What is your opinion of St. Mary's College of Maryland?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>1) What is your opinion of St. Mary's College of Maryland?</p>

<p>2) Have you heard of it? (if you haven't, please look at this for rankings America's Best Colleges Page 4 of 25 - Forbes.com, wikipedia for a main idea St. Mary's College of Maryland - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)</p>

<p>3) Do you think that a degree from there is worthless?</p>

<p>4) Would you consider it elite?</p>

<p>5) If I want to be a journalist working for TIME magazine or BBC, do you think going an elite undergraduate college is important? Say, if someone with a degree from Bryn Mawr College in Political science were competing with me, someone with a degree in political science from St. Mary's, who would you (say, an executive for TIME) hire?</p>

<p>6) Does attending an elite undergraduate college matter?</p>

<p>7) What about attending a non-elite college, but then going onto an elite (say, an Ivy League) graduate school?</p>

<p>7) How much implicit worth is going to a non-elite college in the job market? With so few jobs available and high competition, are executives more likely to hire the graduate from Princeton or the graduate from St. Cloud State University?</p>

<p>8) Do you think people will judge you -- or your intelligence level -- based on what undergraduate college you go to? Do you think people would perceive you as smarter because you went to Harvard College or stupider because you went to St. Cloud State?</p>

<p>9) What are all of the implicit costs for attending an elite (or non-elite) undergraduate college in the long run?</p>

<p>10) Do you think it includes more money? More respect from others? Better self-confidence?</p>

<p>11) Do you REALLY believe in the statement "It's not where you go to college, but how and what you make of your education?"</p>

<p>12) On a scale of 1-10 (1 meaning not at all, 10 meaning "I depend on it.") how much to you rely and trust on college rankings? How important is it to you?</p>

<p>13) Which college rankings site (i.e. US News & World, Kiplinger, Newsweek, Forbes, Washington Monthly) do you trust the most? Why? Which one do you trust the least?</p>

<p>14) I read in Loren Pope's book "COLLEGES THAT CHANGE LIVES" (which feature small, expensive, low-ranked private liberal arts undergraduate colleges [with 60%-90% acceptance rates] designed to "turn B- and C-students into A-students.") that big-company executives are more likely to hire graduates from lower-ranked, tier-2 colleges because they know that students are more likely to work harder than students from Ivy Leagues, or Ivy League equivalents because students from said schools feel like once they have "Yale" on their resume, they will have the upper hand at jobs and be less inclined to work hard. What is your opinion of this? Do you agree or disagree?</p>

2

<p>1) No opinion.</p>

<p>2) Only vaguely.</p>

<p>3) No.</p>

<p>4) No.</p>

<p>5) Not informed enough to say, but elite-college graduates are certainly overrepresented at top journalistic publications, though, of course, they hold no monopoly. </p>

<p>6) Sometimes yes; sometimes no. </p>

<p>7) Better than the other way around usually. </p>

<p>8) Princeton graduate.</p>

<p>9) Don’t understand the question.</p>

<p>10) Maybe a bit more money on average. Extra respect and self-confidence probably shouldn’t be consideration factors.</p>

<p>11) All of it matters.</p>

<p>12) At this point, about 1, though US News probably deserves a cursory look from people completely unfamiliar with the college scene. </p>

<p>13) US News the most; Forbes the least.</p>

<p>14) Disagree.</p>

3

<p>I’ll answer the first question: St. Mary’s College of Md is a well-respected regional public LAC and a bargain compared to comparable private LACs. The campus setting is beautiful -right on the river - and the facilities are attractive. Of course, a degree from there is not worthless: It offers a quality education to those fortunate enough to be admitted.</p>

4

<ol>
<li><p>I think St. Mary’s is a gem! If we were MD residents, it would have been a top choice for my niece and certainly I’d urge my own kids to apply. As it is, my 10th grader may consider it even OOS, but it may be too much money OOS.</p></li>
<li><p>Yes.</p></li>
<li><p>I definitely think a degree from St Mary’s is very worthwhile.</p></li>
<li><p>Elite -in the general populace, I think only well known Ivys, MIT and a few choice others are “Elite.” Most in the general pop. would not consider any LACs elite because most have not heard of LACs. I personally have great respect for St. Mary’s, but do not consider it elite.</p></li>
<li><p>No - I think it is what you do with internships that would matter more.</p></li>
<li><p>No</p></li>
</ol>

