<p>
[quote]
And success in life is not just measured by a salary and big house and car. Its measured by your character and integrity
[/quote]
That's probably what I meant by succeeding..</p>
<p>I also didn't talk about what it takes to get into a better univ (and thus, what it takes to have higher chances of succeeding)..</p>
<p>Still not the right view?</p>
<p>Great. I am glad you clarified your view. Hold onto it. Because your character and integrity are something of enormous value and that nobody can take away from you. They will serve you far greater in life than any piece of parchment. </p>
<p>As for college, you should go after the school that you want to attend with all the vigor you can muster, but be humble and compassionate when discussing it with others, particularly if you get in. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>I think getting into the best school you can that you see fit and not going into debt is an important factor. Why not attend a top 25 school if you can? Sometimes I think people are on opposite sides of this debate, which they are. Why not make it easier for YOURSELF and get into that ivy or top public university (if you can) if you see yourself happy there. If you can't then go to the second best school on your list and so on.</p>
<p>Ernst & Young, a Big 4, just offered my brother (a finance major) a job. He'll be graduating from UIUC this upcoming fall.</p>
<p>There is nothing wrong with attending at Top 25 school. And a lot of very nice people do just that. I think the point of this thread was to ask a question why people obsess about attending Top 25 schools? And I think that is a legitimate question.</p>
<p>Some people like big state schools. Some people are hooked on a particular sports team and school. Some want a more intimate academic environment. Some want to be surrounded by brilliant people and motivated to excel all the time. Some dont want to be stressed out all the time.</p>
<p>But its like Aesop's Fable of the Tortoise and the Hare. Be careful you don't burn out along the way.</p>
<p>For the record, Cecil D. Bykerk, FSA, the President–Elect of the Society of Actuaries, received his undergraduate degree from the University of Dever. On the other hand, Bruce Schobel, FSA, the current President, is an MIT grad.</p>
<p>Would you rather your heart surgeon held his B.S. from Harvard and his medical degree from the University of Louisville School of Medicine or would you prefer the surgeon who earned his B.S. at Louisville and his medical degree at the Harvard Medical School. Personally I'd prefer the best heart surgeon.</p>
<p>Depends on which school has the best heart surgery training, I suppose. Some medical schools off the radar screen of a lot of people have amazing cardio-thoracic medicine programs. US News separates research medical schools from primary care medical schools: research vs. clinicians/surgeons. The list is very different. Clinical medical schools top 5 are University of Washington, North Carolina, Colorado-Denver Health Sciences, Oregon Health Sciences, Michigan State and East Carolina. Surprised? Washington University in St. Louis Medical School is number 4 in research and number 43 in clinical/primary care studies.</p>