<p>----The “smartest” students go wherever the heck they want. Those are the people who can succeed wherever they go (and many of them know it). -----</p>
<p>^Raimius said it best about 20 posts back. </p>
<p>Smart students who go to Ivies for the intellectual environment will be successful, but those who go because they think they it will help them make more money in life will always be chasing that extra dollar and never be satisfied. </p>
<p>Those who choose instead to go to less ‘prestigious’ universities because they feel they will be most happy there will be successful as well, as they have a confidence and personal qualities/values that cannot be taught in any college. </p>
<p>Don’t hate on people who go to ivies for the academic environment and love for learning. But also don’t look down on kids at lower ranked schools as some of them are no doubt more intelligent than those at the ivies. The only “second class” in this whole thing, if you will, is prestige-whores.</p>