Why do top students from states with AMAZING flagships go to private schools?

College Search & Selection
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<p>There is actually a simple answer to this. I don’t know if this has been said before but since I’m one of those top students…</p>

<p>We’ve put so much effort into our schoolwork. We’ve sacrificed much of our time, effort, and in most cases a big chunk of our social lives (at least relative to the typical high school student) and we’ve done so much to get the best grades, high SATs, accomplished ECs, awards, etc. We’re being pushed by our parents and the success of other smart students elsewhere.
It’s a really stressful life.</p>

<p>And the moment we get into a really selective university, be it even <em>gasp</em> Columbia, Duke, or Penn or Brown (which aren’t HYPSM but almost as selective) then we’re still happy to be part of something so exclusive (assuming many students at Columbia, Duke, Penn, and Brown aimed and didn’t get into HYPSM).</p>

<p>State schools? We could have gotten in with half the effort we put into our entire 4 years in high school. Even Berkeley, all I could have done is study to get the grades and do well on the SAT. Spend the rest of my time going out, doing pot, climbing up the social ladder.
Forget about ECs. Forget about research. Forget about pursuing your passions because why do you have to that? Its not part of the state requirements, right?</p>

<p>At least the privates encourage you to figure out your passions. Even if you end up trying to find a passion so mechanically because Stanford wants (expects) you to, you’ll still wind up in an interesting journey and maybe you’ll truly find a passion. You’ll learn about yourself even more. This requires a lot of effort.</p>

<p>This is how I see it:</p>

<p>1) Student A puts so much effort into his academics. He aims to be the best student in all possible ways (Intel Sci, USAMO, etc). He gets into HYPSM. This is the prime example of a successful student.</p>

<p>2) Student B like Student A puts so much effort, but he doesn’t get into HYPSM. He does get into the next second batch of selective universities that are almost as prestigious as HYPSM (Columbia, Caltech, Duke, Penn, Brown, and Chicago).</p>

<p>3) Student C puts as much effort as Student A, but doesn’t get into HYPSM. He possibly doesn’t even get into the second batch of privates. He goes to state school, which he could have done by putting half the effort of student A. With the wasted time, he could have had a life. </p>

<p>4) Student D puts half as much effort as Student A and gets into state flagship. He’s lived his life in high school.</p>

<p>Would you really want to end up like (3)? That’s my nightmare… </p>

<p>I’m personally aiming for either (1) or (2). It’s too late for me to be like (4) :stuck_out_tongue: Even if I really had the choice again, I’d still go towards the path of (1) and (2) because at least I’ll learn about myself and my passions and feel rewarded for my efforts as well.</p>

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<p>The scary part is, I know a lot of people like (3). They’re really miserable people and some are socially inept. Some are alright, but they felt they weren’t up the the par. Eventually they get over it when college kicks them in the butt, but they always wondered what their life would have turned out if they went elsewhere…</p>

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<p>I’m sorry I was so rude to you before CapnJack. After reading the above statement, I really feel badly for you. Seriously, I do.</p>

84

<p>

Shockingly, I find myself in complete agreement with you. </p>

<p>I felt sort of the same as CaptnJack in high school when I was deciding between my flagship (UNC Chapel Hill) and some of the privates to which I was admitted (primarily Chicago and Duke). To be honest, UNC didn’t really strike me as anything all that special – most of the kids in the top 10% got in, as well as a hefty chunk of those in the top 20% of the class, including virtually everyone in IB. It sort of waters down the wonder when virtually all of your teachers and former classmates went to the same school. </p>

<p>Once I actually got to college, I started looking at things rather differently. I am still firmly convinced I made the right choice (for financial reasons, if no other), and my private college did provide me with certain things - smaller classes, smarter students on average, closer relationships with professors, better funded student organizations, etc. On the other hand, I spent a fair amount of time over at UNC and became thoroughly impressed. The professors are excellent, the classes are pretty rigorous, the facilities are great, and students are overwhelmingly happy and successful. I would’ve done exceptionally well if I had “gone to state school, which I could have done by putting half the effort” – and I’d be darned proud of the education I got there.</p>

