Expert: Todd Johnson - 11/29/2010

Question
What are all the things I should consider when choosing a college? I know this
is an open ended question and I refuse to make you do all the work so I will
help you help me by giving you my list..

-reputation; prestige
-cost
-location
-big school vs small school
-the feel you get when actually going there
-how much of a party school it is (got to have SOME fun right?)
-whether it's in a college town or  if its a commuter school
-the programs it's best known for

Now after asking COUNTLESS counselors and so many people, one of the main
questions I needed to be answered was HOW IMPORTANT is prestige. and I
saw one of your answers where you told that girl who wants to do journalism
that prestige  is not that important, but cmon let's be realistic. it IS important.

For example if that girl who did journalism was applying for the same job as
someone else, same grades, major, and everything but just DIFFERENT
COLLEGE, and lets say GIRL "A" went to UC Berkley and GIRL "B" went to san
francisco state, GIRL "A" would almost be sure to get the job right? let's keep
it real.

BUt again, I don't know for sure which is why I am here asking the
questions... So please let me know what you think. Thanks so much for your
time!!

Answer
Josh,

Prestige is not as simply as you imply. What is prestigious varies from person to person. Moreover, just because a school is prestigious doesn't mean it provides the best education. Which is more prestigious: Harvard or Amherst?  Most would say Harvard. Yet a senior Harvard administrator said several years ago that the goal of Harvard was to provide as good of an education as Amherst. Amherst generally does a better job of placing students into top grad and med schools.

I think the bigger issue is the exposure to top students that you will find at the top 100 or so colleges. Competing with other top students will often bring a different kind of academic experience that can be valuable. But in most of the studies that have been done looking at the outcomes of students who went to the most selective colleges compared to those who went to lesser colleges, the results after 20 years is almost identical. Same types of jobs and comparable income levels.

The biggest issue is what you put into the experience. The harder you work, the further you will get whether it is at a UC Berkeley or a San Francisco State.