Looking Beyond Prestige: It’s Not Where You Go, It’s What You Do When You Get There!

Unfortunately, so much of the college admissions landscape is driven by prestige and name-brand schools: students who want to get into a “good” school, or the “best” school. Oftentimes, though, I find that students and parents don’t really even know how to define “good” schools outside of the national rankings which are shoved down their throats every year and are deeply problematic and not a measure of quality of education. Here is a stark truth, though: attending a highly-ranked (and highly rejective) college does not guarantee you success and happiness. Conversely, attending a school that admits 80% or more of their applicants, doesn’t mean you can’t get a great education that leads to impressive long-term outcomes!  

It might sound trite, but what will have an impact on your path is how you show up when you get to college. Every college (yes, even, those ones!) has students who are thriving and those who are miserable: same campus, totally different experiences. Some of that is governed by how well-suited the student is to the school academically and socially, but a big chunk of it is how the student shows up (or doesn’t, for that matter)! So as you’re doing your college search, try to think beyond just the name of the school, and think instead about how you could see yourself getting involved in and outside of the classroom. Are there clubs and organizations that will fuel your passions and help you meet other like-minded students? Are you willing (or better yet, excited!) to try new things?  Will you have the opportunities to have undergraduate mentorship (including access to research, internships, etc)? In short: will you have access to (and take full advantage of) people (professors, other students, industry professionals, etc) who might set you up for a fulfilling and successful life after college? This all takes active engagement, no matter where you are, not just sitting in your dorm room waiting for life to happen to you!

So, instead of framing your college search around “where you can get in”, think about more in terms of where you’ll thrive! Like I said, getting into the most selective school you can does not ensure that will be a meaningful or enjoyable experience for you once you get there! Try to think instead about: Where will I feel known and cared about in and outside of the classroom?  Where am I likely to meet the kinds of students who will be lifelong friends? Where will I be best supported in my education? If you’re killing yourself just trying to stay on top of coursework that is not suited to your learning style and abilities, that will only breed anxiety and resentment, rather than competence and confidence. 

As you’re approaching your college search, really think about and question your own definition of what makes for a “good” school. For YOU. Where will you have GOOD opportunities to learn and grow? Where will you have GOOD professors who care about and motivate you? Where will you meet GOOD people who share your values? These are subjective assessments, and are going to be different for every student! Stay focused on your needs and priorities and what kind of undergraduate experience you want to have rather than which sweatshirt or bumper sticker you’ll be buying next spring!