<p>So I'm going to be a senior and that means applying to colleges, yay! Anyway all my junior year I thought of going to more prestigious universities and that was that. But now that I'm out of the school setting and it's summer I'm starting to consider smaller, lesser known universities that are considered less reputable but still good. My reasons? Well I'm pretty sure I want to get a Masters later in my life or maybe even go pre-professional and I really don't want to spend as much money leaving college with a large debt. Yes I know there are scholarships but I'm now really just refocusing on good universities that'll give me the most in the long run. So here's the question: should I mainly apply to the lesser known universities and state flagships or should I aim real high for prestige?</p>
<p>You should have reaches, matches, and safeties. It’s not like you just decide to go to a prestigious university…they have to accept you first, and there’s a chance they won’t, so you apply to less-selective colleges as well.
Don’t assume too much about financial aid without running net price calculators, though. Just because a school has a higher sticker price doesn’t mean it will automatically cost more than one that looks cheaper. Prestigious universities are often rich and give good need-based aid.</p>
<p>I know I have to be accepted first, but I meant should I apply to many top schools with reaches and matches or should I look at the admissions information and apply to good schools that are either LAC or state flagships for the most part with maybe one reach school. And I’m planning on doing the Net Price Calculator for all schools I apply to but in the end I’m looking at what will work for me the best in the long run.</p>
<p>It really just depends on what you’re looking at for later in life. If you want to get a master’s in, say, biology later on, you need to find a school that can provide good research opportunities, maybe one with a well-known biology program, and one that you can enjoy on top of that.</p>
<p>If you’re not planning on jumping right into any graduate work, which is what your posts sound like to me, then I would focus on what kind of job opportunities that the University you choose can get you, whether that be LAC, flagship, or Ivy.</p>
<p>@SusieAnne hmm I never really look at that but now I will pay more attention to job opportunities.</p>