<p>When comparing a state school with low tuition to an Ivy or other highly ranked schools, there's often a more than 300% difference in tuition. And Ivies are also less likely to give merit scholarships. Add this on top of the outrageous cost for a good med., law, or business school, is attending a good school for undergrad really worth it?</p>
<p>Can someone give me some specific reasons of why they would choose a highly ranked school over a lower ranked one if they are planning to attend grad school right after undergrad?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>p.s.
A good undergrad would help with getting into grad school...anyone know to what extend? B/c it is also usually much easier to get a higher GPA in a state school.</p>
<p>Well, when you apply to like med or law school for example, your overall GPA will be adjusted and will also take into account the mean MCAT or LSAT score of your institution.</p>
<p>If your institution is known for easy slackers, easy grading, the mean MCAT/LAST score will obviously be lower than highly competitive, cutthroat, vicious grade deflating schools which have really high MCAT/LSAT scores…</p>
<p>Good undergraduate schools usually are more highly represented in good graduate schools since the students are smarter to begin with…</p>
<p>It’s always good to start off with a strong footing. A state school won’t guarantee Harvard med… I wouldn’t gamble on an easier GPA at a state school to get you into Harvard med… It’s way too much of a gamble… Sure you will stand out… They will look at you and say… hmm… How come you didn’t attend a more rigorous institution if you basically ace every single test and exam that comes your way… I guess med schools like to see you do well and see you be challenged…</p>
<p>Med schools at the top tier level won’t get any easier… It’s going to get harder soon… so might as well be prepared at the undergrad level than to have to “Catchup” once you attend a higher level grad school.</p>
<p>If your rigor level isn’t high enough either, grad schools simply won’t accept you because you get a 4.0, but that doesn’t mean you can do the work. It means you can do easy work really welll…</p>
<p>An Ivy League school is rather like being in the final twelve on American Idol. You are challenged to perform at the highest level; you have thousands of dollars spend on top talent to make you look your best and you get the lifetime imprimatur of having been on the show. People will remember perhaps one or two each year. However, everyone one of the twelve gets a chance to see if they can do it at the top level. The alternative is to stay at home and have a nice life. Going to an Ivy League school and a state school are no more alike than American Idol is like staying home. Anyone who tells you differently does not know. It isn’t about the schools measuring up for you, it is about you knowing what choice you are making. Now you know. So make your choice.</p>