<p>Considered lower tier by whom and relative to what other schools? What you said is certainly true - there are smart and academically competent students at every school and there are dullards at every school. If you’re happy and are doing meaningful, stimulating work among and under people whose company you enjoy and whose minds engage yours, what else really matters? </p>
<p>The fish bowls never end - you have no idea how many times I have been told Penn was a lower-tiered Ivy or reminded that Georgetown Law is at the bottom of the T14 (or how much I take to heart such statements, however irrationally). There’s always a bigger fish bowl or new pi*sing contest to be won. If it’s not schools, it’s salaries or trophy wives or expensive cars - be accountable to yourself and decide on a more meaningful metric to assess the value of your school and education than lay prestige.</p>