Stand out in weak peer group or blend in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does the student want?

To give mother something to brag to the aunties about, like any good child wants for their dear mother.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are visiting a school with a very high acceptance rate and an academically weak cohort of students.

DC is a very strong student and will possibly get in into a T20.

In this school, however, DC will stand out and be on top academically.

Does it make sense to go to this low ranked school and be on top of class, get all research and internship placement opportunities, etc.

In top 20 DC will just blend in with other academic overachievers.

I liked being with strong peers in college, and my kids wanted that too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are visiting a school with a very high acceptance rate and an academically weak cohort of students.

DC is a very strong student and will possibly get in into a T20.

In this school, however, DC will stand out and be on top academically.

Does it make sense to go to this low ranked school and be on top of class, get all research and internship placement opportunities, etc.

In top 20 DC will just blend in with other academic overachievers.

Define "blend in".

It's totally fine if "blend in" means in the top 25%. No one is expecting to be in the top 1% in college.

It's most likely a miserable experience if "blend in" refers to in the bottom 25%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Does it make sense to go to this low ranked school and be on top of class, get all research and internship placement opportunities, etc.

It’s amusing that you think your kid will get research and internship opportunities at a low ranking school and that you think anyone (least of all employers) will be impressed if your kid is top of the class at a crap school.

[Anonymous]

Why is it even on your list, then?

My kid's safeties were calibrated for his decent stats. He got in all of them, and actually attends one, where he is happy. It did help him stand out with less effort and got him into a selective study-abroad program... the same that was offered at his reaches, where he might not have qualified for it, given this one takes a set number of applicants from each school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is it even on your list, then?

My kid's safeties were calibrated for his decent stats. He got in all of them, and actually attends one, where he is happy. It did help him stand out with less effort and got him into a selective study-abroad program... the same that was offered at his reaches, where he might not have qualified for it, given this one takes a set number of applicants from each school.

Study abroad program is a big deal? How?
Did he get into a top PhD program? JD? MD?

[Anonymous]

If going to law school, it is better to get As in undergrad.

Harvard Law seeks variety, for example, and not just students from T20.

Look at your child’s goals and go from there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid was at a 100-ranked school for freshman year. Had a transfer option to Cornell which is basically a guaranteed entrance sophomore year. She had fun and made some good friends at her freshman school. Did extremely well in her classes. But the academics were abysmal compared to what she’s now getting at Cornell. Loves her professors and is excited about her classes. She had a somewhat rough fall semester adjusting as a transfer student. However she never complained about her classes.

She’s all set with an internship this summer that I don’t believe she would have got if she were at her first school.

Cool story.

Freshman year is often easier than later years. An anecdote from one person when you can’t compare the same year at one school versus the same year at another school (and among many students) is not useful.

This is certainly no way to make a decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Does it make sense to go to this low ranked school and be on top of class, get all research and internship placement opportunities, etc.

It’s amusing that you think your kid will get research and internship opportunities at a low ranking school and that you think anyone (least of all employers) will be impressed if your kid is top of the class at a crap school.

Malcolm Gladwell’s research says otherwise. It is funny you think your sole opinion based on zero data is correct.

[Anonymous]

NO.

The only POSSIBLE valid reason to turn down a T20 to go to a school with a weak academic cohort is if you get an enormous, non-predatory scholarship to the weaker school and you can't afford the T20.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If going to law school, it is better to get As in undergrad.

Harvard Law seeks variety, for example, and not just students from T20.

Look at your child’s goals and go from there.

While this is true, they still take the majority from T20 and top LACs.

[Anonymous]

Doesn’t going to the lower school put more pressure on your kid rather than less? It makes it almost necessary for them to be at the top of their class. You think it’s going to be easy but you have very little margin for error.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Top companies and top grad rarely select from weaker schools. Go to the best school even if they will be average

It depends on what major and what type of job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is it even on your list, then?

My kid's safeties were calibrated for his decent stats. He got in all of them, and actually attends one, where he is happy. It did help him stand out with less effort and got him into a selective study-abroad program... the same that was offered at his reaches, where he might not have qualified for it, given this one takes a set number of applicants from each school.

This is what the OP was thinking, that there will be more opportunities there. It is true. I went to a mediocre university and there were plenty of amazing opportunities where students showed little interest. The school had small classes and the professors knew you. No TAs.

The school doesn’t have to be unknown in the Deep South. There are many good to excellent colleges that would fit her interests.

[Anonymous]

I would go to the better school. How is this a question.