<p>Sadly, the "name brand" of an Ivy is of the utmost importance to some people. I know of a young man who was brilliant in many areas (math, science and the arts) and who wanted desperately to attend a more arty college or university, but whose parents insisted on Harvard, because his parents considered it THE best in the country. He's at Harvard now, and I hope he is happy. He didn't seem too excited about it at the time he was admitted. :)
One thing students who are seeking the prestige of a "name brand" need to remember is that that prestige certainly is currency when first coming out into the job market. But the longer one is in the job market, the less anyone cares where you went to school. They just want to know if you can "bring it" on the job. :)
There was a wonderful essay on this in the New York Times a few years back. It posited something like that if you are still talking regularly about where you went to college and your SAT scores when you are over, say, 35, you need a life makeover. I recall the essay said that if you gathered 100 bright young people together in a room -- some from state Universities and some from Ivies -- and engaged them in conversation, it is highly doubtful you would be able to tell who went where without being told. The point? Smart kids go a lot of different places. :)
An article in the Atlantic Monthly a few years ago ("Crying in the Kitchen Over Princeton") actually stated that most heavyhitters in business, etc. today did not attend prestigious, Ivy League schools. Most attended regular old state schools, and they made something remarkable out of themselves.
The most important thing to keep in mind when choosing a college, it seems to me, is whether it feels like the right match for you. Certainly the college's reputation and prestige play a part: we're human, after all, and plus, it makes sense to think that a school gets a reputation for excellence by being excellent! But kids who don't end up at HYP or the other Ivies ought not to be made to feel second best. They aren't.
L</p>
<p>so is it important that i go to a prestigious university for undergrad, if i eventually want to go onto one of the top business schools?</p>
<p>do business schools look at the school i attended carefully? or do they care much much more about GPA, GMAT, etc etc???? anybody know the answer?</p>
<p>Business Schools Care About:
1. Work experience
2. GMAT score
3. GPA
4. Prestige of Undergrad</p>
<p>However, do you know what gets you #1? A good U-grad. If you come out of a good undergrad, you can get that work experience much more easily at say Goldman Sachs or so and climb the ladder as well as get rich doing it for a couple of years before you go to a Top MBA.</p>
<p>does anyone know anything about wentworth institute of tech in boston? is it a good school? and why doesn't it show up in the list of schools?</p>
<p>academic strength comes at top!..then comes prestige</p>
<p>ppl who choose colleges just based on climate suck!</p>
<p>I think location and the atmosphere are the 2 most important things....and then athletics and climate. I plan on going to grad school so I don't care about prestige when choosing an undergraduate school. I know I'm smart enough to get to wherever I want to go.</p>
<p>Also I want to go to UCSB....and I think they have the best of everything and their academics aren't to bad either...(13th best public school)</p>
<p>I think once you're actively attending the school, prestige will not matter because you'll be competing against 200-3000 other people who will have similar credentials as you do. </p>
<p>It is then, at this level playing field, that smaller factors become absolutely crucial. </p>
<p>These factors may seem superfluous, but weather, social life, political views of the general student body, even the walking distance between your dorm and the laundry room, can be depressing for you if they aren't what you expected. </p>
<p>I am currently attending an average public university (UVa in Charlottesville), and it's amazing that my friends are going to a top 3 school in either grad, medicine, law, or business. </p>
<p>My point is, if you're smart enough to get into a good school, chances are, you'll be amazing anywhere you go (this is only if you base your decision on the prestige of the school alone).</p>
<p>Fit should be a category.</p>
<p>Atmosphere/vibes felt around campus, college town environment, personable and friendly student body, prestige (top academic status while showing growth for the future.) Atmosphere is the most important to me. If it all feels right, then it's right!</p>
<p>UC Davis, Class of 2010</p>
<p>Process for selecting a college: 1) What's my proposed major ? Undecided is a major.; 2) Where are those programs offered?; 3) Have I done more than enough to meet admission requirements? Are you prepared for the competition?; 4) Will I be comfortable in that environment?; 5) Can my family manage the investment in my plan? Reputation is a real head turner. But, in the end, it's not where you go; it's what you do while you're there. Prestige may get you an interview but job performance will keep you employed.</p>
<p>I voted "Academic strength in my intended major."</p>
<p>But I also consider the whole "home feeling" influence as well as location.</p>
<p>NEED HELP </p>
<p>Cornell CAS Economics vs. NYU-Stern Managment vs. USC-Marshall Entrepreneurship</p>
<p>Didn't get money
Like Cornell and USC campus
Love business
Not sure if I like the city
I like to Party
I am acquisitive
I want to have fun
I want to work hard
I liek warm weather, but I also like skiing
I like the outdoors sometimes, and I like urbanism sometime</p>
<p>I desperately seek help</p>
<p>Sounds like USC would be perfect for you. Parties, fun, work, warm weather, skiing, outdoors with lots of trees or grass, and an urban environment when you want it. Yep, fits quite well.</p>
<p>all of my friends in college have told me NOT to choose my college based on my intended major. The average student changes their major 3 times in the first 2 years. It just dosent make sense to choose a college based solely on your major. It should def influence your but not make it. yea.</p>
<p>You may not have noticed that undecided is also a choice. Your friends are correct. Many students who fail to complete extensive pre-planning will find themselves changing their selections. Mass General's motto "You can't predict the future but you can prepare" seems appropriate for college bound students.</p>
<p>My mom gets mad because one of my top priorities when I look at schools is the type of dorms they have, but thats where I will be spending a lot of my time! It's important to feel comfortable and at home on campus!</p>
<p>Yeah, I'd choose a good state school over MIT anyday if 1)i couldn't afford it or 2) it just didn't feel right...
Luckily, that didn't happen, but it's gotta have that YES I FEEL LOVED!! feeling.</p>
<p>the most important factor really depends on the person, but i would say housing and academics are the two most important. also price. . .</p>
<p>Good vibes!! I'm going from MA to CA so some level of comfort was important. I've been singing Phantom Planet's song (O.C. theme song!) ever since I was accepted hehe.</p>
<p>Californiaaa, here I come!</p>