<p>I can understand the name recognition, but being in CT my whole life, UConn, although a fine school, doesn't resignate that way among anyone I know. I think the reason is you can be a fair student or a great student, no one really knows. I know a student there that barely skimmed by, was a B/C student in high school and I know a kid that turned down a "little Ivie" for a free ride at UConn in their honors program (Bio Major) If you don't want to travel or look for work far from CT, Central isn't a bad school, as huskem55 said, but you have to "rise above the crowd". If someone from Centralcan get into a Yale program or Wesleyan for grad school, the Central name can't be that bad. But again, I'm not saying they weren't excellent students.</p>
<p>While it may be true that central students can get into these top universities, there is also a disparity in the oppurtunities and the advising available to the students. Usually when a school is ranked higher, this means there is more money and oppurtunities available for the undergrad. For example, this year I began research in the chem. department as a freshman. My friend who is a freshman also was selected by the bio department to begin research underneath a professor. I know for other schools, there are internships you can apply for. Sometimes it can be worth it to take out loans to attend a better school. Also as a high school senior, you can not say you will stay in c.t after you graduate, or continue with the major you are interested in. Some people choose uconn since it is strong or adequate in many disciplines compared to other state univ. in connecticut.</p>