"true dreams" lol

Applying to College
1

<p>I was recently reading a thread and found a few people discussing how most people apply to ivy leagues and other top schools because of the prestige over everything else, even if they're looking for something completely different in a school. It's quite sad that on CC, this inference is most likely true. So, right here, ivy or not, I think it be a good-- or maybe interesting-- idea to post the school that just seems PERFECT for you at the moment. Try to look past the glitz of going to a "competitive school" and figure out what school really seems to be for you.</p>

<p>For me? It's Brown. Yup, I just said that to look past the glitz of the ivy and all, but I really feel like Brown is everything I want in a school. It's location is amazing (both beautiful, fairly quiet, and not to far at all from big cities as well as close enough to home to go home on weekends but far enough to really build some independence). The open curriculum is AMAZING and just the overall vibe I get from the school is just fantastic!!! I really can't think of any where I want to go and this place has been stuck in my head for quite some time now! Kinda sucks that it's so competitive because I know, or I get the idea that a lot of people might just be applying because of its name that might have better "stats" than me. Ugh...</p>

<p>Vassar comes next and it really does come in second for a reason more than it has a higher acceptance rate lol.</p>

<p>Anyone else feel this way about a certain school? How bout' anyone feel like they might fall because of other's greed? Anyone have a "secret dream school" that they don't want to go to just because it lacks prestige? ANYONE? lol</p>

<p>kinda ranting, oh well.</p>

2

<p>Haha, I was in your exact situation. I had my heart absolutely set on Brown, applied Early Decision, got deferred, and then waitlisted.
But, I didn't even end up staying on the waitlist, because I'm headed to Vassar!
I hope you get into Brown, but Vassar's amazing. If I had gotten into Brown, I would've probably gone, and now I'm starting to think Vassar's even better for me. So it works out in the end. Good luck!</p>

3

<p>Probably MIT - I love their "change the world through science" approach, not to mention the Geek culture there. The UROP and IAP REALLY appeal to me. Since MIT commands plenty of prestige in the world of Engineering, I don't think this fits your idea of a "secret dream school".</p>

<p>But I don't have the stats to go there, so I'm thinking something more like Rice - amazing academic experience, small class sizes and plenty of research.</p>

4

<p>Olin, though its not really secret.</p>

<p>Well kinda, since its new and everything I guess.</p>

5

<p>I'm ED'ing to Brown as well. =)</p>

6

<p>UChicago! UChicago! UChicago!</p>

<p>Although, if I consider a science-related major, I really like CalTech or Harvey Mudd.</p>

7

<p>Brown for me too. RI is close enough to NY to be able to come home for holidays, and not too far from the city life I love. Plus you can take courses at RISD! Seems too perfect to be true</p>

8

<p>It was Cornell, but I was waitlisted. Then I realized warmer weather might not be so bad, and I actually like Duke's campus better now :)</p>

9

<p>UChicago for me too.</p>

10

<p>I wanted to go to NYU for the longest time but money wins over everything once again.</p>

11

<p>UNC-CH was my dream school...for as long as I can remember, UNC is where I wanted to go. I loved their sports, their campus (we stayed in CH for a few summers when I was in elementary school), and as I got older I loved their academics.</p>

<p>But now that I'm in college, Iowa State is the ONLY place I want to be. I was accepted to UNC but when push came to shove, I was faced with $12K per year or $30K per year, and went the bargain way :) It's not a UNC or UVA or UMich but I never want to leave!</p>

12

<p>Dartmouth!!</p>

13

<p>Definitely Stanford. I love the proffesors, the location, their view! It'd be perfect..gah..but its hard to ignore all the competiveness... lol
I really like Cornell as well. The location, I believe, will help me enjoy my studies more and make me a more productive person.</p>

14

<p>Prestige aside, I'd choose Pepperdine.</p>

<p>It's located in Malibu, CA, just steps from the beach. AMAZING campus with beautiful dorm rooms. Also, most of the kids are good Christian kids, and I'm not into partying/drinking, so it works out perfectly :)</p>

15

<p>Berkeley all the way. =]</p>

16

<p>Georgetown for some politics and international affairs....right on dc.........</p>

17

<p>Caltech and Stanford are my dream schools, and I have zero chance of getting into either.</p>

18

<p>NYU i must go there, MUST!!!</p>

19

<p>I like how all these schools are competitive and prestigious, anyway :P</p>

<p>I have yet to fall in love with a school because I haven't visited any yet :)</p>

20

<p>Yeah...all these schools are competitive. The posters here have very valid reasons for why they want to go there, its just that a lot of you don't realize that you can find all these things in a number of the other 2000+ universities in America. It seems like you fall in love with a prestigious school, and then try to pick out all the great qualities about it and rationalize why you like it by saying that it is great because so and so, and not the reason you liked it in the first place which was the prestige. But then again, prestige plays a huge role in selecting a college, because it has a lot of advantages in the work force/real world.</p>