Reputation vs. Personal Choice

[Broken Parachute]

I've been struggling with this for awhile now. I'm a Freshman at Seton Hall University in New Jersey. I chose to go there because when I visited the campus for a tour, I fell in love with it. I felt so comfortable and I felt like that was the place where I wanted to be. So far I've had a great time and met some cool people.

Recently I visited my high school to say hi to some of my old teachers and see some kids I knew who are still at the school. I went with a friend who goes to CUNY Baruch currently, the school I originally wanted to go to. I met my guidance counselor and we were chatting and stuff when my friend mentioned how many smart kids there are at Baruch (it's a great business school, well known across the country). I sort of felt inadequate as they were talking because Seton Hall doesn't have such a fantastic reputation academically.

I made it into Baruch and was going there up until I visited Seton Hall and changed my decision last minute. I didn't want to major in Business anyway (I'm a Political Science major) so I felt OK with it when I made the decision. Plus, Baruch is in Manhattan with no real campus and Seton Hall has a really nice campus in a residential area. An important part of the decision for me was having a campus because I like the campus atmosphere over the city atmosphere. Now I sort of feel confused whether or not I made a good choice.

How do you guys feel? Would you rather go to a school where you felt comfortable and enjoyed the atmosphere despite their reputation academically, or sacrifice the campus life for a school with a well known reputation?

[concernedparent]

People are going to give both sides of the debate, but I'm going to have a middle ground. I'd rather go to a school with a solid academic reputation and I enjoy being at. I mean, there's thousands of schools out there, it's not like I'm only gonna like one of them..

[SoggY ThE OnE]

im watching a Louisville, Seton Hall volleyball game on tv right now. lol

[patpratt]

i ended up doing what your friend did. went to a school around here that is pretty well known and kind of prestigious. however, I hat it here and the people are complete douche bags. So i'm transferring at the end of the semester to a place where I know I'll be happy.

I think you made the right choice.

[Smash Adams]

don't go to a school you'll hate, yeah it looks better on your resume if you go to a better school but your class rank matters too, so maybe try to do really well at an easier college, you'll be happier and less stressed which will make you even happier

[Broken Parachute]

im watching a Louisville, Seton Hall volleyball game on tv right now. lolI work for SHU Athletic Communications and I was a runner at that game, running box scores from the table to the TV booth, haha. You might see me on TV.

i ended up doing what your friend did. went to a school around here that is pretty well known and kind of prestigious. however, I hat it here and the people are complete douche bags. So i'm transferring at the end of the semester to a place where I know I'll be happy.

I think you made the right choice.

don't go to a school you'll hate, yeah it looks better on your resume if you go to a better school but your class rank matters too, so maybe try to do really well at an easier college, you'll be happier and less stressed which will make you even happierI agree with both of these posts. I wake up every day happy that I came here...but in the long run if I'm applying for Law school or Grad school, will choosing SHU over Baruch be a bad thing or does it not matter? Like...in HS when applying for colleges, what HS you came from means almost nothing. I'm sure it's not the same with college.

[patpratt]

I work for SHU Athletic Communications and I was a runner at that game, running box scores from the table to the TV booth, haha. You might see me on TV.



I agree with both of these posts. I wake up every day happy that I came here...but in the long run if I'm applying for Law school or Grad school, will choosing SHU over Baruch be a bad thing or does it not matter? Like...in HS when applying for colleges, what HS you came from means almost nothing. I'm sure it's not the same with college.

I think if you get good enough grades, you will be fine.

[NickLopez]

I work for SHU Athletic Communications and I was a runner at that game, running box scores from the table to the TV booth, haha. You might see me on TV.



I agree with both of these posts. I wake up every day happy that I came here...but in the long run if I'm applying for Law school or Grad school, will choosing SHU over Baruch be a bad thing or does it not matter? Like...in HS when applying for colleges, what HS you came from means almost nothing. I'm sure it's not the same with college.

That's a question I've had here in Oklahoma.

I haven't been able to find a definite answer, but from what I've read (and I've really searched on this), while yes it matters, it does not matter as much as you and I think. From what I can tell, if the applications are identical and the only difference is prestige, then they will go with prestige. However, it is only one of the many, many factors looked at for graduate school and if you still do well academically/other things they want, it shouldn't affect you significantly.

[KillMeTheKing26]

If you are happy at Seton Hall, it doesn't matter.

I feel like sometimes I should have applied to bigger schools, but Quinnipiac gives me the best chance to succeed and be happy, so that's all that matters.

[noodledancer]

i picked ucla over stanford... when you're going to spend so much time (& money) somewhere, you should enjoy it.

[KidRobot]

Seton Hall isn't a bad school in the least bit.

[cris545]

In the end it doesn't really matter what name the school you go to has, what really matters is how prepared you are, how much experience you have, and how much you know, and that's all on you, not the school. I think you made the right choice, it sounds like you're happy where you are and you shouldn't sacrifice that for a supposedly better school that doesn't fit you.

[Chancetobe]

It's a mix. Basically, you need to find a school with a good reputation that you like. But, the reputation of a school, at least to me is pretty important. I always feel really inadequate when people ask me what school I go to, and when I say "Case Western" they always say... "So, where's that?" And they assume that because they have never heard of it, it isn't a good school, and I must then be stupid. It happens to be a top 50 school though. Just... it would be nice to have someone say for once "Ohh, so, you must be smart!"

[acor]

What you like more, reputation only really matters if its ivy league, other than that the general public can't discern Duke from Washington University in terms of reputation. Your employer won't be able to either, they look at your major

[caLLmEnOoNe]

the first choice is for the filthy rich ivy leagues who don't want to disappoint their parents

[Heroin Robot]

I rather go to a less reputable school and go to the one I think I'll like more

Easily. Of course, you still want to go to a school that has a fitting academic level for you. But being happy and successful while there will bring many positive things.

[YeahRiight]

ATMOSPHERE ATMOSPHERE ATMOSPHERE. College is about classes, grades, learning and such, but another huge aspect is the personal growth that you go through and what you become as an individual. Being at a school with an atmosphere that you don't enjoy is not going to help this at all, so I would definitely sacrifice prestige for happiness.

And as far as grad school, they will look at your school you came from, but more important are going to be your grades, grad school test scores and overall involvement in campus life.

You shouldn't feel bad at all for choosing the school that you like over the more "prestigious" one. If you are going to be spending 4 years of your life somewhere, enjoy it!!!

[WakeUpBlondie]

I just couldn't do an Ivy League school. While it might get me a better job, I want to have fun in college and not be studying 24/7.