Name Brands Don't Always Fit
When applying to college, I applied to every single brand name college that I could think of. I did little to no research about the colleges I applied to. I sent off an application to 17 schools and spent over a thousand dollars on application fees for schools I didn’t have any interest in despite them being brand names. I applied for a ton of Ivy League colleges but never took the time to consider that I wouldn’t like being out of state. I thought that going to one of these top-ranked schools was the key to success. Even though it can be helpful, going to a brand-name college may not be the right fit for everyone. Here are a few reasons why a brand name college may not be the best fit for you.
Attending a name brand school may be expensive in comparison to other universities. Financial aid and scholarships may not fully offset the hefty price that comes with attending these colleges. This could leave some individuals with a large amount of debt that could impact their financial future long after graduating.
The competitive nature of many name-brand schools can be overwhelming for some students. Many of these schools have highly selective admissions processes, meaning that students are often competing against thousands of others for just a few spots. Once accepted, students may find themselves surrounded by highly driven peers, which can create a stressful and hyper-competitive environment.
Additionally, attending a name-brand school may not always align with a student's goals and interests. While these schools may have prestigious programs in certain fields, they may not be as strong in other areas. For example, a student who is interested in pursuing a career in art or music may find that a liberal arts college or a specialized arts school would be a better fit for them.
Finally, not all schools provide the type of education that a student is looking for. I mostly applied to large research universities with class sizes of over 100 hundred students. However, the college I decided to go to has small class sizes of 30 people and is student focused instead of research focused. Although my school doesn’t have as many research opportunities as other schools, I’ve been able to get to know my professors because of the small class setting. My school focuses mostly on hands-on learning and I found that I enjoy this learn by doing approach.
So when considering the colleges you are applying to, consider if you really want to go there because of the opportunities that the school provides or because of the prestige. I’d suggest not applying to a school simply because everyone says it’s a good school and employers will hire you because of the name. It’s important to find the right fit instead of the name that fits.
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