<p>I have a decision between two colleges. I have not yet decided what I want to study. I am not going to name either college. The first college has a lot higher ranking than the second, but I don't like the campus or atmosphere at all. It is cut-throat competitive. The second college is still a very good college, but not as good as the first. I like the campus a lot more and the atmosphere is more laid back. I would like to go to the second college but my family is making it very hard on me. Should I stick it out and go to the first college? Or should I stand up for myself and go to the second college?</p>
<p>Do you want to like college or do you want to brag about where you went?</p>
<p>Stand up for yourself and go where you can be successful because you will be happy.</p>
<p>Go where you don’t hate the school. O_O</p>
<p>How do the net prices compare? Would they be affordable with no more debt than the federal direct loan maximum?</p>
<p>Do both schools have a sufficient range of course and major offerings in all of the subjects that you might want to study?</p>
<p>What post-graduation goals do you have? (Some are more school-prestige-conscious than others.)</p>
<p>But you should not expect that much help if you do not name the schools, because there are lots of “it depends” factors. Indeed, trying to generalize may just ignite a prestige war.</p>
<p>^ If the second college is cheaper you have a good point </p>
<p>We’d really need to know the colleges, or you can give parameters (top 10 LAC vs. top 100 LAC etc). It’s not the same whether you hesitate between Penn State vs. Lebanon Valley College or if you hesitate between Harvard and Tufts. It’s not the same if your goal is to go to med school and if you want to go into Ibanking. </p>
<p>Since we don’t know the college, any advice is just shooting in the dark. We don’t know if it Is really cut throat or you just have that perception. Why did you even apply there? Going to a very good college where the culture fits you should be fine. Your family can give advice but final say is yours unless there is a cost issue. It is really heartbreaking when kids come back here and post how miserable they are at a college that doesn’t fit them. But the vast majority are happy wherever they end up.</p>
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<p>Be skeptical of rankings. They give a holistic view of an entire school, but many of the things they survey may be unimportant to your personal interests, needs, major, etc. Also, If you’re looking at a school that even has a ranking, it’s probably pretty good. That 50-point spread (say) might look huge, but only because USNews (or whoever) doesn’t report rank for most of the 4000 schools out there.</p>
<p>Case in point. My daughter and I only investigated Ivy-caliber schools and schools with a big National Merit scholarship. Our first pass at prioritizing used USNews ranking. But when we examined the specific program my daughter wants, we excluded a lot of schools with higher ranking because that specific program did not meet her needs. The more focused our investigation became, the less important those first rankings became.</p>
<p>^Not to mention, a lot of the things that give colleges better rankings in USNWR (i.e., “peer assessment”) are not factors that make a difference to most kids. Do you really care that the president of Emory rates Boston College higher than University of Richmond if you hated BC and loved UR? You really have to take the rankings with a grain of salt unless they are absolutely pertinent to your needs and interests.</p>
<p>“Sticking it out” in an unhappy situation rarely works in life–whether at a job, in a relationship, or at a college. Trust yourself on this.</p>
<p>[Another</a> thread by the OP](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-michigan-ann-arbor/1617825-u-of-m-or-msu.html]Another”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-michigan-ann-arbor/1617825-u-of-m-or-msu.html) indicates that the schools are University of Michigan and Michigan State University, but there is no mention of the cost comparison or academic interests, although there is strong family pressure to attend University of Michigan despite the OP’s preference for Michigan State University.</p>
<p>^I know two brothers, both community college transfer students. The first went to MSU for Supply-chain management (now Econ), the other to Michigan Economics. The one who went to MSU loved it for a semester or two… then he realized everyone around him was dumb as bricks and people aren’t that dedicated or motivated (then again neither is he). Currently he is jealous of his brother for going to a better university (better program w/ smart people) but it’s too late for him to do anything about it. </p>
<p>Moral of the story is it all depends on your priorities.
If you value partying then MSU will be a good fit, but if you ever start valuing education then Michigan place to be. </p>
<p>^So that is the kind of ridiculous statement that causes stress for people. PLENTY of very smart, education-valuing people have attended MSU, just as plenty of jarhead partiers have gone to Michigan. Generalizations like yours are neither helpful nor grounded in fact.</p>
<p>LOL! I know some MSU students in the Supply-chain management program who landed in an LDP for a major corporation. Many UMich graduates would kill to be that successful upon graduation with a bachelors degree. So much for not being dedicated or motivated; those programs are very competitive.</p>
<p>“one who went to MSU loved it for a semester or two… then he realized everyone around him was dumb as bricks and ** people aren’t that dedicated or motivated (then again neither is he)” ** </p>
<p>why the heck would you believe the words of someone who isn’t motivated or dedicated? lol What next? Ya gonna believe he can’t get a job because he went to MSU? Gullible much?</p>