<p>I realize this will offend some people, but I feel like this needs to be said.
Cneogy, you remind me wayyy too much of the stereotypical korean Stern student.
Your obsession with rankings is unhealthy at best.
Your posts also suggests a preoccupation with money and prestige which is nearly as bad.
You may not realize this now, but this will ultimately hinder you. No one wants to work with someone as obsessed as you are. While this may be fairly easy to hide this over the course of a series of 30 minute interviews, your true personality will come out during your 10 week internship. This could very well be the difference between getting a full time offer and having to find a job in a different industry. </p>
<p>You need to realize that if you work hard and have sufficient motivation, any of these schools previously mentioned will get you to where you want to go. Yes, it will be easier coming from a school like Yale or Williams than it will be from NYU, but the differences aren’t as big as people make them out to be.</p>
<p>Before you apply, take a moment to decide where you think you’d enjoy yourself the most and what you are truly interested in, irrespective of perceived salary or prestige.
This does not have to be the only factor in selecting a school and major, but it should play a large role.
This will not only ensure you have a better time in college, but it will also help you later in life, every time you are asked why you chose your specific school (which will be basically every interview). Genuine passion is difficult to fake.</p>
<p>I’m sorry. I realize I was being too much the obnoxious asian. I do believe I am mostly at fault, but beforehand let me explain my circumstances.
(ranking)My parents are ridiculously concerned with rating and prestige because my dad graduated from MIT and has a high academic standard. Although their forcing this on me is unfair, I have already been a semi-letdown of a son anyway so I want to make sure I make them as proud as possible.</p>
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<li>(money)In general, the better the college, the more expensive the tuition. We’re a single-income family (as of late) and live in a relatively large house in one of the highest ranked school systems in the state - there’s a lot of expense. Therefore, because recently one of my parents was laid off, we have very little money to go around. My parents have already told me that I will get little to no aid from the family for college, so I will have to take it in loans. Thus, post-college salary is something I must consider as I will have >$200k debt (I won’t recieve any scholarships b/c the single-income is still too high to qualify for a scholarship) to pay off. </li>
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<p>These were the only reasons I was concerned with such things. I’m sorry that I came off that way.</p>