p>

<p>I'm freaking out about the future, help?</p>

2

<p>do not listen, go to school where you want and do the best you can. name and prestige do not make for a better education or better outcome.</p>

3

<p>Yes you can have a successful career if you go to a “mediocre school”. Don’t worry about that. Most of life (and college) is up to you.</p>

<p>Look around you at the successful adults you know who went to college. Do you even know where they went to college? Probably not. Go ahead and ask them. Chances are that some of them went to places that were even less “prestigious” than the place that you want to attend.</p>

4

<p>Check out the parents forum - several recent threads about “prestigious” schools where there are lots of opinions.</p>

5

<p>When I was 17, we would hold a gala every month where my parents’ friends would come. I remember one of the frequent guests, a 28 years old investment banker telling me that the undergrad school didn’t matter that much.</p>

<p>What? </p>

<p>After being told all my life that everything I was doing in life was to gain a ticket to a marquee university? And being under intense peer-pressure to go to an ivy league?</p>

<p>Now I finally agree with him. The undergrad school is really not that important, within certain limits. Going to a college somewhat lower than a match will mean you will do better than most others there. Most of the people who were unexpectedly rejected to schools most thought they should have been accepted to ended up doing fine. </p>

<p>Indeed, several people who were shocked by rejections to UCLA ended up going to Stanford for med school 4 years later. </p>

<p>Conversely, many who got accepted when most felt they shouldn’t have been, proved the case of their detractors. Many of them took 6 years to graduate with barely passing grades. If they didn’t drop out.</p>

6

<p>“Can I still have a successful career going to a mediocre school?”</p>

<p>If by mediocre you mean a school that isn’t a nationally known brand name, then the answer is a resounding yes. If by mediocre, you mean a school where classes are huge and hard to get into, students are more interested in partying than in their educations, the facilities are inadequate, faculty are uninterested in teaching, or there aren’t sufficient course offerings in your area of interest, then think twice and see if there aren’t better options available. In a pinch, your education depends more on what you bring to the table than what’s on offer - but it can be an uphill battle at a school that doesn’t take it’s educational mission seriously, a school where students don’t take it seriously, or a place where the resources just aren’t there. Do a careful assessment to make sure you know what you are getting and whether that works for you.</p>

7

<p>Thank you all for making me feel better about such a big choice. </p>

<p>and by mediocre school I meant one that is less known, not a party school. I would never plan on going to a party school.</p>

8

<p>Every school is a mediocre school, and no school is a mediocre school. Every accredited nonprofit college or university is the right school for some people, and even the most prestigious school is the wrong school for some people. As other posters have said, any school can launch you into a successful life, if you take full advantage of the opportunities that school offers. What you do after you get to college is a whole lot more important than where you go to college.</p>

9

<p>Taking advantage of the opportunities is the key here. </p>

<p>We can take the example of a hypothetical Sam. He is the typical prospective Ivy League student. Strong grades, solid SAT score, unstinting in manueuvering himself into leadership positions for his ECs. </p>

<p>Scenario one</p>

<p>He made a typo on the college application saying that he spent 300 hours a month on being Class President rather than 30 hours. The adcoms sees that as carelessness, an exaggeration, or worse, being disingenuous. Only one school, UTA didn’t look at his ECs or essay because his scores were just too stellar for them to bother. </p>

<p>After quickly getting over the depression, at the lower-than-match school, getting research opportunities would be easier for Sam. His grades will likely be great, and he has good life chances.</p>

<p>Scenario two</p>

<p>Sam writes an essay that rehashes his transcript. HYP are unimpressed, but Cornell is willing to take a chance on a potentially typical high-performing student. He is also accepted to Berkeley and UNCCH. He decides on Cornell. </p>

<p>Sam now is with other high performers, and doesn’t stand out as much. He will have to compete harder, and his grades will inevitably be lower. However, the research chances at Cornell are on average, better. So he has more options but the options are harder to apply to.</p>

<p>Scenario three</p>

<p>Sam’s dad was the state chair for the re-election of the President. Sam precinct walked, organized rallies, put up posters, and finally met with Barack Obama. Making a strong impression on the President, the rubicund Sam gets a business card of his Chief of Staff. </p>

<p>Upon applying for college, he takes out the business card. He calls and it is the President. </p>

<p>…</p>

<p>“Hi, you must be Sam, the person who helped my victory in the swing state of Chappaquiddick. Did I mention that I used to be the President of Harvard Law School?” </p>

<p>“Thank you. I was wondering if you could write me a letter of rec for Harvard?”</p>

<p>“Sure. My pleasure. What is your full name, phone number…”</p>

<p>Harvard receives the letter of recommendation, a glowing review of Sam and they tell the adcom team not to read the rest of Sam’s application. Not that they would dare to offend the President.</p>

<p>Sam is now with the best. He is in touch with so many friends in high places, he doesn’t need to worry about getting high grades or applying for research/leadership positions.</p>

10

<p>Kate here’s the story on work from someone who will be 70 in a few weeks. I went to one good state school, Rutgers, and one great state school, UNC-CH, for grad school.</p>

<p>What you do is up to you especially two or three years out of college. Almost any college will provide you with the technical skills you need. With the exception of a very, very few fields like investment banking, it doesn’t really matter where you go to school. Here’s what matters: working hard; observing and learning from successful people at your job; being nice and polite; showing up on time; being helpful; working well in groups; taking on additional responsibility but not letting yourself be exploited; not being cynical, but knowing when it is time to move on; and taking advantage of all your opportunities as bubbles has noted.</p>