Saying NO to a Top, Ivy League School?

<p>^Well… Among most people, at least those who will employ those of ivy caliber, Williams/Amherst are just as prestigious as Amherst.</p>

<p>Prestige may not matter, but almost everyone who responded to this thread recommended Yale. Someone even said it was far ahead of the other schools in terms of academic quality and quality of life. That is completely ridiculous!! Anyone who knows anything about academics would laugh at that statement. </p>

<p>Many people on CC, students and parents, think the only schools that matter are HYPSM. When I read the op thread, I immediately knew everyone would say Yale and also, that is where the op will probably go.</p>

<p>So I said (sarcastically-or at least I knew I was being sarcastic) why hesitate. Just send in the deposit!</p>

<p>I think the reason that a lot of people said Yale was that the OP was almost set. One of those posts where you give your opinions of a few schools and your opinions for one is way above the rest… OP clearly wanted Yale. </p>

<p>Edit: And why does prestige matter? Because you can easily land a job from a regular school, unless you are the ONE student in that school who beats everyone else at everything, you will not be recruited. Schools like Wharton and Harvard have really special recruiting programs and such. Mckinsey, Bain Capital, etc. RECRUIT from these schools.</p>

<p>I suggest Wesleyan if you like the rural (Over Cornell)
and UPenn over Yale, if you like cities. (New haven sucks)</p>

<p>I have a friend who moved to New Haven so I’ve seen the city and I really do like it. I don’t think it’s nearly as dangerous as some make it out to be. I don’t live in suburbia so it’s not bad. Still, Phili seems like a smaller version aof NYC- all of the best parts of a big city without the overwhelming size. Cornell is in the middle of nowhere but I’m sure that with so many students I’d find a lot to do. Wesleyan does seem really nice….Dilemma.

It’s partly because a train ticket to a place like Phili is pretty expensive and many of their admitted students days coincide so it’d be hard to visit all. Right now, I’m just trying to figure out how to visit UPenn…It may also be because I messed up on my financial aid (I thought the IDOC sent my taxes to all of my schools) and they’re convinced none will be as cheap (<2000).

Thank you so much for telling me this. Studying abroad is something that I have my heart set on. I want to send at least a semester and sometime during summer break abroad.</p>

<p>Thank you for sharing all of your views. I’m definitely going to visit all 4 (or at least 3) schools, all the while crossing my fingers that financial aid won’t decide it for me.</p>

<p>Who cares if I’m the one who said no to a top ivy if I’m happy wherever I go. It’s not like any of them are bad schools, I just need to find the one that works for me.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>From college senior to incoming freshman–</p>

<p>You are going to be just fine, probably better off than 95% of this forum. Bravo.</p>

<p>Go to Yale, give it a shot, and transfer if you don’t like it.</p>

<p>I really think you’d like Yale…</p>

<p>I would have to opt for Yale or Penn.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>Don’t worry, everyone has that second-guessing issue the whole summer until they start college. Once orientation starts there’s no looking back, though. :)</p>

<p>

[quote]
thanks. I’m definitely more relaxed about choosing colleges now that I’ve realized that it’s ultimately my decision. I just hope that my indecisiveness doesn’t hurt me too much</p>

<p>If you can get yourself to New York city, Take a New Jersey transit train instead of Amtrak to Philadelphia (you have to change once, at Trenton, but it’s not a big deal). It costs $18 each way instead of $45 each way or more.</p>

<p>Endicott, this big decision was a drama in April of last year and no longer of concern to OP–who ended up at Yale, btw. :)</p>

<p>…is dumb.</p>

<p>@lunar_years: I totally support your decision of choosing UT over Yale or Cornell.
I’m assuming you have been accepted to one of UT’s honor program. Here’s why I think UT is a great choice.

  1. With UT’s honors program you get a small LAC feel to a huge state school. Your college experience will truly be what you what it to be. You can stay in the honors circle or branch out. With honors program, you will not miss out in meeting amazing classmates (most of the honors kids I know are attending to 10 graduate programs).
  2. Austin is one of the best college town/city in the US - great live music, electic population, nice climate. New Haven and Ithaca are nice, but it’s a bit rural and doesn’t offer as much.
  3. Sports. It wasn’t a big deal to me when I applied, but I’m glad I went to a good sports school. There’s something about 100,000 fans cheering for the same team that can’t be explained in words.
  4. UT have great business and engineering programs.</p>