<p>I think what drives many the applicants towards the ivy league is the assumption that he/she will be better off after graduation than if he/she had gone to a state school (I don’t believe this is true). It’s the preconception that an Ivy league education will open doors for you, but really, it’s your own involvement, passions, and effort that will open doors to grad schools or jobs. </p>
<p>if you’ve found an ivy league that you “fit” into, I’m willing to bet that there is a very similar, if not identical, non-ivy college that is half the price. Just remember that you will go as far as you want to… whether you got the went to the ivy or to a lower tier school.</p>