<p>It’s not a secret what type of attitude this community overwhelmingly has about top schools, and there are legitimate reasons to think like that, but I’ll share my reasons for passing up offers from 3 top 25 USNWR schools this fall to go to a big public school that’s offering me a full ride.</p>
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<li><p>Money. I got a big scholarship from one of the T25 schools and probably could’ve afforded the others (didn’t look at financial aid offers), but I’m going to get paid next year. This decision moves me closer to independence and I’ll have some disposable cash in the meantime without having to have a job.</p></li>
<li><p>Competition. I can be one of the best students at a decent school or be a decent student at one of the best schools. My school is giving me a sizable stipend, a dorm nicer than my house, preference in class selection, a free trip abroad, and an iPad. It’s clear that they want me a lot more, and that reflects how above average I’ll be there.</p></li>
<li><p>It doesn’t matter where you go for undergrad as much as this forum wants to believe. I’m planning to go to grad school, and the general advice for grad school admissions is that it’s better to get close to a 4.0 somewhere easier than to get worse grades at a better school. </p></li>
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<p>I applied to two top 10 colleges as well and got rejected, but I realized before decisions came out that I still wouldn’t have gone there. As paradoxical as it sounds, I think the people who are able to get into elite colleges have the most to gain by passing them up.</p>