<p>Finances are actually what I was most concerned about. Ivy League colleges have some of the most robust financial aid programs in the United States. A student of means with a high EFC might end up paying much less and having far fewer loans at Princeton than they might at a state school that charges them the full sticker price.</p>
<p>And for many grad schools outside of law and medicine most students manage to get their costs patronized by either an employer (private or state) or by working jobs like TA. </p>
<p>I know it’s not “PC” to say this, but there is a reason why certain schools have prestige and it’s not just because they reject a lot of applicants. The value of a strong undergraduate program can’t be overrated enough; it can equip a student with the tools needed to be the “movers and shakers” (so to speak) of their generation. It’s no coincidence that so many of our Presidents, Supreme Court Justices, and members of Congress are from the same range of colleges…</p>