<p>I'm bored enough before the start of my last UG semester on Wednesday that I've ventured out of my school's board. I hope this isn't a permanent move, I may pop a blood vessel.</p>
<p>This idea that you can not be successful without going to these schools it rubbish. I know a millionaire who doesn't even have a high school education. He worked as a construction worker and all he could afford for a meal was cheese and bread. He picked himself up and now he's the richest guy I know(and the most humble).</p>
<p>The idea that you go to and of these schools because your goal is to be a millionaire is rubbish.</p>
<p>well people do go to these schools to get to good jobs which means good money. I was just pointing out that you don't have to go to these schools to be financially successful</p>
<p>the fit is misleading. I can bet most people on CC(at least 1-2 deviation smarter than average hopefully...) can "fit" in about 3/4 of the top schools, and fit perfectly in about 1/2 of top schools.</p>
<p>Julius-- what I'm saying is that this motivation, which is common, is a poor motivation and most likely to lead to dissatisfied customers.</p>
<p>quadon-- I agree there are many places students can fit, but "fit" is far from misleading or nearly that sweeping. Are you in college yet?</p>
<p>which is my point exactly.
don't do it for the money because there are other ways, as shown by my anecdote.</p>
<p>Quadonfait, you have obviously missed the point of my post, maybe reading it and reviewing my addition comments will help you understand the intent of my post...</p>
<p>To the initial poster- I couldn't agree with you more strongly. You make a very valid argument and I am sure you have a bright future ahead of you.</p>
<p>At some level, everybody must realize that an overall ranking with God knows what methodology isn't applicable to most individuals. Why do you think people get so wrapped up in it? Is it that it simplifies a new and complex world? Does it help people make themselves feel superior to others? Do they view themselves as taking on the characteristics assigned to these specific institutions?</p>
<p>Thank you very much belevitt...im glad you agree with me. You have obviously thought about the issue with some great rhetorical questions that i think many peolpe would be hard pressed to answer...the rankings are not black and white...</p>
<p>you have to admit that household names like harvard can get u a job when you graduate and open <em>A LOT</em> of doors. But many people want to go there for the wrong reason; if harvard is suddenly ranked 20th one year there will be a guaranteed drop in applications. Not all rankings are worthless; rankings of specific departments, majors, and other academic programs are particularly insightful. We just have to keep in mind that rankings are based on combination of factors. We can't rely our future solely on some list US News & World Report made up, but we can't ignore the fact that some schools just provide better education/environment/opportunities for students.</p>
<p>"can "fit" in about 3/4 of the top schools, and fit perfectly in about 1/2 of top schools."</p>
<p>That is true. Most people, if the ykeep an open mind, can fit in anywhere. I mean, come on, you may hate the cold, but if you go to Dartmouth you're not going to be miserable because of a little snow! </p>
<p>Also, most people cannot afford to visit many schools to determine which school is the "correct fit."</p>
<p>So if they can't do that, they might as well base their top choices on prestige, why not?</p>
<p>also, ppl are forgetting that if you go prestigious honors programs like american's or gw's or charleston's with above 1400 average sat scores, that's just as good as going to a top college almost cuz the competition of your peers is similar (most top schools' average sat scores are around 2100).</p>
<p>OP, you should have posted this thread somewhere else, not on CC. the general population of CC will just temporarily take this into heart and go back looking at US News rankings and asking people to chance them.</p>
<p>Well Black Lantern, Im hoping it opens up peoples eyes, im here to help guide students futures, and if this post only effects one or two people, well at least its a start..CC needs to realize that this community is taking the wrong approach to informing students, but I do know its a great community thats just caught up with informing students in mediocre ways that dont really further the students knowledge of identifying with a college. Thats my opinion and I know people are going to disagree...keep the posts coming people...im glad this thread is at least receiving some acknowledgement...thanks again</p>
<p>I agree w/ blacklantern. CC folks are going to say--yes, yes it is about the fit and rankings should not matter. Then they will go post on threads such as "How would you rank the ivy's" or "top 15 most prestigious universities" or "good enough for yale?"</p>
<p>The ideal world is one to strive for. In this world, a 17 yr. old senior would say
--This is what I want to be and here is what I need to study to be that. These are my qualifications, likes/dislikes in a school, amount I or my family can pay. Here are the colleges that fit. In this ideal world there is no ranking.</p>
<p>The real world!-- I do not know what I want to study. I do not know my likes/dislikes in a school because I have never been away at college. So I base my decision on where my boy/girl friend is going, what school is close to a beach or home or a city or shopping. What campus is pretty. </p>
<p>Or maybe I base it on rankings. -- This is a highly ranked school w/ low acceptance rate. So if I am, that puts me in a select group. And many of this select group get better jobs and have a greater acceptance rate into top graduate schools.</p>
<p>So lay off the kids who are prestige fiends. Some are extremely annoying and trying to be elitist and know-it-alls (as only 17-20 year olds can. NOT ALL OF YOU) Our culture seems to be oriented toward this. But we can keep striving for the ideal. I would not count on it soon. But a recession may move us towards being the great equalizer.</p>
<p>Very well put morrismm, but I think we can shift into the more ideal environment of choosing a college, long shot? Probably, but as history shows, its not impossible.</p>
<p>The problem with this is that I found out about this after I had applied to HYP+UT. Out of the HYP crowd the only school that I really want to go to Yale. The problem was that I loved UT so much that the only schools that could sway me away were HYP (nope not even Stanford, maybe MIT but I did not feel like filing out another app that wasn't on the common app). So hopefully come March 31st I can hear good news from yale.</p>
<p>Best of luck Dbate, I hope the good news arrives!!!</p>
<p>Anyother thoughts? This thread IMO, has had some great discussion..keep it going!!!</p>