<p>7 - 10. Folks will always be impressed with Ivy, but I know Ivy grads who have been unemployed and under employed. Honestly, folks don’t go around wearing their college sweatshirt constantly and in the work world your college is not always a topic of conversation. Your intellect will be judged on your work. I think some folks would have better self-esteem based upon the college “prestige.”</p>

<ol>
<li><p>7</p></li>
<li><p>Our family uses college rankings to become familiar with school names, not as a be all source. I don’t trust any of them entirely. I believe fit is most important.</p></li>
<li><p>Disagree. I went to a CTCL school 20 years ago. My classmates have careers in a variety of fields and work at all levels. Certainly “hard workers.” I agree with most of what Pope wrote, but no big company execs “hire” that is left to HR and lower level.</p></li>
</ol>

5

<p>1/2) What is your opinion of St. Mary’s College of Maryland? Have you heard of it?
I have a high opinion of St. Mary’s. My daughter has just applied there, and is waiting to hear. It is among her top choices.</p>

<p>3) Do you think that a degree from there is worthless?
A degree from anywhere is only worth the time and effort you choose to exert in obtaining it. A degree by itself from anywhere has little “inherent worth”. Similarly a degree in a field you’ve explored as it becomes a lifelong passion is worth far more than the money spent acquiring it, whether that degree is from a local community college or from a school that “everyone” admires.</p>

<p>4) Would you consider it elite?
Not particularly. But I don’t consider “elite” to be a compliment either.</p>

<p>5) If I want to be a journalist working for TIME magazine or BBC, do you think going an elite undergraduate college is important?
All things being equal, a “more elite” college degree will open more doors than a “less elite” degree. But things are never equal. Will graduating with a C+ average from Georgetown open more doors than an A- average from St. Mary’s? Probably not. Will an A- average from Georgetown open more doors than an A- average from St. Mary’s? Yes. Definitely yes. But what will matter most is whether the college produced a newpaper or news media outlet that enables you to study at the BBC for a year or two. If you want to work at the BBC, then get to know someone who already works there. You’ll need experience. Find a place that can give you the experience you need.</p>

<p>6) Does attending an elite undergraduate college matter?
It depends on what you’re looking for. It matters to some people, not to others. It doesn’t matter much to me. The college you choose to attend is only a small part of the person you are.</p>

<p>7) What about attending a non-elite college, but then going onto an elite (say, an Ivy League) graduate school?
Again, it depends. What is the goal of your college education? </p>

<p>7) How much implicit worth is going to a non-elite college in the job market?
Ah, you’re looking at this from a “future employment potential” point of view, not a “who do I want to become” point of view. Essentially, an Ivy League degree will impress potential employers more than a state college degree. But what you study and how you choose to spend your time at college will matter far, far more in the long run. 10 years after your college graduation, an employer won’t care whatsoever about the college you attended. He/she will be interested in what you’ve done with your professional life.</p>

<p>8) Do you think people will judge you – or your intelligence level – based on what undergraduate college you go to?
Yes, people will judge you based on all kinds of material, including your undergraduate college. More superficial people will put more faith in degrees from “trophy colleges”, along with other easy-to-measure items like your house, your clothes, your gadgets. People of worth will judge you on your accomplishments, your humanity, and your willingness to work with others. What kinds of people do you wish to impress?</p>

<p>9, 10) What are all of the implicit costs for attending an elite (or non-elite) undergraduate college in the long run? Do you think it includes more money? More respect from others? Better self-confidence?
I don’t really understand this question. The college you choose should work with you to help you achieve your personal and professional goals.</p>

<p>11) Do you REALLY believe in the statement “It’s not where you go to college, but how and what you make of your education?”
Yes I do. What you choose to make of your education has absolutely nothing to do with the prestige of the college or university you choose to attend. </p>

