<p>I am not about to say all schools are the same. The prestige, panache, amenties of some of the top schools like Harvard have all kinds of benefits that will last over the years. How much that is worth, however is in question. If you can afford the differential, well and good, but when you and your family cannot without a financial sacrifice that can take it’s toll, one needs to take that into heavy consideration.</p>
<p>Maybe the stories of dad taking a third job or mom cleaning Port-A-Johns so that the kid can go to the otherwise unaffordable college of choice makes you swell up in tears of pride. Not me. I wouldn’t wish that on my parents for ANY college. HPY–any college. And I question the integrity of anyone who is so selfish to do so. Yes, that’s an extreme example, but you know where I am going. If you know your family is not doing so well financially, and you pick an option that is putting a huge financial burden on them, it can be a major issue. And shame on you. </p>
<p>Yes, there are advantages to living in an upscale neighborhood in a beautiful clean lined house. Driving a mercedes or Lexus has it’s advantages over a Kia, over some used cars that are less expensive. The local colleges that are not ranked or mentioned do not have the same feel, repution ,etc as the those that do and when you get into the reputation, ranking, recognition, I’m not about to say they are all the same. </p>
<p>The question comes down to the tradeoffs. For those for whom costs the same or near the same or even less to go to Private U over Local State U, of course, go at it. But for some kids, the parents are already in enough of a financial hole so that what the calculators say they have to pay, they cannot without damages. So they are not going to get financial aid, and merit is very hard to get at the top schools as many of them do not even have that option. So it becomes a matter of making a decision as to what the best choice for all loved ones is in the long term.</p>
<p>I just recently went to an awards dinner for a local college grad who became a Rhodes Scholar from this little known college. She could have gone to any number of schools and was accepted to an ivy but chose to go there. Did very well there, I daresay, better than most of her peers who went to the ivy. Far, far better. Water does tend to rise to its level. As far as she’s concerned, the competition to get the Rhodes from other schools would have diminished her chances of getting it. Her profs at the college went full court press for her as she was a shining light at that school whereas she would have likely been one of many at the top schools. SO there are advantages to choosing a smaller pond.</p>
<p>Right now the kids who are employed in my area are the ones who chose career type majors like accounting, nursing, tech at some local schools and they are outstripping those who had no such options at some of the schools that are nearly all liberal arts in their choices. The differential will abate over time, but it sure is not a bragging right now. And many will have to throw in more money to get some certification on the old resume to land some job. </p>
<p>Studies have shown that those accepted to the top schools and choose otherwise tend to do just as well as their peers who made the elite choice, and I believe it. You lose bragging rights and some lustre ,yes. Being an ivy or some of the other well known schools grad does have some class implication, I agree and can open some doors some times. But not as much as the damage the cost can do for those who could not afford it. I 've seen this in a two generation cycle now. </p>
<p>And I am writing this as one who would ,oh, so love to have a kid graduate from one of the name schools. So I know the feeling. Emotion is pretty danged powerful and can overshadow facts.</p>
