<p>would you do this? and how much "less" would this college be?</p>
<p>Eh… I could see myself going to a lesser school if I had a full ride or something, but I’m not the type of person who wants to be the best in the class that badly. :P</p>
<p>I think it’s easier to stand out academically at a smaller school, but not necessarily a “lesser” school. There are some very excellent small, private liberal arts schools where it is easier to get to know your profs and get involved in their projects. I would think it’d be very hard to do so if you go to a large uni with auditorium-style classes. Typically the classes get smaller as you move up from freshman to senior courses, but I still have a preference for small undergrad schools and larger graduate schools.</p>
<p>Haha yeah, I should say I defined “lesser” as less selective.</p>
<p>Your state flagship over a T35 Private Uni? Sure, go for it.</p>
<p>what about 2 schools that are comparable in location, size, etc, would you still go for the less selective one to stand out?</p>
<p>I wouldn’t assume, for example, that just because you decide to go to North Carolina State instead of MIT that you will necessarily wind up being one of the top students at North Carolina State.</p>
<p>A big state flagship may have unimpressive looking averages, but still have a lot of sharp students who did not get into the super-selectives, or could not afford the selective privates that are not as generous with financial aid.</p>
<p>Course offerings at such schools may therefore range from rather easy joke courses that may be considered an embarrassment by many (“physics for poets” type courses) to extremely challenging honors courses, upper level courses, and graduate level courses.</p>
<p>No, not at all. If you end up going to grad school, they will consider whether you have a 3.5 GPA at Harvard or a 3.9 at a much lesser school. Of course, other considerations would be research experience, etc., but sometimes lesser schools come with less opportunities.</p>
<p>If you don’t go to grad school, employers won’t really care if you were a straight A student or not, just that you have the degree and necessary skills.</p>
<p>but would you get more or better attention/research opportunities if you were well above the average academically?</p>
<p>Perhaps more attention…I don’t think you’d have more research opportunities. Most faculty will try to help any student that approaches them. If you are bright, you are bright, regardless of the ability of your peers. “Smarter” kids might not be looking for the research opportunities if they’re not looking at grad school, also. I think the ultimate goal would be to find a school that fits your intellectual capabilities and provides a reasonable challenge, and then rise to that challenge. </p>
<p>From my experience, my grades were higher in the more challenging courses/schools that I attended, and mediocre in easy classes that I just had no care for.</p>
<p>thank you for the responses, and you’re logic makes sense to me</p>
<p>your* (10char)</p>
<p>does anyone else have any input? i would like to hear more responses</p>