FLVADAD

Going to a prestigious school is easy because no one questions your judgement about attending, people assume the best things about the quality of your education, and whether it's true or not, they also assume you are bright and intelligent.

In fact, if you think about it, a prestigious school is the best place for a dumb person with good grades to go -- always getting the benefit of the doubt can be very useful to those who might not actually be able to prove their value without it.

tokenadult

Economists comment about the important ECONOMIC value of "signaling" student characteristics by what college you attend.

Higher Education - Google Book Search

mtngoat1

I'm glad this thread was posted. I'm very nervous about my future, prospectively attending a school whose reputation isn't yet solidified, even if it's a terrific school. It's this weird sort of abstract compunction. I want to be a writer, but there haven't really been any successful writers who have graduated from the school. So who's to say I'll be the first produced? Why would I defy the precedent? I'm not that intelligent. I just want to be able to do what I love at one point in my life, and I'm sort of clawing at it when it's embedded so far in the distance.

sugarglider

me too! (want to do what i love someday)

well i hope it works out for you mtngoat1!

mtngoat1

Thanks, you too.

FLVADAD

mtngoat1, I think your worries are misguided somewhat. Obviously, a quality program that will nurture your talent is important. However, where that program resides is much less important. You are entering a talent related field, and that's what you will be judged by - your talent. Thus, your concern should be attending where your talents are best served. If that is at a prestifious school and you can get in, pay for it, etc. then great. However, if it's somplace else, then you belong there.

I wouldn't worry about the rest.

mtngoat1

What especially hurts is that I was accepted to a school with one of the best creative writing programs in the country, and we can't pay for it. So here I am, settling for less.

FLVADAD

mtngoat1 I completely understand. Plenty of people here in similar circumstances. However, there's the best (as generally accepted), and then there's the best for you. Not always the same thing. The best for you is not a place where you have to live in financial misery to attend. What fun would that be? None in my book. So in that sense, you are not settling at all. You are being smart by choosing the option that makes the most sense. If you pay attention, work hard, and take advantage of every opportunity, maybe create some if necessary, you'll do just fine.

mtngoat1

It's certainly going to be a struggle against the current (although it would be either way). I kind of look forward to the challenge, I guess. Thanks for all the help.

Milkmagn

People are concerned about what other people think about them when they should care less.

DunninLA

mtngoat1: you didn't settle for *less*, as you write. You did settle for *different*. The cream always rises. Focus on yourself, and spend your time experiencing things that are interesting to write about.

thethoughtprocess

getting access to companies which only recruit at a certain group of schools

Fallinwater0328

But, will you be happy to be an employee instead of starting your own business? I think this is the most tragic aspect for choosing a brand name college versus a place where you can receive a better education.

For me, finding the one that suits me the best is more important than prestige.

tokenadult

On starting a business:

You Weren't Meant to Have a Boss

Why to Not Not Start a Startup

The same author's (changing) views on where to go to college:

News from the Front

(The author is a graduate of two Ivy League programs.)

rusty333

Thanks for the great read tokenadult. The 3rd article is extremely good