In our high-achieving school district, many students feel pressured to find success, not only in high school, but in choosing “the best” college possible. For some, this means trying to get into a “prestigious” university, but in reality, the name of the school alone will not determine a student’s ability to thrive. Since every student has different needs and interests, I believe that finding the college that best fits those factors is far more important than prestige.  

   Isabelle Faller, a WHS alumni who graduated in 2017, agrees that her experience at a lesser-known, medium-sized private college, Santa Clara University, paved her path to many options after college in her chosen field of psychology.  

  “Something about SCU just felt right and really drew me in, and it was definitely the best choice for me,” Faller said. “A lot of what determines success is making the most of the opportunities that you do have and actively seeking out people that align with your passions.” 

   There has been a recent shift for students and families to look deeper into what a school has to offer, not just its status. I think it is important to look at those factors and not just what you hear in the media or from your classmates. 

   “There’s definitely more of an interest in what programs are offered and what environment there is that can help students learn best – whether they want to be in an urban situation or if they would prefer to be in a large or small school, for example,” guidance counselor Christopher Shanahan said. 

   I feel that it is crucial to look into a college’s specializations and programs that offer opportunities that align with a student’s goals. For senior Morgan Calzini, Syracuse University matched the career path she hopes to pursue. 

   “The [Syracuse] advertising program is one of the top in the country, so it is truly a good program and I am excited for the opportunities that I will be able to access,” Calzini said. “For me, the program is more important as it’s something I really want to do and want to get a lot out of.” 

  There are many factors that affect both a student’s decision to apply to a certain school as well as the school’s reason for accepting or denying them. I advise students to talk to their guidance counselor to help them identify the best matches between schools, programs, and future interests. 

   “If you like school ‘X’ and it’s extremely difficult to get into, there may be other schools that share similar characteristics that are a little bit more forgiving in the admissions process, so we like to make sure you apply to both,” Shanahan said. “It’s not either/or, just what’s best for that specific individual.” 

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 Although I wish that the prestige of a school were not such a big factor in choosing where to apply to college, I believe that realistically, students should keep rank and notoriety in mind as they make their college selections.

   “Honestly, my decision-making process was definitely influenced by prestige,” said senior Ryan Chao, who is looking to major in math at Yale. “In the scheme of things, oftentimes just having a more rigorous education can lead to more prospects and also be self-selecting for things you might be interested in.”

   While prestige certainly is not everything that’s important in a college, I think that it’s crucial to acknowledge the opportunities that can be provided by higher ranked and better known schools. 

   “One of the benefits of going to a ‘prestigious school’ is that it’s prestigious for a reason,” guidance counselor Luke Townsend said. “Typically what will bring schools up the rankings are large endowments, so these schools will have a lot of money to put into student-led research, resources to get jobs, and academic motivation.”

    Some people may think that I am only speaking of prestige in relation to the Ivy League schools when in fact there are many schools that fit into the category of prestigious, including highly ranked state schools. 

   “I think prestige has many connotations,” Chao said. “A lot can have to do with acceptance rate, funding, level of rigor [in] education and also future prospects [like] looking for jobs. It’s definitely not something to be overlooked.”

   To me, students should not only look at what the colleges can provide for them now, but also in the future. Graduating from a more prestigious school can often lead to better offers in the workforce.

   “The bigger the [college’s] brand is, the more you’ll be able to market yourself outside of college for jobs,” Townsend said. 

   Just like job opportunities, high level courses and quality professors are key factors students should look for, which are more available in prestigious schools. I think these schools can allow students to academically challenge themselves and be at an academic advantage when future opportunities appear. 

   “I wanted the best education I could get for the next four years to [advance] in the nursing field,” senior Courtney Leung, who is looking to major in nursing at UPenn, said. “The easiest way to do that is to get a good education, and what better way is there of doing that than going to a good school?”