<p>Sigh… I think a lot of us realize this, but it’s still a very difficult decision to make, you know? I agree with the OP but I know that despite the advice offered in this post, in the future people are still going to ask this X vs. Y question, not because they actually think there’s only “one right school,” but because trying to decide between colleges is a genuinely difficult decision to make. Not everyone approaches schools with the shallow black-and-white “which name looks shinier on my resume?” mindset. Approaching a decision like this does not rely completely on “school is what you make of it.”</p>
<p>I guess what I’m saying is that it’s all right to tell people to choose the school they feel is the right one to attend, but we have to accept that there are other reasons people feel compelled to choose X over Y. Where you go to college is not going to make or break your future, but it’s certainly an important factor that affects the rest of your life. </p>
<p>Please keep that in mind before you bite the head off of a CCer who has to make what’s the biggest decision most of us has had to make so far in our lives. I assure you, we all know how annoying a barrage of these threads can get. But you don’t even have to respond to them, and face it: this is College Confidential. It’s unavoidable.</p>
<p>Edit: this post wasn’t specifically targeted at the OP. I just don’t want people to become completely unsympathetic to users who post X vs. Y threads.</p>
<p>I don’t really feel any sort of antipathy for the X vs. Y types, nor do I ever bite their heads off. But I do feel that some perspective is needed.</p>
<p>Happiness is not given out in a bottle at Harvard. Nor is success. Conan O’Brien probably didn’t think much of his Harvard degree when he was working at Wilson’s House of Suede and Leather. Yes, I know, rare example. But the point, in all its absurdity, stands. You can’t expect schools to make your life into one big golden path toward the rainbow of nirvana. And yes, some might help point you there a little better. Heck, I know that I wouldn’t be happy at Cal State Podunk vs. UCLA. But I also would not have been happy at Cornell or Brown or Dartmouth. The cold weather literally makes me depressed. </p>
<p>And why shouldn’t weather matter? It’s my life. I only get to live it once, and I want to be happy.</p>
<p>I’m not saying that admits shouldn’t consider all the factors. They definitely ought to do so. But what they shouldn’t do is imagine a world where UCLA is no longer worth going to because it dropped to 26th in USNWR’s ranking. Or where UCLA is automatically a better school than NYU because it’s ranked higher.</p>
<p>Heck, take me. I chose a program ranked FAR below the top ranked one in my field for grad school because I didn’t want another $50K in debt. And you know what? I got the same internship I wanted anyway! And on top of that, no DC winter and I get to see my girlfriend every month instead of twice a year.</p>
<p>That’s happiness in a bottle. And I put it there.*</p>
<ul>
<li> Happiness in a bottle is not for everyone. Restrictions apply.</li>
</ul>
<p>Sadly, many will continue to do X vs. Y, from which a bloody war will ensue. (Berkeley vs. Harvard, anyone?) I’ve posted a similar topic before, but more to see whether others share my viewpoint that #20 and #1 aren’t too different.</p>
<p>Guys, in the end, this thread wasn’t meant to say that your school doesn’t matter. It was just meant to positively reinforce the notion that pretty much 99% of the people here are going to be great successes. Don’t take anything more sinister out of my post, please…it’s simply not there.</p>
<p>Pfft. Everyone knows that if you choose Yale over Harvard you will end up working in a cubicle marketing office supplies. The fact that you had amazing enough scores, activities, grades, etc. to get into school X but chose school Y counts for nothing.</p>
<p>wait… but while we’re on the topic, which of those schools will make you rich and popular w/the opp. sex, get u into grad skl, and make u set for life? </p>
<p>lol UCLAri. Coming into this topic I thought of Conan. The cold weather makes me depressed too. When spring time comes its like a burden has been lifted.</p>
<p>also, i agree with whoever said that people will still be asking ‘X vs Y’ because they want something that looks shiny on their resume. they will ask themselves that. but what happens after they graduate from that shiny university, reputable grad school, etc? they get into the real world where not everyone can be the CEO/chief surgeon/etc. and where many co-workers and supervisors won’t care about their SAT score/summer program of choice/where they went to school. and then, in my opinion, they’re in for a rude awakening.</p>
<p>IMO, just like to add that a lot depends on your personality, networking, and being at the right place at the right time… I know someone who attended two great schools for undergr and grad and did well - but never had that wonderful career. I also know someone who went to a little known college, “least selective” according to USNWR, but met the right people and today is excelling in his field - right along side pple who attended Harvard. I thought that was unbelievable - but it’s true. So going to big name schools sometimes isn’t everything…</p>
<p>In my opinion, the X vs Y question is a very worthwhile question. You are not simply debating on which school sounds better, or wil “make you more successful,” but are also debating on the lifestyle that they want to lead in the next four years, possibly more than that. Sometimes, you hesitate to come to a decision because you think all the other possibilities, the other routes you could have taken. You are at an intersection on road with many possible routes you can take. With different routes, your futures will be shaped differently… </p>
<p>Cal Poly VS UCSB?? I chose a long time ago to go to SLO, but now im having some regrets. I applied early decision and I am wondering what would have happened If I had applied regular and gotten into both. The reason I chose SLO was being of a lot less $$, more laid-back atmosphere, prettier campus, and at the time I was into their teaching credential program…</p>
<p>to be fair to people (like me) who are in SCHOOL X OR SCHOOL Y frenzies…It’s not that we don’t think we will be successful at a "less prestigious school. There are so many other things that go into a college decision, such as cost, fit (big v small, rural v urban, close to home v far away), scholarship/financial aid, etc. that make it hard to decide.</p>
<p>“But… but… but… I got a 2273 on my SATs and I’ve been doing open-heart surgery since I was seven years old! And I’m the editor of my high school newspaper! And several other high school newspapers in the area! If I’m not a ‘pre-med major’ at CalTech, everyone will think I’m a loser!”</p>
<p>It’s always refreshing to see some sanity here at CC. Thanks for the original post, and thanks for all your agreement!</p>
<p>Chris D’Orso
Assistant Director of Admissions</p>
<h2>Stony Brook University"</h2>
<p>LOL…Actually, if CalTech is anything like MIT (where I went to school), people will make fun of you if you are a bio major! It is, in fact, the most non-mathematical of majors. </p>
<p>So if you are a pre-med bio major, you are better off hiding it or risk suffering the scorn of your peers…</p>