<p>12) On a scale of 1-10 (1 meaning not at all, 10 meaning “I depend on it.”) how much to you rely and trust on college rankings? How important is it to you?
About a 2-3. It’s useful in determining one’s chances at admission. And it’s a form of entertainment, like the weekly NFL Power Rankings. If you’re a student with a B+ average, you probably shouldn’t plan on attending a US News “top” ranked college. But there are many very good colleges where a B+ student can thrive and find their interests, passions and futures. A good college is one that takes the B students and provides them the reasons to study hard that those students never found in high school.</p>

<p>13) Which college rankings site (i.e. US News & World, Kiplinger, Newsweek, Forbes, Washington Monthly) do you trust the most? Why? Which one do you trust the least?
I don’t pay attention to most of them. I look at US News, simply because to see where my “elite” alma mater is ranked. I find it more amusing than very insightful. </p>

<p>14) I read in Loren Pope’s book “COLLEGES THAT CHANGE LIVES” (which feature small, expensive, low-ranked private liberal arts undergraduate colleges [with 60%-90% acceptance rates] designed to “turn B- and C-students into A-students.”) that big-company executives are more likely to hire graduates from lower-ranked, tier-2 colleges because they know that students are more likely to work harder than students from Ivy Leagues, or Ivy League equivalents because students from said schools feel like once they have “Yale” on their resume, they will have the upper hand at jobs and be less inclined to work hard. What is your opinion of this? Do you agree or disagree?</p>

<p>I disagree. Further, I have his book in my hand now, and that statement is not an accurate reflection of his point. He was making a point about a particular employer, and the point he’s pushing is that employers in general care much more about accomplishment than prestige. And THAT’s a true statement. Every employer I know of would rather have that hard working self motivated student that found and demonstrated his passion at St. Mary’s and graduated Summa Cum Laude than the talented-but-disinterested slacker that, once admitted to that Ivy League institution, slept and partied through school and graduated with a “gentleman’s C” average. But then again, a B average from Harvard will open more doors than that B average from St. Mary’s.</p>

<p>Now both I and my spouse went to Ivy League (or equivalent) universities as undergraduates. My son attends one of the CTCL colleges (College of Wooster), and it’s pretty likely that my daughter will attend one too. My children are just as bright and accomplished as we were at their age, and if my son’s experience is any indication, they will receive far better educations at their schools than we did at ours.</p>

<p>One more thing. There are some 40 CTCL schools. While some of them are fairly easy to get in to, many of them (like Reed, New College, Rhodes, Whitman) have become quite selective in recent years, with average SAT scores at or above 1900. What makes them interesting is not their exclusivity, but their approach to educating their undergraduates and encouraging them to think, explore and take intellectual risks, and to not worry so much about developing a professional expertise as an undergraduate.</p>

<p>Life is long, and college is short, and there are very few wrong choices. But there are bad matches, and you should find the colleges that match your own interests and passions, and leave the rankings to those who care about them.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

6

<p>1) What is your opinion of St. Mary’s College of Maryland? I have looked at it and it appears to be a small liberal arts type public college, located in a scenic area, great for a sailing enthusiast, loation seems a little remote.</p>

<p>2) Have you heard of it? Yes but I had not heard of it before starting college search for my D. My husband knew of it from travels he had made to the area.</p>

<p>3) Do you think that a degree from there is worthless? of course not how could any college degree be worthless? </p>

<p>4) Would you consider it elite? no</p>

<p>5) If I want to be a journalist working for TIME magazine or BBC, do you think going an elite undergraduate college is important? Say, if someone with a degree from Bryn Mawr College in Political science were competing with me, someone with a degree in political science from St. Mary’s, who would you (say, an executive for TIME) hire? No idea. Maybe you could get some insights by looking up the bios of current writers.</p>

<p>6) Does attending an elite undergraduate college matter? it will certainly give you a certain respect all through your life, and makes your resume look impressive, and my help you get your foot in the door, after that you have to prove your worth</p>

