Anonymous
Post 02/17/2026 19:49     Subject: Choosing program prestige over college prestige
Of course. My kid is a music major. There are schools, like U of North Texas, with extremely competitive music where the university is not competitive. It’s about fit and the right program for each student.
Anonymous
Post 02/17/2026 19:47     Subject: Choosing program prestige over college prestige
Anonymous wrote:This is a hill I die on. It will serve you much better to go to a prestigious college over a prestigious program.

Yeah, let me go study public policy at Indiana instead of Yale! That's the way! Please.


Picks "public policy" major to make dumb point. Excellent work
Anonymous
Post 02/17/2026 18:45     Subject: Choosing program prestige over college prestige
Emory nursing
UCIC computer science
Missouri Journalism
UGA agriculture


Just to name a few….
Anonymous
Post 02/17/2026 18:31     Subject: Choosing program prestige over college prestige
Anonymous wrote:Are any of your kids doing this? Say, VT Engineering over UVA Engineering? Are there other cases?


It’s actually more important for job opportunities to choose programs prestige. We only recruit in select programs.
Anonymous
Post 02/17/2026 18:16     Subject: Choosing program prestige over college prestige
Depends. The quality and rank of the college still matter regardless of program ranking. Like I would not choose University South Carolina Business School over say Boston College. I would not choose UGA Risk Management over Emory. I would not pick LMU film over UC Santa Barbara
Anonymous
Post 02/17/2026 18:15     Subject: Choosing program prestige over college prestige
Why debate on such topic. Do what is best for the kid.
Anonymous
Post 02/17/2026 18:07     Subject: Choosing program prestige over college prestige
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This is a hill I die on. It will serve you much better to go to a prestigious college over a prestigious program.

Yeah, let me go study public policy at Indiana instead of Yale! That's the way! Please.


Kelley is a business school, first of all. While you’re dying on that hill maybe go learn something.

No one here is saying anything about choosing a good program at an average school over one of the top universities in the country. This is a strawman. The question is about whether you should take into account programs that are significantly better than their broader university, and to what extent.


Right - DS’s choice was Kelley (IU in the 70s) over Gies (Illinois in the 30s). It was not Kelley over Wharton. When you combine that with merit scholarships - some might make that choice over a school like Ross (Michigan).
Anonymous
Post 02/17/2026 18:02     Subject: Choosing program prestige over college prestige
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yes. Kelley Business in the Honors college over UMD and other top 50 universities.


Same here. DS applied to only business programs and Kelley was first choice over business programs at other universities that were higher ranked. It is risky if you might change your major but DS is locked into business.

Why? Indiana has great programs in music, languages, Hamilton-Lugar and, beyond that, you can major in anything there under the sun.
Anonymous
Post 02/17/2026 17:59     Subject: Choosing program prestige over college prestige
Anonymous wrote:This is a hill I die on. It will serve you much better to go to a prestigious college over a prestigious program.

Yeah, let me go study public policy at Indiana instead of Yale! That's the way! Please.


Kelley is a business school, first of all. While you’re dying on that hill maybe go learn something.

No one here is saying anything about choosing a good program at an average school over one of the top universities in the country. This is a strawman. The question is about whether you should take into account programs that are significantly better than their broader university, and to what extent.
Anonymous
Post 02/17/2026 17:59     Subject: Choosing program prestige over college prestige
Anonymous wrote:Are any of your kids doing this? Say, VT Engineering over UVA Engineering? Are there other cases?


No. Better to be at the best overall college with the most competitive student group
Anonymous
Post 02/17/2026 17:55     Subject: Choosing program prestige over college prestige
This is a hill I die on. It will serve you much better to go to a prestigious college over a prestigious program.

Yeah, let me go study public policy at Indiana instead of Yale! That's the way! Please.
Anonymous
Post 02/17/2026 17:43     Subject: Choosing program prestige over college prestige
Yes, you should absolutely consider the individual programs. Why would you not? Plenty of schools punch above their weight in certain subjects.
Anonymous
Post 02/17/2026 17:34     Subject: Choosing program prestige over college prestige
Anonymous wrote:Yes. Kelley Business in the Honors college over UMD and other top 50 universities.


Same here. DS applied to only business programs and Kelley was first choice over business programs at other universities that were higher ranked. It is risky if you might change your major but DS is locked into business.
Anonymous
Post 02/17/2026 17:27     Subject: Choosing program prestige over college prestige
Anonymous wrote:Missouri Journalism program over VT and Penn State programs.


Mizzou is one of the best journalism schools - congrats!
Anonymous
Post 02/17/2026 17:26     Subject: Choosing program prestige over college prestige
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Omg. Quit worrying about prestige and worry more about which program will give your kid the best education in your given major.


= go to the program with more prestige. When they have more prestige than the larger university it's generally because that's an excellent program.

+1