<p>Which one would you choose? Miserable at HYPMS or happy at a decent state school?</p>
<p>I'm afraid i've chosen the former.</p>
<p>I’d rather be happy. </p>
<p>Dumb question, no offense.</p>
<p>Well, seeing as so many people are obsessed with prestige, it doesn’t seem so to me…</p>
<p>Life is too short to choose to be miserable.</p>
<p>I can’t think of a reason that I’d be miserable at any of those schools (not in a predictable way). The highest ranked place I’d be genuinely miserable at is probably Notre Dame.</p>
<p>battleship, irrelevant. Who cares if “many people are obsessed with prestige”? The more important question is: Are you obsessed? If no, then the choice is clear. If yes, you need to reevaluate what is important in your life. I’m with nysmile.</p>
<p>I would choose to be happy at a decent state school. If you are ambitious and hardworking, you will be successful no matter what school you end up at.</p>
<p>Title is misleading. Plenty of state schools are right up there with “top” schools and even better than many of their private counterparts.</p>
<p>Your question doesn’t make any sense. Even if you are having a lousy time at a top school, the prestige it gives you from attending will give you enough happiness to overshadow the lousy time.</p>
<p>And it goes the other way to: you can be getting high every day at a state school but still feel lousy that you didn’t go to the top school. Thus you would really be miserable.</p>
<p>It all depends how much you care about the prestige and the brand name of different school.</p>
<p>But if I would take your question at face value, why would someone choose to be miserable…?</p>
<p>Why do you assume that people would be unhappy at a state school? People who attend “top schools” are necessarily happier than those who attend state schools. In fact, they may be more miserable because they have such high expectations to live up to. They are more at stake. Duh.</p>
<p>Happy happy happy, definitely.</p>
<p>What kind of question is that?</p>
<p>What “prestige,” Colboy, you mean to employers?</p>
<p>You could tell me you went to Princeton and I wouldn’t assume for one second you were intelligent or competent.</p>
<p>I’d just wait for you to open your mouth. That would reveal things pretty quickly.</p>
<p>Happiness>misery but at the same time I want to go somewhere I can feel proud of.</p>
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But then they would not be happy at a state school, making the question moot.</p>
<p>From personal experience at both places, I’d rather be happier at a state school. I loved my old college. I loved the people, the instructors were awesome, it was a great atmosphere. But decided to transfer to a “better” school that was closer to home. I can’t stand it here. However, it seems employers (at least the few I’ve come in contact with) are more interested in prestige and having a gilded diploma so I feel a bit trapped.</p>
<p>Ridiculous mistake. In short, it’s “better” school but I’m miserable.</p>
<p>Further more, I think the quality of education was better at the state school. I don’t feel as if I’ve learned anything applicable to my field.</p>
<p>Being miserable at any school is likely to affect how well you will do there – do you really think that you’re going to be more likely to go to class regularly, get engaged in your studies, and work hard if you’re unhappy? I’m always amazed by the CC “nothing will do but a top tier school” mentality. You DON’T have to attend HYP to be successful in life.</p>
<p>^ I’m unhappy at my college and it’s encouraged me to do really well (4.0 first semester and this one’s probably gonna be the same the way things are going). Why? Because I hate NYU and i feel like it’s not worth all the money, so I’m transferring to a SUNY (hopefully SUNY Binghamton or SUNY Geneseo).</p>
<p>Plattsburgh, if you don’t mind sharing, what college do you go to? I remember you said it was in Manhattan once - is it NYU maybe?</p>
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<p>There are plenty of state schools that you can be proud of. Michican, UNC-Chapel Hill, UCLA, UC-Berkley, UVA, etc are all top schools and better than many of the nation’s private schools.</p>
<p>STATE SCHOOL. I speak from experience. I am miserable at a top school. I truly regret not going to my state school–I had a full scholarship and would easily have graduated with a 3.8+. I know this for a fact because since matriculating at my “top school,” I’ve taken courses at the state school and aced/loved them.</p>
<p>State schools aren’t perfect, but “top schools” are not automatically worth it. You should think long and hard when you make your decision. The choice will not be the same for everyone.</p>
<p>Edit: Sorry if this post isn’t formatted properly. I don’t know what’s wrong with my computer.</p>