I think this is an interesting question.
In some cases, there is real value in prestige. A degree from Yale or MIT sends a “signal” in the economic sense of the word that one is indeed very smart and likely very impressive. How valuable that signal is to you and whether it is worth enough to overcome the fantastic fit you find at Pitzer is really the question for you and nobody else can answer.
I recommend that you think long and hard about this decision and that you do an overnight at each of the schools one more time as an admitted student and talk to existing students about your concerns and objectives. This is a very different kind of visit than you may have done to determine whether you wanted to apply. You will learn a lot about YOURSELF.
For what it’s worth, I’m an MIT grad and I’ve found that the people I’ve met have there been a positive influence on my life, and that my pedigree has opened doors and gotten me opportunities. In each case, I had to seal the deal and deliver, but no question the pedigree signaled the presumption of excellence.
My D1 who was an academic superstar had what seemed like then to be an equally hard decision. She chose the school with less prestige because it was a better fit for her interests and personality. She’s never looked back, though the college she chose eventually moved up in the rankings to become very prestigious indeed. Still it was a controversial decision by many peers, teachers, counselors, and other parents at the time.
Or was very smart and very impressive in high school, since that is what gains admission to Yale or MIT. But that is what elitist consulting and banking employers are presumably selecting for.
You’ve made this point repeatedly, and it’s never made much sense. Being smart in high school can get you into MIT, but actually getting a degree from MIT (let alone excelling there) requires quite a lot of hard work after high school. How many people with 2.0 GPAs at MIT and Harvard are getting hired at Goldman Sachs?
However, would the investment bank look at the 3.9 GPA graduate from Pitzer or a typical state flagship the same as a 3.9 GPA graduate in the same major from Yale or MIT?
@lostboy222 stop with the arrogance please. You went to community college, and your attitude is probably why you couldn’t get accepted anywhere else. Also, there are some pretty damn great people at Pitzer. Everyone else, thanks for the help and for the helpful links.
I’m not planning to go into Med-School. I’d like to go into research, and I want to pursue a PhD. Thoughts?
@palystanford don’t knock community college…there’s a recent Temple grad who is a Rhodes Scholar and started out at community college.
http://www.philly.com/philly/education/temple-gets-its-first-rhodes-scholar-a-north-philly-kid-20171119.html
Congrats on your achievements. while I don’t have specific advice about your choices I agree with choosing the school that is the best fit for you which sounds like Pitzer.
All right y’all I have an update. I got accepted into USC with a pretty hefty scholarship. HELP!!!
Lol!
Still with Pitzer or, if your parents insist, Yale (because it has prestige and resources and you have ways, with some programs and the houses, to make it feel LAC-like).
Use up your senior visit days though and go on overnights at all 