<p>Studies have shown that it is much more the individual than the institution attended that determines later success in life/career trajectory, etc. I.e. if you are accepted to both Harvard and Penn State (or, god forbid, U Chicago ;)) and attend Penn State, you will attain the same future station in life as if you’d attended Harvard. Therefore, go for the flavor and fit of the undergraduate institution- you’ll have a more intellectually rigorous and intense experience, on average, at a Chicago or Swarthmore than pretty much anywhere else, and that may be what you want. Rankings are alot of fun, and college quality can probably be sorted in to some general tiers, but nit-picking between top 10 universities and LACs is just that.</p>