Look: even if someone was to get into Harvard, Yale, Princeton, etc., would it be worth it from an quality of life standpoint? All the stress, cutthroat competition, constant comparison, etc. what do you all think? Just a thought.
If you have to ask it is not worth it.
I totally understand your point, but going to one of the “elite” schools doesn’t guarantee success, nor is it the best fit for every student. Knowing this, is it worth it?
I is a very personal decision and you will find people arguing both sides on this forum.
The schools you referenced have fairly wide SAT score ranges, with 25th percentile points at 1410, 1410 and 1400, respectively. These scores would be in the middle range for over 70 US colleges. With this as a basis for comparison, the schools used as examples exist on an academic continuum with many others, and therefore may not differ distinctly with respect to the attributes you suggested.
That said, when then candidate, now Massachusetts governor, Charlie Baker was asked by the Boston Globe to take the Proust Questionnaire, he responded as follows:
Q: What is your greatest regret?
A: Not going to Hamilton College. I never really felt comfortable at Harvard.
“I totally understand your point, but going to one of the “elite” schools doesn’t guarantee success, nor is it the best fit for every student. Knowing this, is it worth it?”
Actually Ozy, I disagree. There are literally over 60 colleges and universities that are “elite”, ranging from tiny liberal Arts colleges like Amherst, Davidson, Haverford and Middlebury to large public universities like Berkeley, Michigan, UCLA and UVa. Most qualified students can find a niche at many of those colleges and universities.
By the way, it should be noted that most of those universities are not "cutthroat"or unpleasant.
Many of the elite colleges are not as cutthroat or competitive when you get in. There are a few excpetions of course, but I would argue in some cases, competition is more fierce in high schools. The coursework will likely be more difficult because professors have high expectations and the college is expected to be rigorous, but it is in no way unmanageable.
I currently go to a school that is known for it’s academic nature and rigorous standards. Honestly it is fine as long as you are good at time management and are able to realize that a single course does not define you. When looking for a college, I would say it is important to look at fit and what will help you reach your goals.
This may be different for every person. Some would really thrive in a block plan environment… I just recommended Colorado College today to someone like that. Others would love a highly intellecutal environment such as Reed or UChicago. Others even yet would thrive at an honors college at a large research university. There are many different pathways for different avenues of success. It will be different for every person, and for some it may not be the ivy-laden pathway, and that’s fine
From an economic standpoint, there are groups for whom attending an elite institution - not just the Ivy league but most universities and LACs in the top 25 nationally - IE., URM, first generation, or lower income students. Research shows it makes a big difference for these students, in part because the resources are there to offset any earlier disadvantage, and the alumni network /brand strength comes to replace connections their families may not have.it’s also possible they also teach some skills // social/cultural capital that comes in handy at the upper echelons of society.
Those schools are not the “best” by every measurement, nor do they manufacture success. Elite schools are sorting mechanisms that admit many super students who will go far in life regardless of the undergrad school they attend. I had a better classroom experience at my LAC (small classes, working closely with profs) than I would have had at an elite. Some students find HYP to be their best fit and good for them.