Well besides the original idea of the post and articles I have been reading on the subject I gave hypothetical scenarios to decide as to whether it is important(ultimately) what college you choose for undergraduate IF you are going on to graduate. Part of the reason I did ask this question comes from real life experience also so let me present you with these 2 cases.
Case #1 Top HS student. Could have gone to UNLV for relatively nothing but was dying to go to Pepperdine with the intent of continuing on to Med school after. Took out a ton of money for student loans. Top student at Pepperdine and accepted to Med school at Vanderbilt. Just completed and graduating soon.
Case #2 Sister of student #1. Also dying to get into to Pepperdine to study criminology. No college plans beyond that degree. Also loaded up on student loans to attend and could have gone to UNLV for relatively nothing.
Looking back, student 1 now questions the decision to take on student loans and attend Pepperdine(although she thoroughly loved the school). Seems like the same path to where she is now would have resulted. Would it have mattered in your estimation since she will be graduating from Vanderbilt whether or not she went to Pepperdine or UNLV?
Student 2 also has student loans and is working for the Sherff’s department. Also loved the campus at Pepperdine but now questions the wisdom of taking on so much debt to become a police officer when the same career path would have been accomplished at UNLV.
Thoughts?