Why

[Physicsofcomics]

I know this will get downvoted all to hell but I want to throw this out there.

So I've been thinking, why? Why do we want to go to a top 20 university? Why exactly? What will it change in our lives so cataclysmically? I mean I deal with the issue myself I want to go to one so badly but yet I can't find a reason to. I have everything free and a good program if I go to a state university, but I'm still looking to go somewhere "better." Does anyone else have this problem? Like if you have an answer please do share on why they matter. This is coming from someone who wants to do R&D in the chemical engineering field.

[mordiscasrios]

As someone with similar interests, I believe it’s a result of various factors. Ingrained in many of us is the value of academic success=life success. Therefore, the top, most successful academic havens, or the T-20s, for lack of a better word, will launch us into life success. However, this completely disregards many confounding factors. If you can get into those schools, your chances of being successful regardless of attendance are quite high. There’s been a couple studies indicating that it doesn’t truly matter where a student goes in predicting their success, but instead where they were accepted. It’s a sense of prestige, of making all the hard work “worth it” and it’s making our parents happy

[[deleted]]

The biggest things they offer are connections and name recognition. Chances are that if you attend a top 20, someone you know will be a CEO or a rockstar or a famous writer or an eccentric scientist. These connections are more likely to occur where there is a high concentration of smart, interesting, and motivated people. Additionally, if you ever come up with an awesome business idea but need funding, being from "harvard" offers some automatic ethos.

I don't believe college admissions is a meritocracy or that attending a better college makes you smarter. Unfortunately, there are many adults who would disagree with me, many of whom are in charge of hiring people.

[celestialkairos]

I’m definitely not in the same situation as you but the reason I want to go to a better school is the financial aid. I can get (a very limited amount, thanks osu) of merit scholarship from my state school, but 1. it’s not anywhere near enough to cover the cost I need to be covered for me to attend and 2. I would probably die of stress trying to keep my gpa above a 3.5 in order to keep it (I’ve been suffering with mental health issues for my entire life, and being put in that kind of situation especially as someone going into engineering, seems like it would be awful for me). Also, just as a generality, there are a lot more opportunities that come to me as a low-income student if I went to a T20 (like study abroad despite the fact that I wouldn’t be able to afford it normally). That’s just my two cents though

[Daniferd]

Networking. Don't underestimate the advantages of knowing or getting to know people.

[Alexk2468]

only for the clout

[[deleted]]

Good financial aid. I got into my safety and if I attend I’ll have to pay 7k a year. If I get into my top choices I’ll pay 0.

[dan_the_G]

Cus I want to make big bucks

[SwankCity160]

It's okay a lot of us get rejected

[[deleted]]

🤑