If you look at feeder lists for various companies, you will see that while selectivity can play a role (especially psychologically, on the part of the hiring manager), companies in various areas often give jobs to students who go to school at universities nearby them.
For example, in one of the slides I just posted you’ll see San Jose State University listed.
It’s different for each career, of course. This is the level of in-depth research that is helpful to do if a student knows what they want to study in the future.
One thing we know for sure is that with the advent of AI, 21st century skills like critical thinking and emotional intelligence will be highly in the job market since AI will do more “mundane” tasks.
The one thing undergrad selectivity does for students at top colleges is serve as a signal that the student is intelligent and has basic critical thinking skills.
Some may argue with that idea, of course, but generally that tends to be the stereotype!
Good question! Ivy League universities generally do not give merit scholarships, but many top universities do.
If a student attends a safety school and has a stellar academic record, they may receive an excellent merit scholarship (sometimes even a full ride) as well as entry into the school’s honors college (if there is one).
One thing we have seen over the years is that you really don’t know the real cost of attendance until the spring–after you have received your financial aid letter and after you have negotiated for more financial aid, which is something we recommend to our students.
So it’s a bit complex. But certainly don’t rule out a university on your list if it’s a “dream” school. Doing some research on all your schools’ net price calculators will help.
We have seen students from wealthy families with less than stellar academic records get excellent “merit” scholarships because the college was betting on the fact that the student and their family might make donations to the college in the future.
The college list is ideally created during junior year or right at the start of the summer. That way students can start writing essays and focus on their passion project during the summer. That’s what we recommend. Of course, if that time has passed, work on it as soon as possible because you won’t know how many essays you will have to write until the list is finalized!
Usually that’s the one reason a college may allow you to back out from an Early Decision application.
Some students who get in but cannot afford the cost of attendance get loans, but that’s not something everyone wants to do.
If you do some research using the net price calculator before applying or deciding on an early college, you may find that you’re better off applying ED to a college where you can afford the cost of attendance.
When applying ED to an unaffordable school, you may be giving up on the opportunity to attend an affordable school that may have accepted you ED.
We are now at time so we’ll be wrapping up this session. THANK YOU @IvyLeaguePotential for showing us how to create a stellar college list and for answering our questions.