<p>It seems to me that everyone on CC gets caught up in all this find the best "fit" crap and forgets what the whole point of college is. Let me spell out the goal of college for those who don't know it, the goal of college is:</p>
<p>TO GET THE BEST PREPARATION THAT YOU POSSIBLY CAN FOR ENTRY INTO THE WORKPLACE.</p>
<p>Yeah, that's what college is for. It's not for you to find your "life partner", not there for you to party, or for you to smell the roses. In case you missed it, here it is again (uncapitalized), the goal of college is:</p>
<p>To get the best preparation that you possibly can for entry into the workplace.</p>
<p>And guess what? Having "Harvard" in your resume is gonna get you way further in your career than having "New York University". So next time some dip tells you that an "Ivy League" education isn't all that, tell them to go to --. Let me tell you right now, if you are given the opportunity to attend an Ivy League-level school, and can afford to go; by all means GO! Don't let someone talk you out of it with the "find your fit" crap.</p>
<p>harvard may get you alot farther...but lets say you're a student whos got good grades...and eventually makes it into harvard and goes there instead of a different school which is almost as good and a much better fit (umich...yeah yeah I know shameless plug...:) ) so this fictional student might end up doing worse at harvard than if they would have done at Umich or wherever...</p>
<p>The best student in a pretty good university will still be better than the worst student in a slightly better university..</p>
<p>The above is why people try to find university's that "fit" them...because here at cc most of the university people apply to are all really good anyway...so why not come up with a university that is a better fit...obviously im not advocating for a brilliant student to go to community college because its a better fit but still you can't ignore this factor...or else you may miss out on the best time of your life (and a less costly/almost as good education)</p>
<p>Every year, someone who graduated from Harvard is turned down by a graduate school, while others from other schools are accepted. Even Harvard Law school will turn down some applications from Harvard undergraduate while accepting graduates from other schools including state colleges and universities. Being at a top school enhances but does not assure your future success.</p>
<p>If you are accepted by an Ivy League school, or any other school, you have to consider all of you options. I graduated from Cornell, but that is because Cornell fit all of my requirements. I didn't want to live in a large city, but I wanted access to a large library and research facilities.</p>
<p>Someone else might want a smaller class size in an urban setting, or an all woman school, or a school without snow. If that makes them more comfortable they can get a great education someplace else other than a northern Ivy.</p>
<p>If you think that having Harvard or Cornell or any other Ivy is the key to success, consider that there are many keys to this evasive lock. Look at the resumes of leaders in business, law, medicine, arts, science and engineering, you will find there is a long list of undergraduate colleges capable of producing very successful people.</p>
<p>Indeed, some people are attracted to known prestigious schools only because they have not done the research to identify the best fit for them. I suggest students start with a list of what they want from a school and then look for schools that match their list. Fit is key!</p>
<p>Your entire argument is based on a mistaken premise. If you are accepted at Harvard, then you are capable of doing well at Harvard. Harvard wouldn't accept you if they didn't think you could handle the work. So your whole argument is basically shot to pieces here. Even so, I still wanna refute this next statement...</p>
<p>"The best student in a pretty good university will still be better than the worst student in a slightly better university.."</p>
<p>I don't know how to break this to you, but Harvard is not "slightly better" than U of M. I dunno what the U of M reps have been telling you, but Harvard is to U of M, what a Maybach is to a Volkswagen.</p>
<p>Look I was kidding about Umich being as good as harvard (note that i said it was a shameless plug)
anyway...yes it is very true that if you are accepted at harvard you can do well there...but you may do even better at a different school..</p>
<p>what my point of the my original post was supposed to be was that each individual person has his/her own qualities they are looking for that will enhance them as a student...you for example show that you feel that an academically challenging and prestigious environment helps you to become a better student...another person might find that they can do better elsewhere...</p>
<p>"I suggest students start with a list of what they want from a school and then look for schools that match their list. Fit is key!"</p>
<p>So what you're trying to tell me here is that college isn't there to prepare you for the workplace? Sounds good to me. College is there to give you "what you want from it". This is why people take 5,6, and 7 years to graduate. This is also why some idiots choose, say U of M, over Stanford or Harvard. College is no longer work-place preparation, it's "a place to find yourself" where you can smell the roses, go to parties and find plenty of other ways to make great use of your time.</p>
<p>Well, I thought having a brain would be enough for anyone to realize that Harvard grads do better than U of M grads. Clearly, I was wrong.</p>
<p>I'm not sorry if I come off as harsh, because that's my intention. People need to wake up to the fact that they've been peddling this "find your fit" business without any consideration of the impact of this on what college is really about - prep for the workplace.</p>
