I just finished reading Frank Bruni’s amazing book. Perspective on this awful process, and where S chooses to matriculate, has been fundamentally altered…for the better. Can we discuss?
I didn’t read the book, but thought I’d comment either way.
I think many parents push their kids to get into a top university because they want them to take advantage of the better placement rates and salaries so life is easy and comfortable post-graduation. Parents will often act as the motivating voice up until the kid enrolls into college and once that voice is missing, kids can lose focus and become complacent in college or later in life because they never truly knew why they were going to college in the first place other than family/societal pressure. It’s the living for oneself vs living for others dilemma many adolescents struggle with growing up.
On the other side, a kid who doesn’t do so well in high school but figures out exactly what/who they want to be in life will use their education from any college towards achieving their goals. This sort of person wouldn’t let something insignificant like degree brand name hold them back since intellectual breakthroughs come from within the mind and work ethic comes from character.
In short, the mind and character of a person define who someone will be far better than a university name.
I am in the midst of reading it now…give me a few days and I can discuss 
I read it last year. It was good but i think now is slightly out of date because things are worse. It doesnt take into account the ED phenomenon and the schools he mentions are also now super competitive. But i think the point of thinking about what you want and ignoring rankings is good.