Is going to a prestigious school and being stressed for four years worth it?

College Search & Selection
1

Hi everyone,

I have been debating something with myself for a while now, and I would like some help. I am wondering if it would better to go to a very prestigious school, like MIT or Caltech for a education in STEM, rather than a still very good institution like the University of Minnesota CSE for the same degree.

I am a strong student with a 34 on my ACT, and I got a 1490/1520 on the PSAT. I know that these scores are great, and I could list my other qualifications for a top tier school, but I know that there are a lot of people far more qualified than I to attend these schools. However, I know that these scores might be enough to get me into a school on MIT’s level, which is why I am posting this. I know that if I end up being admitted into a top tier school, I will not be anywhere near the top of my class. I am struggling with the choice between having to work and stress out for four years straight at a top tier institution, or working moderately hard at a good school.

I know that a school like MIT has nearly unlimited connections with industry, and the opportunities to get involved are outstanding. But, at a school like the University of Minnesota, I would be a relatively much stronger candidate for more limited opportunities.

My final concern is that at a top tier school, I might be unhappy because I am constantly working, but at any other place, I might be unhappy because I missed a great opportunity for attending a better school. Has anyone else worked through a similar set of circumstances, and does anyone have any advice?

2

Have you visited schools yet? You need to “reality check” your concerns and have a chance to feel whether or not a campus vibe is stressful or exciting to you.

3

I think the concern is valid. I’ve heard of kids leaving Cal Tech because it was too stressful…and all work and no play.

4

I agree with AroundHere. You really do need to “reality check” your concerns because even with a perfect ACT score and solid EC’s, competition is still fierce. Also, MIT is for resilient people who enjoy rigorous classes and are not afraid of challenges and setbacks. If you are so concerned about your pride and maintaining your position at the “top of the food chain”, then MIT isn’t the school for you. My dad went to Caltech, and my brother went to MIT. They both enjoyed their time there despite having to work long hours.

5

Another thing to consider is your mental and physical health. Do you have any conditions where anxiety is a stressor? If so, the top-tier institutions may not be for you. They have their reputations for a reason.

6

Cast the net and see what comes in . . . no point in worrying prematurely. There is time to ponder that question once the options are on the table.

With our son we had one true ‘reach’ school (for him) and he didn’t get in. It was a blessing in disguise in a couple of ways, but also because he got into multiple other good schools. We would have worried that he hadn’t reached high enough if he had he not applied to the reach.

That being said, I don’t think there is anything wrong, at all, with going to a good mid-tier school debt free (or close) and taking advantage of everything they have to offer (honors college, clubs, build projects, etc.).

7

Not gonna lie, no matter where you go, you will have ‘stress’ in your academic career. Getting a degree from anywhere isn’t easy. The only difference between ‘prestigious’ schools and ‘middle tier’ ones are the opportunities presented to you in the form of research, grants, faculty etc. If you genuinely like a school, you should go for it.

8

Are you sure you will be stressed out at MIT? Definitely visit. You may find the atmosphere exciting rather than stressful. Be aware that MIT freshmen start with pass/no record to pull back on that potential stress. I don’t know how other schools work.

My nephew went to MIT and thoroughly enjoyed his time there. My daughter has a classmate currently at MIT and is thriving. She took a fun winter session (the one month session) class, something like skiing, so it’s not all study, study, study.

Visit both types of schools. See which is more appealing. Apply to both (it’s to early to close doors).

9

It depends. People feel stress for different reasons and have differing levels of stress tolerance. Nobody else can answer this question for you, but it’s true that MIT isn’t for everyone (or even for everyone who’s qualified to attend).

10

I mean, you have to go with your gut, re: the type of person you are and what will make you happy. I realized after spending my junior year abroad that I actually hated the hyper-competitive rat race I’d been in. I didn’t want to go to college with the kids from my HS who were gunning for Ivies and elites–the prospect spending four years with people like them (limited social lives, placing all their self-worth on academic achievement, constant competition in our “friendships”) made me unhappy. My perception was, of course, limited to the pool of students I interacted with (types gunning for Harvard, MIT), but there you have it. I wonder if I’d have thought differently if my colleagues were going for Brown XD I shifted my focus instead to mid-tier privates (still great schools!) that seemed like a better fit for my personality–schools that valued academics AND social development, where it wasn’t a constant pissing contest of who was the smartest person in the room. I don’t regret it.

If you’re having these doubts, they’re valid. As others have said–and well–even if you’re qualified, you may no be a fit for MIT, CalTech etc. BTW, University of Minnesota is a great school, but there are also a LOT of schools inbetween it and MIT–look at a range of schools and focus on fit.

11

You know yourself and if you think you will be unhappy, then don’t apply. There’s so many universities/colleges in the United States, that you are allowed to be somewhat picky. Keyword is somewhat! My high school had a bit of a pressure cooker environment and I knew I didn’t want that for my college education. I chose an university where i could learn and thrive. Was it best in the state (rankings wise)? Not even close! But I got a great education along with experiences. Also in my old department, anyone who wanted to do research, present at conferences, etc was able to do so. I was able to find internships, had a great mentor, and made wonderful friends.

