<p>Within reason, the college you attend has a minor effect on your future. More important college choice involoves how you fit in, the general reputation of the college, and the job placement rate (careful with that stat, most schools game it) and/or grad school placement rate.</p>
<p>If you are bright enough to even apply to Columbia, you will probably get into a great school. Don’t overlook top public colleges, you will meet a better set of people to prepare you for the real world. You will not be coddled and told everyday how ‘smart’ you are for going to (fill in the name of a prestigious college here) university. </p>
<p>It is YOUR life, not anyone else’s. And remember, you MAY make a bad college choice. If so, move on to somewhere else if you do. Many of the happiest people I know took a winding path though life. </p>
<p>I am not dissing Columbia, from what I have seen, it is a great school. But, so are a LOT of other colleges. And, after your first job, no one cares where, or even if, you were educated. Look at all the billionaires who either dropped out, or never attended college.</p>