<p>7) What about attending a non-elite college, but then going onto an elite (say, an Ivy League) graduate school? people tend to look at the most recent degree</p>

<p>7) How much implicit worth is going to a non-elite college in the job market? With so few jobs available and high competition, are executives more likely to hire the graduate from Princeton or the graduate from St. Cloud State University? I think the way you asked the question answers itself. As noted above, I think Princeton would help you get your foot in the door. I’ve never heard of St. Cloud State.</p>

<p>8) Do you think people will judge you – or your intelligence level – based on what undergraduate college you go to? Do you think people would perceive you as smarter because you went to Harvard College or stupider because you went to St. Cloud State? If you went to Harvard people will automatically assume you are smart until you prove them otherwise. If you go to St. Cloud, you’ll have to impress them with something other than your degree.</p>

<p>9) What are all of the implicit costs for attending an elite (or non-elite) undergraduate college in the long run? the cost depends on the college and how much financial aid you get. not sure what you mean by “implicit” costs</p>

<p>10) Do you think it includes more money? More respect from others? Better self-confidence? dont’ think a degree from an elite college guarantees any of this; depends more on what you make of the opportunities you are given.</p>

<p>11) Do you REALLY believe in the statement “It’s not where you go to college, but how and what you make of your education?” Yes.</p>

<p>12) On a scale of 1-10 (1 meaning not at all, 10 meaning “I depend on it.”) how much to you rely and trust on college rankings? How important is it to you? 7</p>

<p>13) Which college rankings site (i.e. US News & World, Kiplinger, Newsweek, Forbes, Washington Monthly) do you trust the most? Why? Which one do you trust the least? US News because they have the magazine that everyone reads</p>

<p>14) I read in Loren Pope’s book “COLLEGES THAT CHANGE LIVES” (which feature small, expensive, low-ranked private liberal arts undergraduate colleges [with 60%-90% acceptance rates] designed to “turn B- and C-students into A-students.”) that big-company executives are more likely to hire graduates from lower-ranked, tier-2 colleges because they know that students are more likely to work harder than students from Ivy Leagues, or Ivy League equivalents because students from said schools feel like once they have “Yale” on their resume, they will have the upper hand at jobs and be less inclined to work hard. What is your opinion of this? Do you agree or disagree? I have no idea whether or not this is true</p>

7

<p>St. Marys College of Mary is a very fine college. If you’re fixated on “prestige,” then don’t bother applying because likely you’ll never be happy at SMC, despite its fine reputation. If, on the other hand, you want an exceptional undergraduate preparation in a picturesque location, then consider SMC, particularly if you are a Maryland resident.</p>

8

<p>The OP is a St. Mary’s student, but wants to transfer to a top LAC.</p>

<p>OP – It doesn’t matter what we think, you obviously are not happy with St. Mary’s. Even at the IS price, I would not want my kid unhappy with their education. </p>

<p>Send out a few transfer apps, not just Vassar. Wait for acceptances and then make your decision.</p>

9

<p>CTCL schools are often underrated and/or ignored by those seeking ‘big names’ above all else. Their admissions rates , in part, reflect this. St. John’s , for example, has a lot of very smart students, but it is such an unusual place that not many kids apply.</p>

10

<p>To the OP: I’d like to second Longhaul’s statement – if you’re unhappy at SMCM, especially if you believe that your college experience isn’t moving you in the direction you wish to go, then changing colleges (or changing the path that you’re on) becomes essential to your well being.</p>

<p>From your other posts, I see that your grades at SMCM are good, so transferring elsewhere should not be a problem (colleges rarely look at high school grades when evaluating transfer applications), so long as you don’t focus on a single school like Vassar. Take your time, evaluate your own personal, collegiate and professional goals (maybe even take a semester away from college), find the schools that will help you achieve these goals, apply to them and attend the one you think works best. Make those schools want you to attend them. The key to success is clarity of focus.</p>

11

<p>1) What is your opinion of St. Mary’s College of Maryland? Not very high. This is just another small school in Maryland. Nothing stands out about it.</p>

