<p>The Bottom line is a good school does not guarantee a good graduate, nor does a lesser school mean a lesser graduate. The school will be what your child makes of the opportunity. America is full of the biggest and at the same time worst consumers in the world. We buy into things we think we have to "have" rather than what we need. </p>
<p>No offense to Harvard, but a Harvard man does not guarantee a good person, job, family or anything... </p>
<p>Don't short shrift any school that is interested in your child because someone else doesn't like the "name".</p>
<p>Instead look objectively at your options, weigh them out. Is post grad on the horizon? Cost is a factor for alot of people, especially middle class families. It is hard to listen to advice from people who have no problem coming up with $90k a year for school for a couple of kids, when that's not too far removed from your regular income. </p>
<p>It's a combination of things really. Compare, visit where you can and whittle down.</p>