<p>eyez, I am thinking that you are a smart 16 or 17 year old, who has fallen in love with a particular school, but it isn't the school, but a fantasy of the school that you have become infatuated with.</p>
<p>It is possible for someone who qualifies to go to Harvard to have a better life without the Harvard diploma. (Bill Gates) It is also possible for someone who could not qualify for Harvard to lead an absolutely remarkable life (the Pope).</p>
<p>Three years into your profession, the top people in your profession will be more impressed by what you do than where you have been. If I were to list the names of great people who didn't go to Harvard or any Ivy...you wouldn't have time to read the list and still go to school in this lifetime. Mother Teresa....Clint Eastwood...Lido Iacocca eventually earned a masters degree from Princeton University but started off with an engineering degree from Lehigh University. </p>
<p>As for the purpose of a college education is a very personal thing, some applicants want a certificate to fix certain car engines, others want to become competent nurses, others may be looking down the road to a particular law school or medical degree and want an education that will help them to succeed there. Then there are a few who go to school just to extend their education, to understand more, to be able to communicate with thinking people to simply expand their knowledge of the world and universe..</p>
<p>Any one of these applicants might find that education changes them, perhaps changes their goals. Accordingly the intention of the applicant may not be what is accomplished by the graduate, but instead of failure it might mean successful personal growth.</p>
<p>Finally, you do sound quite angry about this, calling people who disagree with you idiots. Perhaps you are still trying to convince yourself of your viewpoint, and it upsets you to have others present different ideas. Beware, at any quality institution of learning diverse ideas will be shared and toleration will be expected.</p>
<p>Having an opinion is sometimes a good thing, but if it closes you to the opinions of others it can be very detrimental.</p>
<p>Chill; prestige of college does not determine life and the future of the universe; it's the education you get out of it. I think we have quite an opposite problem on hand: people apply blindly to prestigious schools with no idea of what the strengths and weaknesses of that school are. Disney is not going to hire someone from CalTech, just like Intel won't hire someone from CalArts. Companies aren't nearly that shallow. They conduct a comprehensive review of an applicant, which includes college attended, but also includes knowledge and experience gained at that college.</p>
<p>The original poster is being naive, misinformed, and arrogant. </p>
<p>All negative qualities for any undergraduate institution. Good luck with your college applications, you'll need them. I wonder how you will feel if you get rejected from all your Ivy League schools. Is it over for you?</p>
<p>Quote:
TO GET THE BEST PREPARATION THAT YOU POSSIBLY CAN FOR ENTRY INTO THE WORKPLACE.</p>
<p>hahahhahahahahhahahahahahahahhahaahha
ummm...sure that is part of it, but it is about discovering yourself, gaining knowledge, and becoming the person you want to be for the rest of your life. It is a wonderful experience, and not ALWAYS just some stepping stone. You sound like a robotic loser that is convinced that a Harvard educational will make your sad life better. Sorry for being rude but....well I think that you are being incredibly naive. </p>
<p>Oh, and Steven Spielberg went to some no name college but... he is obviously inferior to anyone who studied film at Harvard.</p>
<p>You know what? Some people don't want to just plod on through life, getting from one point to the next, as prepared as possible. Some of us like to enjoy ourselves, so that sometiems factors into the equation of where to go to school. I also have to say that I don't really believe Harvard will prepare you better for anything than other schools...undergrad focus is lacking. Either way though, if all you care about is cache, then be my guest and try to lead a fulfilling life</p>
<p>I had a long chat with my friend's father about this (Oxford valedictorian, now vice-president of a company that's a household name). He made something very clear:</p>
<p>An Oxford education didn't really do anything for him. He was a math major (theoretical mathematics), and that's all he did. So why is he so successful?</p>
<p>Well, he graduated top of his class, but more importantly, he knew how to work with people, and communicate effectively. He's a people-person.</p>
<p>Also, he tells me a lot about his company's hiring practices. They'd much rather take someone who graduated from the top of his class in a public university than from the bottom of his class at Stanford. When you pay for a top-tier university, you're not paying for their education; you're paying for their resources. The difference is if you're at MCHYPS chances are you've had the opportunity to get your hands in some research/business/whatever, and thus, you're more experienced.</p>
<p>You don't have to go to Harvard to be successful, you just have to do well. Wherever you go, do great, and it'll help you in life.</p>
<p>But the sad truth is, no matter how well you do, if your interpersonal skills are lacking, you can't get far at all.</p>
<p>Just some words of wisdom from a friend's dad...</p>
<p>Alright Think About This. I Have A Cousin Who Graduated From Harvard And Now Is Barely Getting Paid 30k. What The Heck Am I Correct? Of Course Harvard Is Good To Get Jobs, But It Doesnt Guarentee You Succeess. Think About It.</p>