<p>2) Have you heard of it? (if you haven’t, please look at this for rankings America’s Best Colleges Page 4 of 25 - Forbes.com, wikipedia for a main idea St. Mary’s College of Maryland - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia). Never really met anyone who has done anything with a degree from the school.</p>

<p>3) Do you think that a degree from there is worthless? Probably not worthless, but you have to weigh what other options you have. </p>

<p>4) Would you consider it elite? Not at all. Not even close to elite.</p>

<p>5) If I want to be a journalist working for TIME magazine or BBC, do you think going an elite undergraduate college is important? Say, if someone with a degree from Bryn Mawr College in Political science were competing with me, someone with a degree in political science from St. Mary’s, who would you (say, an executive for TIME) hire? Yes, you should have at least a solid undergraduate degree from a well known university. Additionally, learning a foreign language that is not as widely spoken helps with this. Say, Farsi, etc.</p>

<p>6) Does attending an elite undergraduate college matter? You don’t have to go to an elite university to do something with your life. It all depends on what you want to do. If you want to be a lawyer or a doctor or a top banker, then yes, a top 50 undergraduate is going to help you.</p>

<p>7) What about attending a non-elite college, but then going onto an elite (say, an Ivy League) graduate school? You cannot bank on this. If you go to an unknown undergraduate school, the graduate schools will take this into consideration. </p>

<p>7) How much implicit worth is going to a non-elite college in the job market? With so few jobs available and high competition, are executives more likely to hire the graduate from Princeton or the graduate from St. Cloud State University? </p>

<p>Princeton. What is St. Cloud University? Why would i hire someone from that university if I have someone with a top 50 school on their resume?</p>

<p>8) Do you think people will judge you – or your intelligence level – based on what undergraduate college you go to? Do you think people would perceive you as smarter because you went to Harvard College or stupider because you went to St. Cloud State?</p>

<p>Everyone judges, either implicity or explicitly. Yes, your degree will be stigmatizing if it is from an unknown college. Worse if it is unaccredited or a community college. Non flagship state schools included.</p>

<p>9) What are all of the implicit costs for attending an elite (or non-elite) undergraduate college in the long run?</p>

<p>Student loans are the long cost, but you will always have a certain cache forever.</p>

<p>10) Do you think it includes more money? More respect from others? Better self-confidence?</p>

<p>More money, definitely more respect. Less of a chip on your shoulder because you know you competed against the best and brightest.</p>

<p>11) Do you REALLY believe in the statement “It’s not where you go to college, but how and what you make of your education?”</p>

<p>It is all of these things, including who you know. You aren’t going to meet a member of the inner circle at St. Cloud state.</p>

<p>12) On a scale of 1-10 (1 meaning not at all, 10 meaning “I depend on it.”) how much to you rely and trust on college rankings? How important is it to you?</p>

<p>Nine. The rankings are a proxy for prestige, academics, etc. They are very important, regardless of what the people who can’t get into the top schools say on this board. </p>

<p>13) Which college rankings site (i.e. US News & World, Kiplinger, Newsweek, Forbes, Washington Monthly) do you trust the most? Why? Which one do you trust the least?</p>

<p>US News is really the only one that matters. This is what the majority of americans use and is widely accepted. It is also what is used by HR departments at major companies.</p>

<p>14) I read in Loren Pope’s book “COLLEGES THAT CHANGE LIVES” (which feature small, expensive, low-ranked private liberal arts undergraduate colleges [with 60%-90% acceptance rates] designed to “turn B- and C-students into A-students.”) that big-company executives are more likely to hire graduates from lower-ranked, tier-2 colleges because they know that students are more likely to work harder than students from Ivy Leagues, or Ivy League equivalents because students from said schools feel like once they have “Yale” on their resume, they will have the upper hand at jobs and be less inclined to work hard. What is your opinion of this? Do you agree or disagree? </p>

<p>Disagree. This is what sells books, but not reality.</p>

12

<p>OP, it shouldn’t matter what other people think of your school! </p>

<p>If you are unhappy, transfer to another school, just remember if you are on financial aid at SMCM, you probably will not get as good a financial aid package at another LAC. </p>

