<p>I'm a transfer student (from a Cali CC) trying to decide which school to attend. I've applied to four schools, one of which is considered "prestigious" and is internationally known (it is a state school). I've been accepted to three of the schools, but still waiting for the fourth. For several reasons, I feel that I might get a better education at a lessor state school in my major, since they offer more choices/emphases and seem to have lots of alumni who find jobs in the field. Also, the less prestigious state schools are more supportive of students. </p>
<p>Everyone is always telling me to pick this one school, it is like an automatic reflex when I say that I've applied there. But just having the "name" of the school on a resume doesn't necessarily mean that a job is offered, does it? I know a lot of alumni of this school, and I can't say that they all have fantastic jobs making lots of money. They are successful, sure, but I don't think it is because of the name of their school, and a lot of them aren't doing exactly what they want to do. On the other hand, I know some alumni from the other school I'm considering who do have jobs that they love in a field that utilizes their major (the same as mine).</p>
<p>The problem for a junior transfer student is that this is the one chance we get to pick a school. If I pick school A and hate it, I can't exactly transfer to school B. Should I go with my gut emotions on this front and not worry about prestige?</p>
<p>We can give better advice if you give us a little more information. If your field is hotel management, for example, it’s very reasonable to choose Cal Poly Pomona over Berkeley and UCLA, which I would never recommend if you were studying history.</p>
<p>The major is geography. School choices are UC Berkeley, SDSU, and U of U. UC only has 2 emphasis tracks, and only 1 GIS class, that I can see, whereas both SDSU and U of U have 5-6 different tracks and a big emphasis on all students learning GIS.</p>
<p>The fourth school is Mills College, which doesn’t actually offer a geography major. I would major in environmental studies or public policy. Actually, I applied to Mills because of their new 4+1 public policy BA/MPP degree. I know, a bit apart from geography! But to be honest, I think Mills is out of reach financially.</p>
<p>no, of course its not ok, you will be burned at the stake if you do so, as it would be an evil act that would make you a horrible person to choose a less prestigious school</p>
<p>in all seriousness choose whichever school you like the best and that will give the best education and job options, even if its a school with less prestige</p>
<p>Do what you want, but I’d wait until you hear from Berkeley, then visit the Geography department and talk to some people there before making any final decisions.</p>
<p>I’ve read this book titled as “Colleges That Change Lives” written by Loren Pope (I’ve heard rumors that he has a Ph.D from an Ivy but didn’t take the time to actually do some research to confirm that). Mr. Pope states that people don’t have to go to more prestigious schools to be more successful. In fact, people should go to wherever they feel most comfortable in their surrounding environment. Mr. Pope has collected a bunch of statistical information and quotes from people, all of which are shown in the book, that basically show that Ivy’s are not necessarily better than colleges and state universities. Statistically speaking, as shown in a particular section in the book, Ivy graduates from the class of the '60s - '70s are generally making less money than college and state university graduates from those same years.</p>
<p>Here’s one interesting thing I’m going to quote from the book:</p>
<p>"You’re not as smart as you think you are if you believe:
Your college should be bigger than your high school (5,000 is the figure usually mentioned by girls, especially those from small private schools.)
A name-brand college will give you a better education and assure your success.
A university will offer you more than a good small college.
You should go where your friends are going.
You don’t need to examine yourself or the college."</p>
<p>I would say you should focus mostly on the program. To a big big extent, it doesn’t matter. About a fourth of people over the age of 25 have even a Bachelor’s in this country. </p>
<p>With things being as expensive as they are, it’s better to just get a solid foundation and give yourself the opportunity to go to grad school. If you have the GPA, connections, and test scores to get into a brand school, go ahead. But realize that being 50-60k in debt after 4-5 years of school, and all you have to show for it is a liberal arts degree…may not be the most conscientious way to start your adult life.</p>