Why do you want to go to an Ivy League university instead of a state university?

<p>I think the question should be amended to “why do you want to go to HPSM over a state uni,” I know a lot of people who would rather go to state schools than Cornell/Dartmouth/Yale</p>

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<p>Well, I don’t know. It seems that those wannabe Ibankers will now just go into private equity, venture capital, or hedge funds and make even more money than the Ibankers ever did.</p>

<p>Because of the atmosphere. I’m tired of the typical lazy high school kids that are satisfied with passing. I would enjoy to have an enthralling conversation over an academic subject once in a while as well, not who slept with who over the weekend.</p>

<p>Basically I want out of high school… I don’t really want to do it all over again.</p>

<p>guys, it’s all about community college! screw ivy leagues and state</p>

<p>^hahahahahahaahahahhahahahahah
This thread makes me feel like I have no life.</p>

<p>going to a state school = more parties = more fun</p>

<p>The arrogance is slightly off-putting.
There are some great state schools, particularly Cal.
I think with Ivies a lot of it has to do with the prestige and marketability.
And bragging rights.</p>

<p>Because it can be argued that the quality of education isn’t necessarily better than that of certain other schools.</p>

<p>Are any of you doing IB diploma?
I am, so I don’t really experience the “stupid average lazy normal students who are far beneath me” environment. Most of my peers are very intelligent and motivated. Which is good because it keeps your ego under control, lol.</p>

<p>Now that I’ve spent some time in college, at a relatively prestigious pad, I think I have a good perspective on this.</p>

<p>It all; let me repeat, it all comes down to the composition of the student body and particularly the friends you make. Though I love the fact that everyone I talk to is really smart and motivated, it’s not impossible to find a group of similarly motivated and industrious students at any state school. </p>

<p>While it’s really awesome that professors from the Ivies win Nobel prizes (most recently, Princeton’s Krugman), ultimately such prestigious awards don’t necessarily make for a good teacher. Since most of the learning happens outside the classroom in nearly standard textbooks, it really doesn’t matter so much whether you go to an Ivy or not. </p>

<p>One important note however on rigor. Though it’s possible to nearly major in “Easy” at the Ivies, state schools often have less rigorous standard courses, and so it’s up to the student to challenge themselves because otherwise the education won’t be the same. I know my classes demand more from me than the classes some of my friends take a state schools. </p>

<p>And while I still maintain that an Ivy isn’t everything and that a fantastic education CAN await a motivated and industrious student at a state school, the things I’ve outlined are pretty important. Who doesn’t want to have a group of really smart friends that companionably complain about work? Who doesn’t want to have challenging and interesting classes? These two things, in general of course, are usually, if not always, characteristic of the Ivies. Makes life a bit easier, eh? But these things are also present at the top 20, even 30 schools as well. Getting a great, and entirely intellectually fulfilling education at state schools, IMHO, is just a little bit harder.</p>

<p>And I can’t stand to be around snarky people such as yourself. That is why I am glad that I attended a “normal” university where there is some humility among the students and the people are not incredible snobs!!</p>

<p>All of you people here are pathetically self-centered and full of your own egotistical, narcissistic sense of self-importance and entitlement. Well, I have news for you, the real world will chew you up and spit you out like yesterday’s steak dinner!!</p>

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<p>I trust that the UT-Austin applicant was intelligent enough to realize that the guy who asked this question was a moron – probably an Ivy League graduate.</p>

<p>Don’t make fun of community colleges. They have learning opportunities that you won’t find at traditional 4-year universities. They tend to teach more practical and less theoretical material, which is beneficial for learning specific software applications or certifications.</p>

<p>all the research professors I know graduated from state schools, U of Minnesota, UCLA, Michigan, even UND. I know very few of them who graduated from HYP caliber schools, and these are prominent research scientists too.</p>

<p>^But very few students graduate from HYP-caliber schools relative to large state schools, so anecdotal numbers aren’t particularly illuminating in this situation.</p>

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Is this really an idiotic question? I certainly wouldn’t have a problem answering the question in an interview if it were posed to me in the opposite way.</p>

<p>This is ridiculous.</p>

<p>It’s like Ivy league schools are the only private schools around. The topic should not be “Why do you wanna go to an Ivy league school instead of a state school?” the question should be “Why do you wanna go to a private school instead of a state school?” 'casue really, that’s where it comes down to: Private v. State, expensive v. cheap.</p>

<p>Just because professors are good at research, doesn’t mean they are good at teaching. Some people just can’t teach, and they hate to teach, but they are required to do so. </p>

<p>It’s all advertising, people. A good advertising campaign is a secret. Look at Obama’s campaign. It worked. </p>

<p>There are plenty of private schools that are more expensive than Ivies. Why are Ivies getting all the credit? You think that a chemistry professor at a non-Ivy private school will teach you less chemistry than the one at Cornell? NO.</p>

<p>yea, the ivy people who posted in this thread are such snobs. it’s really what you do in college that counts. and community colleges can have brilliant teachers. heck, even high school teachers. just because a teacher came from some prestigious school doesn’t mean they teach better. an econ and psych teacher in my high school graduated from stanford, but he wasn’t a relatively good teacher</p>

<p>I think I’d rather go to a private university only b/c I’d like a small school. I agree the ivy is better in world-class professors - the fact you could have the person who wrote the text book teaching you…but you get that at Michigan State also. The fact that you’re with top intellectuals you get at any state honors college, cheaply. I guess it depends what state school you’re comparing the ivy too. It also depends on the ivy and what program you’re talking about.</p>

<p>My uncle graduated Harvard in the late '70’s. He’s kind of a numb-skull, but he has never had trouble getting and keeping great jobs. I think the crimson tie helps.</p>