<p>Students who transfer often end up paying more for those remaining years.
So if money is a big concern for your family, then proceed with caution.</p>

13

<p>Aha! I didnt’ realize the OP was aleady attending St. Mary’s</p>

<p>I would very much like to know the OP’s opinion of St. Mary’s and what are the reasons (other than prestige) the OP is thinking about a transfer.</p>

<p>How is student life at St. Mary’s? Is there enough to do on campus? Do you feel isolated in a remote location? Is this a “hippie” school as I’ve heard somewhere? How do you find the academics?</p>

<p>Thanks for your firsthand feedback, I’m sure it would help a lot of people to hear your feedback.</p>

14

<p>

</p>

<p>I think people bring their own baggage to their jobs as managers. Someone with a chip on his shoulder about ivy grads might act this way. It’s hard to say whether more people have chips on their shoulders about ivy grads or more people are impressed with them. I’m increasingly becoming aware that this is a country of chip-wearers. (That’s why candidates like to tell voters they DON’T have elite degrees.) But I think the reasoning is flawed in the above argument. </p>

<p>One thing I do believe about the current ivy selection process is that it does a pretty good job of identifying smart, self-motivated go-getters and distinguishing them from people who busted their humps in high school to impress admissions committees and intend to do nothing further in life. That is one reason that people who are accepted to ivies but don’t attend, for whatever reason, seem to do as well in life as people who go to ivies–because they are smart, self-motivated go-getters who take it as a point of personal pride to excel in their endeavors. I hire people with advanced degrees–the candidate’s undergraduate institution is of little consequence. However, if I see someone went to a top school, I view that as a marker of high native intelligence. I don’t assume the converse if someone didn’t go to a top school, but I do take note of, say, a Yale degree as an indicator that this is probably a pretty smart guy.</p>

15

<p>I’m a current freshman at St. Mary’s. Although I am contemplating transferring, I do have a very high opinion of the school and it has been growing on me this spring semester. So far my classes have been great. The professors are very intriguing and are very interested in the students. The students for the most part are very welcoming. There are some what one may consider hippies on campus, but honestly they’re awesome. As far as the remoteness of the school, it can be a problem. For me, I really want a school with a town or a city around. The town is about 15 minutes away. One thing that I absolutely love about St. Mary’s (which may make it hard to leave) is that it is very easy to get involved here on campus. Essentially you can be a big fish in a small pond. One of my professors nominated me for an R.A position and to be student trustee. Another asked me to be a peer mentor for her seminar next year, and I’m only a first year! It’s very easy to join sports here like crew, water polo, rugby, ultimate frisbee, etc. I definitely would recommend St. Mary’s to someone who is instate, does not want to go to a big school like UMD, and doesn’t mind being in a semi isolated occasion. Feel free to PM me and I’ll answer your questions about SMCM in the most non biased way possible!</p>

16

<p>5) One of our graduates, from 2001, is currently the lead economic reporter for the Washington Post. Ben Bradlee, the Washington Post executive who ok’d the publishing of the Watergate story, serves on our Board. There are definite opportunities to make it as a reporter coming from St. Mary’s.</p>

<p>7a) My housemate just enrolled for the fall in an Ivy League PhD program. I won’t go into details to protect his privacy, but needless to say, St. Mary’s prepared him well.</p>

<p>11) Yes, I do believe in it. Whole heartedly.</p>

17

<p>1) What is your opinion of St. Mary’s College of Maryland?</p>

<p>It is a good school in a beautiful, secluded area.</p>

<p>2) Have you heard of it? (if you haven’t, please look at this for rankings America’s Best Colleges Page 4 of 25 - Forbes.com, wikipedia for a main idea St. Mary’s College of Maryland - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)</p>

<p>I have, and only ever heard good things. My very successful uncle went there for undergraduate education as an out of state student.</p>

<p>3) Do you think that a degree from there is worthless?</p>

<p>A college degree in general is not worthless. A SMCM degree is worth quite a bit.</p>