<p>Admittedly, I do know several people who graduated from top public schools and are nevertheless somewhat bitter about it, for various reasons. Not all were rejected from private schools; many of them were simply unable to afford them. I think the number of such people is positively dwarfed, however, by the number of extremely satisfied graduates.</p>

<p>One can only hope CaptnJack changes his/her attitude…all of the top universities are indeed amazing.</p>

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<p>alwaysleah:</p>

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<p>I don’t think it’s the curve. It’s an ultra-competitive school but there’s not a lot of grade deflation. Certainly, it depends on the dept.</p>

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<p>I don’t think this fits the average student’s profile at UCLA. UCLA students surveyed makes some publications’ top-ten ‘happiness’ lists.</p>

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<p>I think this is overblown as manifest by the graduation rate, ~ 70% at UCLA and probably similar at Cal. CSU might be a different story.</p>

<p>Wrt Dunn’s quotes… wish your daughter nothing but the best. She sounds more like the small-town personality of a Waco, Tx, which would best fit her lifestyle, rather than the bustle of Westwood. College is undoubtedly about fit, to most, first and foremost.</p>

86

<p>And hopefully when renovating and dorm-building projects are over, dorming in triples won’t exist anymore.</p>

<p>There’s a way around being in a triple, including having more space (more expensive)… someone like ThisCouldBeHeavn would be a good person to ask.</p>

87

<p>

CaptnJack, I am fully aware that nobody takes you seriously on this forum. I think this post you made clearly explains why that is so. </p>

<p>First of all, Berkeley does not weigh test scores (SAT, ACT) as much as the elite privates do. As a matter of fact, Berkeley does not even superscore SATs, something that all the top privates actually do. Several students with near-perfect-to-perfect SAT scores were turned down at Berkeley. And, only about 21% of the applicants were admitted.</p>

<p>Second, what you would need to get into Berkeley are generally the same things (preparations and requirements) for you to get into anywhere else. Nobody gets into Brown, for instance, if you don’t prepare well in high school and score high on your SATs. </p>

<p>Third, Berkeley requires that you submit essays. Your essays will be read not just once, but twice, if not trice, by at least 2 different people. You need to demonstrate leadership and ability to succeed during your most challenging experiences. </p>

<p>And, lastly, ECs and APs are important in getting into Berkeley.</p>

<p>Anyway, I know fully well that you are just ■■■■■■■■… So, I don’t also understand why I feel obliged to even respond to your post.</p>

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<p>RML, you’re a grown up man by your own accord. And here you are, picking a fight with a child. Do you have nothing better to do? What a screwed up website this is.</p>

<p>I know exactly what I’m talking about RML. I’ve been paid money to write essays for some of my friends at school. They’ve been admitted to Berkeley. Yes, its that sad of an admissions game. </p>

<p>What I’ve noticed here is that a majority of you people are jealous that your public school or whatever (Berkeley, Michigan, etc) aren’t as well respected or popular as some other universities. You say HYPSM are the best and then a huge bunch of universities that include Michigan and Berkeley at the top.
Reality is Michigan and Berkeley aren’t popular undergraduate destinations. Reality is they’re both ranked 40 and 22 respectively. Reality is HYPSM doesn’t exist to the degree you people make it out to be. Reality is that the same people, Alexandre, RML, rjokeofnovi, and xiggi have had the same opinion berkeley battle for the past 3+ years on this same website (I’ve checked past threads…). That’s just sad.</p>

<p>Majority of you don’t attend HYPSM. Neither do you all attend higher elites like Columbia, Chicago, Penn, Duke, or Caltech.
Almost every one of you have some affiliation with Michigan or Berkeley. And ALL of you delude yourself by blogging opinionated crap and picking on high school students.</p>

