Why do you want your child to go to a "top" college?

[Anonymous]

OP here. 10:45, I assure you that I went to a "top" school, if you consider an Ivy a top school. And I am very satisfied with the education I received. I asked the question because now that I have kids and have had so much more exposure to people who went to many different tiers of schools, I am not necessarily convinced of the importance of a college's status alone.

[Anonymous]

Recently there's been a steady, depressing drumbeat about the future jobs and lifestyles our kids are facing. One version is, there are fewer jobs and more people competing for these jobs, so your kid needs a leg up via attending a brand-name university. Another version is, the future is about using your brain not your hands, so your kid needs the best possible education.

I think a lot of us absorbed these views, at least somewhat. And since we want the best for our kids, a "top" college seems like part of the answer.

The good news is, now that our kids are older, and we're older too, we've learned that it's not all survival-of-the-fittest and gloom-and-doom. We look around and see our coworkers who went to no-name schools and got great educations. Plus the $60k/year pricetags have made us question the value of some private universities.

[Anonymous]

By and large, I prefer a top product to a bottom or middle or the road product. That's simply how I am wired. It's really that simple.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:By and large, I prefer a top product to a bottom or middle or the road product. That's simply how I am wired. It's really that simple.

The higher priced products are usually not the best products. That is simply how it works.

[Anonymous]

I want my kid to be a loser and less successful thanme...so I want them to go to Community College or drop out entirely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP -- I wanted my kid to go to an Ivy so that no one would ever give a second's thought to how smart she is. It's so hard for working women. Those that go to the highest ranked Ivies are generally treated with more respect. People in elite firms scoff at people who were diamonds in the rough at lousy state schools. I don't believe you went to a top school. If you had, you wouldn't have questioned the value.

I know that my life goal is wining the respect of some jackass at an "elite firm." That will help me sleep well at night.

[Anonymous]

If you're happy being a loser than more power to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP -- I wanted my kid to go to an Ivy so that no one would ever give a second's thought to how smart she is. It's so hard for working women. Those that go to the highest ranked Ivies are generally treated with more respect. People in elite firms scoff at people who were diamonds in the rough at lousy state schools. I don't believe you went to a top school. If you had, you wouldn't have questioned the value.

I know that my life goal is wining the respect of some jackass at an "elite firm." That will help me sleep well at night.

+1. I want something for my kid in order to earn the approval of the jackasses of the world? um, no.

I certainly know Ivy grads who have caused me to give a second's (and longer) thought to how smart they are. You must be pretty easily impressed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you're happy being a loser than more power to you.

Troll that boat!

[Anonymous]

By and large, I prefer a top product to a bottom or middle or the road product. That's simply how I am wired. It's really that simple.

[quote]The higher priced products are usually not the best products. That is simply how it works.

Logic 101:

Duh, the poster said "top product" not "higher priced products". There is no reference to price or cost but "top" quality. Please read critically. Your logic would earn a very low SAT (CR) score and likely loss of an opportunity to attend a top Ivy.

[Anonymous]

I want a 'good' school because I think there will be more focus on academics vs alcohol, which I associate with middling schools. But I'm not looking for the 'best' as I think it may be filled with cut-throat competitors. I made good friends in college, and we studied together and supported each other. I worry my child won't find that community spirit at the most competitive schools, and will be stressed instead of supported by the make-up of the student body. I also want a school where my child will actually be taught by the professors, not one where the professors are off doing research and writing books and my child is left to the mercy of TA's.

[Anonymous]

I had a great time at Amherst and was taught by Professors and made great life long friends. I know it is not the best institution (thank God) but it may just above middling as frats and beer parties were the rage. I'm sure you won't find this behavior at those top/best schools like Harvard, Stanford and MIT.

[Anonymous]

I want a 'good' school because I think there will be more focus on academics vs alcohol, which I associate with middling schools. But I'm not looking for the 'best' as I think it may be filled with cut-throat competitors. I made good friends in college, and we studied together and supported each other. I worry my child won't find that community spirit at the most competitive schools, and will be stressed instead of supported by the make-up of the student body. I also want a school where my child will actually be taught by the professors, not one where the professors are off doing research and writing books and my child is left to the mercy of TA's.

I went to Reed. There was a huge focus on academics, I made life long friends, I did undergraduate research, spent hours in the library, had great personal relationships with professors. There was also plenty of boozing and partying going on. Of course people associate Reed with being full of druggy party animals so let's turn to my friends. My best friend went to MIT. She did hallucinogens most weekends and hooked up like crazy. She had really intense classes, but plenty of booze, weed, and harder stuff was around. She also was sometimes taught by TAs. So what about my other best friend who went to Northwestern? Also had a challenging academic experience, but she went to several frat parties and was hospitalized once for alcohol poisoning. She also had classes taught by TAs. Ok, what about my friend who went to Yale? Had classes taught by TAs and went to boozy frat parties.

[Anonymous]

There is plenty of alcohol at Amherst and just about any college or university. Focus on academics is relative and that is true at an Ivy, or a state school.

[Anonymous]

I want my child to be with her intellectual equals and with ambitious individuals. I also want to increase her odds of getting a good job and getting into a good grad school. They're not top colleges for nothing.