12

In terms of engineering, I’m not sure how accurate that is obviously. Not that rankings are very meaningful, but USNWR places UMinn at 27 for undergrad engineering vs MIT #1, CalTech #4, Princeton #18, Rice #31, etc. That’s not to say it’s as rigorous as CalTech, but it’s definitely a well respected school for engineering.

13

If you’re worried about having to work hard and being stressed out already I think that’s an indicator that you don’t want to do thay and a prestigious institution isn’t right for you. I’m in the same boat as you academically. I’ve looked at Princeton, Stanford, Cal, and Georgia Tech along with some less prestigious state schools in the south near where I live for chemical engineering. Visiting the schools made all the difference in helping me decide. Stanford, Cal, and Princeton were insanely different from what I’m used to, whereas Georgia Tech, which is close to where I live, had a great campus vibe and I didn’t feel alienated by the setting. I’m ready to work hard and be stressed because I know it will pay off in the end, but the culture shock I might have experienced at Stanford or Princeton would have overwhelmed me when combined with the work I’d have to do. If you can afford it try to go visit colleges. Also if you’re planning to go to graduate school, I would absolutely shoot for an affordable in state public school, which sounds like Minnesota for you. That way you can get a solid undergraduate degree and then top off your resume with a graduate degree from somewhere fancy, and you won’t be in as much debt. Good luck!

14

ALSO can you afford MIT and CalTech? That’s my biggest issue with the prestigious schools because they’re pretty much all private. If you have to take out loans of tens of thousands of dollars to go to MIT it might be best to go to a more affordable school.

15

<<<
a education in STEM,
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What is your career goal?

How much will your parents pay each year?

Do you have a noncustodial parent?

Is your family low income?

16

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am struggling with the choice between having to work and stress out for four years straight at a top tier institution, or working moderately hard at a good school.
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Two things…

I think someone who questions being “stressed out” is someone who knows that he/she is affected by stress. Some people thrive in that environment, and usually people know that they do (or don’t!). I don’t think Cal Tech/MIT would be the right choice.

You will have to work more than “moderately hard” at UMinn or any other “good school”. STEM is hard at all good schools. The stress will probably be less than what you’d find at CT or MIT, but it won’t be a cake walk for sure.

17

Caltech (along with Harvey Mudd) appears to be an outlier in terms of “drink from a fire hose” type of rigor. The difference in rigor between other elite colleges and state flagships may not be as large in magnitude.

18

That “drink from the fire hose” rigor is intense. Are you saying that it exists at CT and HM, but not at MIT?

19

It appears that Caltech and Harvey Mudd are a step above in the “drink from the fire hose” rigor. For example, the “frosh calculus” courses at Caltech and Harvey Mudd are theory-heavy, corresponding to the optional “calculus with theory” course at MIT, which offers a regular (though accelerated) calculus course as well. Note that MIT accepts AP credit for advanced placement in some subjects including calculus (see http://web.mit.edu/firstyear/2019/subjects/incomingcredit/ap.html ) while Caltech and Harvey Mudd do not.

20

All of the better engineering schools (even ranking 100 or so) are going to be difficult. We visited MIT, Caltech, and a wide variety of engineering schools including Rice, GT, Cornell, Michigan, Cal, and Alabama etc. The curriculum doesn’t vary all that much and STEM tends to draw the smartest and most organized kids on campus. My son rejected a bunch of them for different reasons: MIT (too stressful-) , Caltech (too small - even though his cousin attends and loves it) , Cal - dilapidated , Rice - too hot, etc. etc. He carefully gauged whether the students were happy - that could mean intensely busy- but it is a different kind of stress.

Look closely at student projects. We saw a huge different between schools. Some were building solar cars, planes and drones while others were a lot more basic. See what research undergrads can participate in too.

Ultimately his choice came down to stress and support , and for his parents, price. IMO support is the #1 factor. What kind of help can you get, how quickly can you get it, and how organized and formal is the help process? How committed are the professors to teaching (seriously!) ? Every engineering student will run into problems, most work is team oriented, and your professors will have designed work to challenge you. It is not supposed to be easy or you will not learn. You will get the fire hose at every one of the best schools - maybe a bit more at HM and Caltech because their students are already a bit more advanced (e.g. you must have already taken Calculus - but they do it because they know you can handle it.

I did not see much of a difference between the top private and public schools, just a difference in the quality of students and research when the rankings are separated by 20+ points. In general, it is easier to participate in research at the smaller private schools because of the relative paucity of undergrads. Some schools like Michigan have huge amounts of research too even with a large UG class. It takes more work to navigate a large school. You and your family can determine your own ‘value’ equation after you see where you will be admitted to , what factors are most important to you and the final cost.

When we attended family orientation stress was a major concern. One engineering professor said “This is not high school. These are the best and brightest kids our country has to offer. We push them now because otherwise they will never know what they can accomplish, how and what they can learn, and to prepare them for the real world. If you want something easier transfer to the college down the road.”

You will never know until you visit.