<p>People all the time are comparing schools to universities like Harvard and Stanford and such. But in the end, is it honestly really worth it? I know, no doubt, that after I get my undergraduate and have some job experience, I will want to go back to school to get my graduate degree. Is having a degree from a "prestigious" school going to benefit me as far as applying for graduate school, or even getting a job?</p>
<p>Not to mention, those schools probably don't offer much in the form of scholarships, and if they do, it would probably be nearly impossible to get it. Since obviously, those schools have very high tuition. I feel like the money could easily be a waste if you can get an education that counts just as much at another university (like a state university, for example). </p>
<p>What would be the advantages of applying, being admitted to, and attending a prestigious school? Does it affect me at all when applying to graduate school or getting a job?</p>
<p>Those highly selective schools offer the best financial aid meaning that their super high price tags are usually extremely discounted for those who earn less than $150,000 a year. The problem is almost always not affording those schools, the problem is getting in. IF you can get in, you’ll likely find an incredibly rich academic environment, populated not just by hyper achieving students, but an incredible depth of resources that few schools can match. These schools have enormous endowments which makes it possible for them to fund many ventures that students at less wealthy schools would likely be unable to pursue. To give an example, last spring I went on a trip with my school to Florida for a week. The total cost was around $200 for the gas, food, and lodging. If students couldn’t afford the cost, no problem. There was a special fund just to ensure students of all class backgrounds could go if they wanted to. Today I was hanging out with a high school classmate who’s at Harvard. In his introductory econ class, many of the economists featured in Freakonomics spoke about their research, and it was relatively easy for students to go after class to talk to them. </p>
<p>Additionally, at those schools, virtually all of your classmates will graduate, and they’ll often go onto a variety of post graduate training. Because there’s little worry of students flunking out, courses are often much harder and the classes more engaging. Professors don’t have to spend time explaining what a thesis statement is, they can and do assign papers with the expectation that students will not only do them, but do them well. There are many schools in this country where that’s just not the case.</p>
<p>Whenhen, though I agree with your assessment, I am starting to see another dichotomy between the elite schools and the large state schools.</p>
<p>Elite schools: everything you stated above, but let me emphasize that they do their weeding out process upfront. They select the students most likely to graduate.</p>
<p>Large state schools: They perform their weeding process through a “natural selection”. They allow a lot of applicants in, weed them out through the first 2-3 years leaving the cream of the crop. Students get the top notch professors towards the end of their enrollment experiencing what you’ve stated in your post. </p>
<p>The elite schools do not have access to any secret technologies or theories that produce geniuses for the workforce. Also, those elite schools have lost their value for the upper middle class families who are too rich to receive financial aid but too poor to pay full price.</p>
<p>I would only apply to those prestigious if you have a very good chance at getting in and if you are really drive to go there. If you are just applying there just for the I wonder factor dont. Have a very genuine interest. And one last thing, if you know that you will not be able to afford the cost and the cost for transportation back home then really reconsider you options.</p>
<p>I did not know that they give out as much financial aid as many of you are saying. The Ivy League school I have been looking at with the most interest is CalTech, as I am interested in majoring in physics when I go to a university. I also haven’t talked to my parents about much financial aid, and I have no idea how much I would qualify for based on their income (and many many other factors). </p>
<p>I wanted to get some opinions because I didn’t know how it compared, in the end, to attend a prestigious school (such as Ivy League schools or some private universities) versus a state university (for example). Thank you for all the input!</p>
<p>First, Cal Tech is not an Ivy, although it is an outstanding school, one of the best in the world. Be aware that there’s a wide variety of state schools just as there are a wide variety of private institutions. Some are excellent, while others graduate only semi literate students who’ve never had to write a paper longer than five pages. </p>
<p>What are your stats (GPA, SATs/ACT)? Make sure to ask your parents how much they can afford.</p>
<p>Cal Tech is not an Ivy League school (Ivy is an athletic league on the East coast.) Of course it is a specialty college and very highly regarded. If you are in the range of accomplishment that you would have a chance of admittance, then you should take a hard look. There will be opportunities that you won’t get anywhere else.</p>
<p>For many, a prestigious private school is a luxury and it will depend on your parent ability and willingness to pay. In at least half the case the family is not paying full price. For low income, it can mean a great deal of aid with no loans. My daughter went to Brown and I only paid a small amount each year and no student loans, they gave grants instead.</p>
<p>My apologies, I mixed up CalTech with Ivy League schools. Nonetheless, a very prestigious school.</p>
<p>I am a junior as of right now. As far as my stats go, I don’t have many, since this year will be my big testing year. On the practice ACT’s I have taken so far, I have gotten around 28, but I’m expecting that to increase to hopefully in the 30’s, as I will be taking a prep class before I take the actual test. As far as the SAT’s, I have not taken them yet. I plan to hopefully near the end of this school year, around May or June. I plan to take two subject tests as well, in Math Level 2 and Physics.</p>
<p>As far as my GPA, I have a 4.0 out of 4.0. I did not have the opportunity to take any AP classes my freshman and sophomore year (as my school has just started expanding on the AP classes it offers for this current school year and next school year). I am currently in 2 AP’s this year (3 if you count Calc AB and BC separately, plus AP US government). Next year I plan to take 5 or 6 AP classes (my school doesn’t offer hardly any “honors” classes. The only classes with honors classification at my school are AP classes.), so I’m planning on my GPA increasing to above 4.0 by the time I would apply.</p>
<p>Thank you for the link to the financial aid calculator. I have been looking for many of these for universities I am considering, and so this will be very helpful. Thank you!</p>
<p>Based on what you just wrote, you will qualify for many very good schools. CalTech is not one of them. Hate to put it that way, but don’t even waste your time. Move on and find the schools you will qualify for.</p>