What's the whole point of this?

<p>Really! Everyone here obsesses on going to a "prestigious, competitive," college or university. But why? In the end, if you go to Harvard or a common state university, you still walk away with a piece of paper called a diploma in the end. Why obsess with an "ivy league" or super competitve institution?
Some of the greatest businessmen of all time went to very common colleges or universities and did just fine.
As long as the school is accredited, what matters if the school is "common" or easy. Personally, I wish to GO to college, not fuss on going to the most prestigious institution. I want to graduate with diploma, simple. Stop fussing, people, about Harvard or Yale. Just GO TO SCHOOL! In the end, as long as you are good at what you do and have a diploma, it will really never matter on where you went to school. Period! Now, calm down, go to a school in which you or your family can afford, and have a great four years! Okay?</p>

<pre><code> Alrighty then, people! God Bless You!

              ~General Lee

</code></pre>

<p>I'm with you. A lot of these kids are putting entirely too much pressure on themselves. And I do agree with it being a diploma in the end. Just because "John Doe" goes to let's say Harvard, doesn't mean that he is smarter or more qualified for a job than I am. Sorry. There is no aurgument that will convince me of that.</p>

<p>Yeah, I agree, but it doesn't matter what I think, it matters what my potential employer thinks.</p>

<p>^EXACTLY! An employer is going to base his decision upon who does the best work, not where they went to school! Practicality takes precedence over brains!</p>

<p>Or if he/she wants to look good for the Board of Director's and not get canned</p>

<p>The board of directors are going to base their decisions upon positive or negative sales or production. Whether you went to Harvard, or Jimmy Dean University, those execs want good work. A piece of paper does not determine that.</p>

<p>Man, there's like 20 posts exactly like this. lol but I agree with all of them.</p>

<p>^Spread the word, brother! Obsession over a top college is neither productive nor healthful. Be GOOD at what you do; but never obsess over an institution. Remember that, Jon!</p>

<p>Yay for mediocre universities! Don't obsess over ivy league schools. Oh yeah!!</p>

<p>YAY for snobbery! YAY^</p>

<pre><code> What is mediocrity to you? Someone who attends an average institution is mediocre and not worth very much? You need to see the real world beyond the glitzy universities. I'd like to attend University of Virginia perhaps; guess I'm mediocre.
</code></pre>

<p>You can compare colleges to make feel people feel stupid if you went to Harvard.... Like "I'm smarter and better than you cause I went to harvard and you went to generic community college!"</p>

<p>And you could say," I went to a CC, but my performance in the office has been better than your performance." "I get the pay raise and you don't, YAY"</p>

<p>Go-Vibe...</p>

<p>Anyone who would say, "I'm smarter and better than you cause I went to harvard and you went to generic community college!" is an idiot.</p>

<p>Going to Harvard or any other so-called 'PRESTIGIOUS' university doesn't make you better than me or anyone else.</p>

<p>^Correct! An institution of higher learning does not equate self-worth! Gee whiz!</p>

<p>There are many more learning experiences at top colleges. I mean, I don't think that you can work with Nobel Prize laureates at Average College. Then, there are your peers. One is a top athlete, the other a world-class musician, and another is a contracted singer. Even if they don't have world-class attributes, your peers are (mostly) people whose first priority, like you, is to learn, rather than go to college parties. Then, the opportunities. Do you think that you can get funding for whatever research or guest artists that would enhance the average learning experience if you go to Average College?</p>

<p>Correct xyz2004slc... Whether you go to ivy league prestigious university or average american college will impact your life. I'd rather drown in debt going to ivy league than go nearly free at state institution because when you go to ivy league, you can pay off all that debt rather quickly and make tons more money...</p>

<p>^Friend, thats good and dandy if you are looking at the little picture. But we are discussing the BIG PICTURE. You may be correct about the opportunities of a "prestigious" university, but one still receives a diploma in the end regardless of the college. You see, I will be going to college for job outlook, not for the, what you say, intellectual stimulation. I can do so in the job market.</p>

<p>The future salaries of those admitted to ivy league schools and choose to go to their state school instead, and ofthose who actually attend an ivy league school, are virtually the same. </p>

<p>That said, I think that you learn more from your peers than from your teachers, in many respects. That would be my mine motivation if given the chance to attend a "prestigious" institution -- the desire to be around motivated and intelligent students. However, there is always finances to consider...</p>

<p>Jobs look at what college you went to heavily, as do grad schools. After all, a 4.0 at south georgia U isn't as hard as a 4.0 at caltech...and just getting into somewhere like caltech means that you are some better combination of intelligent and hardworking that someone at SGU. And cost doesn't matter cuz of aid. I'd bet anything you want that the average comm. col. grad doesn't make nearly as much as the average ivy/caltech/mit grad.</p>

<p>
[quote]
I'd rather drown in debt going to ivy league than go nearly free at state institution because when you go to ivy league, you can pay off all that debt rather quickly

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I doubt one could pay $160,000 in debt "rather quickly" on an entry-level salary, which is why I'm going for free to my state's flagship university in the fall instead of a highly-ranked university in California that begins with an S that I will abstain from naming hehe. Prestige is overrated--college is what you make it.</p>

<p>
[quote]
cost doesn't matter cuz of aid

[/quote]
</p>

<p>How I wish that were so.</p>