<p>Sure, yeah, lots of college students have inferiority complexes.</p>
<p>Not trying to offend anyone here (obviously), but this is how I think about it:</p>
<p>These ‘inferiority-complex’ schools have lower ranks on USWNR, which carries a lot of weight (and really unnecessarily so). These schools also usually offer Early Decision. As you’ll notice, HYPSM all do not have ED, although some have EA. I hear that some will be employing ED/EA in the future, but that’s another discussion.</p>
<p>Most of the top schools that trail HYPSM have ED, and let’s not beat around the bush: one big reason for ED is to protect a school’s yield percentage, which factors into USWNR rankings. And for some of these schools, about 50% of their incoming class is accepted (and obviously retained) through ED. </p>
<p>So if you were to poll current students, at least around 50% would respond that x school was their first choice, since they got in ED. </p>
<p>Anyway. There are plenty of ways to feel insecure about your school, your program within your school, etc. In the end, it’s the student, not the school. The less time you’re wasting feeling inferior and trying to justify how ‘amazing’ your school is, and the more time you spend trying to use the resources you have, the more successful you’ll be.</p>
<p>And like warblersrule said, school pride isn’t the same thing as an inferiority complex. </p>
<p>But yes, I have heard the phrase that “I go to x, the BEST ivy, obviously!” a few too many times from hyper-insecure friends… on facebook statuses/profiles (at least twice per month), at least 10 facebook groups titled “The Ivy League” or “Members of the Ivy League” or whatever. Prestige-envy is real, it’s usually annoying, but it is what it is.</p>