Reply to Is U Chicago worth cost over in-state UVA?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]DH is a highly placed corporate executive who went to Ivies, both undergrad and for business school. He works for a very large household name company. Most of his coworkers at his level did not go to expensive private colleges, at least for undergrad (some did go to well known business schools). Most went to flagship state universities and were recruited into the corporate world working for companies like Coca Cola for a few years before going for a MBA.

I would not pick Chicago solely in the hopes it would give your child a better shot at a more successful life if the alternative is UVA. UVA is a well known and reputable university that produces thousands of successful graduates. Any financial or employment advantages at Chicago will be going through a very specific type of recruitment track into the financial and consulting sectors and most kids don't do that, and even if you want to, it's not given you'll make it. Many applicants, even at the Ivies, get weeded out by the big firms.

UVA is a perfectly fine school. If money is a factor, go to UVA. It really is no brainer. If money is not a factor and you are appealed by the academic environment at Chicago, then go to Chicago. Just don't expect Chicago to open up that many more doors over UVA and it does depend on what kind of doors you're seeing to break through.

Here's a dirty secret about the top colleges. They all have many unique, individualistic and geeky students who do not go into the finances or law/business/medical schools. They become teachers, they work for nonprofits, they go into the arts. They barely struggle to make it into the upper middle classes. Most are usually happy in their own way. At the same time, the state schools top of of the class will usually end up doing very well. They go into businesses and sales and top graduate schools. If you're looking at Chicago solely as an investment into your child's future financial well being, it most likely won't pay for itself over UVA. If you're looking at Chicago as a great gift to your child, to offer the experience of studying at a fabulous and academically intense university for four years, then that's understandable. [/quote]

I want to pick this argument apart, but as much as I hate to admit it, this is true. You can be very successful going to a private school, a state school or even a directional University because the most important factor in determining your success in life is not where you go, but who you are. Do you have the work ethic, can you get along with and inspire people, do you take calculated risks in your life, are you open to learning new things and skills without fear of failure etc. These are character traits and schools can't teach you these.

So why go to private schools? The main reason is: you can. It is really a gift you give to your kids, if you can afford it without destroying yourself financially. Money matters in education and the richer private schools have more resources that your kid can potentially exploit. Your kid may or may not exploit them,  but they could. [b]Elite schools like Chicago also act as a mild signal that you are smart to anyone who knows very little about you except where you went to school. But if you open your mouth and say something dumb, then that signal vanishes quickly. The name on your degree and personal accomplishment of having made it to a selective school is also something that nobody can ever take away from you for the rest of your life[/b]. It's just personal satisfaction. It's not as big as finding and marrying the right person or being a good decent human being but it is something. [/quote]

Some of the dumbest people I've seen came out of UChicago and Claremont McKenna.  It's not that they were dumber than others.  They were as smart as others, but they constantly underestimated others and/or overestimated themselves.  Long story short is one of them decided to quit after she realized people really don't care for her or her attitude.  Last we heard, she was driving Uber.  That was her choice.[/quote]

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