<p>You should all feel ashamed. What a bunch of people with no lives. And the funny part is that you guys think I’m the ■■■■■. Have you checked out urban dictionary’s definition of you people? Yahoo answers? Why don’t you stop by your local high school and ask students their opinion of this place?</p>

<p>A bunch of lousy adults who went to a rank 20+ university, bashing other universities, and picking on little kids who have different opinions. Great. </p>

<p>I’m out of here.</p>

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<p>How can a child know exactly what he’s/she’s talking about??? lol</p>

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What you’ve noticed was a mistake. But I can understand why that is so, as you are only a child. </p>

<p>Both Berkeley and Michigan are very highly respected by the top academicians. I think their opinions and views are way much more valuable than a child’s personal opinion. And, alumni of both schools are highly respected by the top employers. As a matter of fact, Berkeley grads make way more than some Ivy School grads do. And, Michigan has many more grads getting into top grad school programs, top professional programs and top banking and financial institutions than some of the schools that you - as a child - deemed more prestigious and respected.</p>

<p>And, btw, I am not a Berkeley alumnus. And I turned down 3 Ivies, Duke and several top privates to attend a public university. ;)</p>

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<p>^ That goes both ways, sir. Anyways, it’s because those flagships aren’t as amazing as they are made out to be.</p>

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<p>^ Sorry; I didn’t get what you’re saying. Which part of my post that goes both ways?</p>

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<p>^ He could counter with “How do Adults clearly know what they are talking about?” or some jazz like that.</p>

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<p>Technically speaking, a child is a boy or girl between birth and puberty. I don’t think a child’s opinion is more reliable than the collective view of more than 2 thousand academic people when talking about academics or colleges.</p>

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<p>

Thanks for demonstrating the results of public education. :)</p>

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<p>I am new to this thread. But one thing is clear, no one is paying CaptnJack to write their HYP essays. No one with any sense. I can see right through that statement after only reading a few posts.</p>

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<p>Here’s a current thread started by a top student in a state with a very good public flagship (Texas):
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1167948-ive-found-high-low-but-what-about-middle.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1167948-ive-found-high-low-but-what-about-middle.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>So why is the OP in that thread (cjjunior521) considering private schools?<br>
She states one clear, simple reason. She thinks UT-Austin, with about 50K students, is too big. So she is considering smaller, private schools including Yale, Stanford, and Rice. I suspect she has other reasons, too. She may be looking for more prestige than she thinks UT can offer, or she may want to get farther away from her home town.</p>

<p>I think the interesting question is not why someone would choose Yale or Stanford over UT-Austin. Those are tippy-top, prestigious schools with excellent need-based aid. They are known all over the world. They attract students from virtually every state and many foreign countries.</p>

<p>The more interesting question is why a top student would choose a less famous, less highly-ranked private school over UT-Austin. In my opinion, for top students living in states with “AMAZING flagships”, the flagship is very often the best choice … unless you are (a) looking for a very different kind of school (like, for example, a small women’s college), AND (b) can afford that alternative, either as a full-pay student or after aid.</p>

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<p>ewho, your post for me was personal. And to counter argue that, you are not in anyway more accomplished than I am (despite my public education), nor you are more intelligent or kind or whatever you’re implying to me.</p>

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<p>My state flagship is University of Washington, a great school no doubt, but I would never go there. I’m not even applying. It is less than a half hour from where I live, I really don’t like big cities, and I come from a big Cougar family…I hate the Huskies. I’d prefer to be near a big city, for entertainment and internship opportunities, but I wouldn’t wanna live in one (with a few exceptions, Seattle not being one.) I am most likely going to be attending a private college, 7 of the 10 colleges I am applying to are private. I don’t see why I should go to UDub just because it is my flagship, when I wouldn’t be happy there.</p>

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<p>Yes if you can get a great education why pay more?</p>