As I began to apply to college, I was faced with the question of where I was applying. With a 4.2 GPA, 3 Varsity sports, multiple clubs and leadership positions, people believed that I surely wanted to attend an Ivy. This couldn’t be further from the truth. My dream, for as long as I can remember, has always been to serve my country as an officer in the military, preferably Navy or Marines, but I don’t mind. This alternative career path pushed me in different directions for college, helping me to ultimately understand why many students don’t want to attend prestigious universities.
First of all, many students, like myself, have different aspirations for life. Some want to be poets, others mathematicians, some prefer the trades and others simply don’t know. Different goals for one’s future result in needing different resources after high school. For me, the best option for college would be a military academy or one with a good Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) program. For someone that wants to study the arts or humanities, they might want to avoid a heavily STEM focused school to allow their studies to be more tailored to what they want out of their secondary education. It’s not uncommon for schools to be better at a program than another, which can lead to a student being drawn to one for its specific program. Also it is important to note that many “average” universities have great programs, not just prestigious ones.
In addition, many students have different learning styles. This can lead them to wanting smaller class sizes, needing more hands on learning, etc. These different preferences result in different sized schools or schools with different teaching styles being prioritized in the college search. Personally, I thrive in situations when I can get to know the teacher, so that I can actually feel comfortable asking questions and getting help. Like me, many people find that 350 person lecture halls can be overwhelming and they can often result in less learning for those listening.
On top of this, these prestigious universities often come with a hefty price. According to Ivy Coach, the cheapest Ivy school is upwards of 80 thousand dollars a year. Many American families cannot pay this price without financial aid, scholarships and loans. Especially in consideration of loans, many students have to consider the return on investment. Is an Ivy education worth going into debt and having to repay it for years to come? Many believe that it isn’t, therefore they don’t want to pursue an education at an Ivy.
Also, the pressure of attending a prestigious university is often greater than that of a random school. Even just getting in, Ivy acceptance rates range from 3-7 percent, when you can get an amazing education from a school with an acceptance rate that is much higher than that. These schools can also have amazing programs in a student’s specific field, often with less stress on school and often with more time and dedication for student life. Many students are aiming for a college experience that involves more than just academics, which can often be found at an average university, not just a “prestigious” one.
A piece of advice for those applying to college, go where fits what you need. Don’t go anywhere to please anyone else. If that means taking a gap year, pursuing trades, going to a small university or even attending an Ivy, please do what is going to help you achieve your goals. But remember that where you get your degree is not going to matter in 10 years as much as it seems to now.