<p>@AnnieBeats
“So don’t pretend it’s not all about prestige.”
I thought I made it clear earlier that prestige- in the academic world- was indeed a factor. However I am also saying, that I have reasons for picking some prestigious colleges over others. I have done extensive research on what colleges would be a good fit for me, and I am not merely hunting for prestige. If I was, I would be applying to Princeton, UPenn, Cornell, Northwestern, Emory, Rice, WashU, Brown, Colby, and a host of other top-ranked schools. I have a list of match and safety schools I absolutely love, but I was asking in this thread, for advice on choosing to go the LAC route or the Ivy League/Top Research University route.
Also, whether you like it or not, there is a great difference in the academic quality and overall undergraduate experience of ASU and Dartmouth or Alabama and Swarthmore. And my parents and I are willing to pay for that difference. I really don’t know how you can compare Arizona State and Alabama to the colleges I have expressed interest in.</p>