<p>It means that most people don’t have the resumes, grades, experience, and recommendations to even consider applying that early because they’d be flat-out rejected.</p>
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<p>No. If you have C’s at Dartmouth it won’t get you anywhere. If you have A’s and good recs and a great resume, it’ll get you to the same places if you have A’s and good recs and a great resume from most anywhere else – especiallly these specific schools you’ve mentioned (Tufts, Cornell). Your undergrad school is not so much a career move choice as a stepping stone to one. What you do once you’re there will define it – DEFINITELY not the name (unless it’s Harvard – I’ve found that Harvard alums are the most enthusiastic, it’s like a self-perpetuating dynasty). </p>
<p>However, is it worth going to your dream school? Yes, if it’s your dream school for all the right reasons (you might guess by now that ‘prestige’ is not one I’d consider a good reason).</p>