During
the past week or so, I started to really consider where it is that I want to go
for college. For most high school students, the college process is
excruciatingly hard. But for me, it’s even harder because not only do I have
academics to consider, I also have athletics to consider. Although there are
many schools that are very good fits for me in terms of academics, the tennis
does not seem to be as strong as I want it to be. Unfortunately, that narrows
my list down to mainly the Ivy League schools. But then when I looked at this
list, I realized that I would need to step up my tennis and bring it up another
level. Then I started to think: Is my list too exclusive? Are Ivy League
schools really the best option for me?
According
to an article I read, Ivy League graduates are not always the most affective in
the work environment. An executive recruiting for a major chemical company said
that being an Ivy League graduate “doesn’t necessarily mean they perform better
than employees who have graduated from other colleges. In fact, we’ve found
their sense of entitlement can be negative. They tend to not stay on the job
long and many overestimate the value they bring to out organization.” It’s not
mystery that graduates of prestigious schools can have a lot of confidence that
may in some cases turn into arrogance. But I don’t think that takes away from
the opportunities given by these schools.
Not
only do Ivy League schools offer “stimulating interaction among some of the
world’s top professors and students,” they also set you up for careers with a
lot of advantages over those not coming out of Ivy League schools. That’s where
I become hooked. Being a competitive person, if you offer me any advantage, no
matter what the scenario, I will jump on it in an instant. If getting a jump on
others to get a job means going to Ivy, I guess that’s where I want to go.
However,
I am also aware that “these schools give their students an advantage early in
their careers. In the long run, however, a person’s experience, performance and
ability to relate to others matter far more than the seal on their diploma.”
Now that I have weighed the pros and cons of going to an Ivy League school, I have
decided that if I stick to my own values and work hard, I can succeed a lot more
going there instead of non-Ivys. I know that I will also have a lot more
confidence in what I am doing than I would if I went somewhere else. I just
wonder if that’s the right decision. Is my mindset too stubborn or is there
really some credibility in this idea?
I think this is very thoughtful post. Looking for colleges is something that a lot of us will be doing soon if not already, and allowed me to connect with what was expressed. I,personally, would opt not to go to an ivy unless it is something that I feel will actually teach me and prepare me for a certain field(i.e. Harvard for law or Dartmouth for medical school). Still, though, and while I obviously have no personal experience, I know from my parents,who both went to a good liberal arts school, that while they might not have been able to get into a ivy, they got more out of their education at Middelbury. I think while it can be good to have that Ivy League placard of sorts, the quality of what YOU can get out of your time at college is far more important in preparing your for further education or careers.
ReplyDelete