<p>LOL…I dont think that rating colleges and then selecting them for attendance should rise and fall on their top 30 ranking in USNWR or their avg sat scores or whatever minutiae one picks. It should be based on overall fit. Academic fit is ONE factor. But just because you have a 1400 plus SAT does NOT mean you should restrict yourself to the elite LAC’s and national Universities. </p>
<p>as UCLAri succinctly and poignantly said, "I know people who made choices for undergrad that would make many people on this site simply faint from shock.</p>
<p>But they are happy, successful, whole people who defined themselves with something other than their school name."</p>
<p>And that my friends is the entire picture in a nutshell. Being HAPPY, SUCCESSFUL, WHOLE people which has very little to do with prestige and SAT scores.</p>
<p>You may very well be very happy and successful at Duke or Notre Dame or whatever. Or Dartmouth. Good for you! Congrats! But you may also be just as happy and successful or even moreso at a lesser known or lower ranked school and that all depends on the individual.</p>
<p>At most every college in the United States you will find kids with uber stats. Its a myth they all go to the top schools. A myth.</p>
<p>And that is a good thing.</p>
<p>If you love Vandy, then go for it. Its a great school! But if you end up at Tulane or Georgia, that is also wonderful. I know people at both of them and they are both very, very happy.</p>