<p>4) Would you consider it elite?</p>

<p>Among public schools. I’d say in the Top 10 of all public institutions, though it is sometimes difficult to compare universities and liberal arts colleges.</p>

<p>5) If I want to be a journalist working for TIME magazine or BBC, do you think going an elite undergraduate college is important? Say, if someone with a degree from Bryn Mawr College in Political science were competing with me, someone with a degree in political science from St. Mary’s, who would you (say, an executive for TIME) hire?</p>

<p>I don’t know enough about Bryn Mawr to answer this. I’ve only ever heard about it from CC and in a college book that said it gets an unfair reputation for being filled with lesbians. I’m sure more knowledgeable people can answer this.</p>

<p>6) Does attending an elite undergraduate college matter?</p>

<p>After accounting for personal ability, no.</p>

<p>7) What about attending a non-elite college, but then going onto an elite (say, an Ivy League) graduate school?</p>

<p>Quite possible. I know several who have done this.</p>

<p>7) How much implicit worth is going to a non-elite college in the job market? With so few jobs available and high competition, are executives more likely to hire the graduate from Princeton or the graduate from St. Cloud State University?</p>

<p>All other things being equal, the Princeton grad would probably get the job, unless the executive happened to prefer SCSU for some reason. However, all things are rarely equal, and the better applicant will get the job. If you come off as a hard worker and a genuine person, you’ll do well.</p>

<p>8) Do you think people will judge you – or your intelligence level – based on what undergraduate college you go to? Do you think people would perceive you as smarter because you went to Harvard College or stupider because you went to St. Cloud State?</p>

<p>Some people, but not the ones you want to associate with.</p>

<p>9) What are all of the implicit costs for attending an elite (or non-elite) undergraduate college in the long run?</p>

<p>Whenever you choose one school over another, you’re giving some things up and gaining other things. This question is too ambiguous for a more specific answer.</p>

<p>10) Do you think it includes more money? More respect from others? Better self-confidence?</p>

<p>Top college grads make more money. However, after accounting for personal ability, where you go to college matters little for how much you make. You will gain respect and self-confidence if you are a hard worker.</p>

<p>11) Do you REALLY believe in the statement “It’s not where you go to college, but how and what you make of your education?”</p>

<p>Yes. I, myself, am considering multiple schools, one of which is in the “top 20,” several in the “top 50,” and another on the “regional” list. Prestige isn’t a major factor for me.</p>

<p>12) On a scale of 1-10 (1 meaning not at all, 10 meaning “I depend on it.”) how much to you rely and trust on college rankings? How important is it to you?</p>

<p>2. They mean nothing to me, but I recognize that others care about them, which is annoying. Thus, they mean something. They mean annoyance. That’s a 2.</p>

<p>13) Which college rankings site (i.e. US News & World, Kiplinger, Newsweek, Forbes, Washington Monthly) do you trust the most? Why? Which one do you trust the least?</p>

<p>All are flawed. None has any more inherent merit than the others.</p>

<p>**14) I read in Loren Pope’s book “COLLEGES THAT CHANGE LIVES” (which feature small, expensive, low-ranked private liberal arts undergraduate colleges [with 60%-90% acceptance rates] designed to “turn B- and C-students into A-students.”) that big-company executives are more likely to hire graduates from lower-ranked, tier-2 colleges because they know that students are more likely to work harder than students from Ivy Leagues, or Ivy League equivalents because students from said schools feel like once they have “Yale” on their resume, they will have the upper hand at jobs and be less inclined to work hard. What is your opinion of this? Do you agree or disagree? **</p>

<p>St. Mary’s College of Maryland worked out very well for my uncle with being hired by major law firms and government agencies. His law school wasn’t inherently more prestigious (he went due to family ties, rather than going elsewhere), yet he did very well by working hard. He said it changed his life.</p>

18

<p>I recently visited SMCM and the main concern I have about this school is its isolation. The school, while located in a scenic area, has no walkable town, the nearest place is 15 min by car.</p>