<p>Of the two choices listed below, for students who choose to attend an elite college, do they do so because:</p>
<p>(a) The EDUCATION they will receive on a day-to-day basis over four years</p>
<pre><code> or
</code></pre>
<p>(b) The opportunity to EARN LOTS OF MONEY afforded by having a degree from an elite college.</p>
<p>NOTED: Of course, one can say that they pick an elite college because it offeres BOTH “a” and “b” above. And one can say that there are many other reasons besides “a” and “b” above for choosing an elite college.</p>
<p>But, I,m just wondering…of the two choices listed above, what would be your PRIMARY reason for choosing to attend an elite college?</p>
<p>This’ll sound conceited, but I believe I’m smart and resourceful enough to earn enough money to live comfortably (though perhaps not extravagantly) regardless of where I go to school, and being immensely wealthy has never been a goal of mine. I wanted the best possible education – in and out of the classroom – and the best possible experience, in that intangible, sentimental way that keeps you donating and reminiscing years after you’ve graduated. I don’t know. I do know that money never had a thing to do with it.</p>
<p>And I’m going to Dartmouth, if that matters.</p>
<p>Why the need to pigeon-hole students into one stereotype or another? There can be as many different reasons for choosing a given school are there are students at the school, maybe even more.</p>
<p>Isn’t this a legit question to ask in my OP? I acknowledged that there are a variety of reasons why students pick a college. I isolated two of those reasons, education and money, just to see which of those two was the more important factor in a student attending an elite college. To me, it’s interesting to find out this info.</p>
<p>Let’s put it this way: Some people at these schools are rich enough NOT to care. Many others aspire to be writers, teachers, professional violinists etc. and other professions that do not guarantee lots of money. Others becomes doctors and lawyers and will make a decent living but won’t become extraordinarily rich without other factors. Even the few people I know who are hellbent on being ibankers are doing because they like the industry (in addition of hoping to strike it rich). </p>
<p>Yes, there are a few people (read: a**holes) like that here and there, but for the most part, people at the Ivies aren’t really that vain.</p>
<p>There were other schools I could have gone to for the intellectual fix, which obviously is one of the main reasons I’m into my field and excited about Yale, but sure, having at least a little lower risk of going completely bankrupt with my “May I Take Your Order”-destined major feels good.</p>
<p>I didn’t choose my major for the money though, and didn’t choose the school for it, either. Had it been less prestigeous with the exact same atmosphere and level of challenge, I’d like to think I’d still have gone even if admitted to something fancier.</p>
<p>Why is it that almost every thread you have made seems to in some way bash the students of elite institutions or the institutions themselves? I’m just curious.</p>