Dec. 10, 2024
By Janset Çinaz
Copy Editor
Schools like Princeton University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University, which are ranked as the top three national universities by U.S. News & World Report, are considered world-renowned destinations for learning.
These schools aim to offer top-tier opportunities and an education unlike any other, but how much should the prestigious reputation of a school influence a student’s decision of where to apply? Should students prioritize attending a well-known school, or are there other important factors to consider?
School counselor Ms. Leidemer said she advises students to avoid applying to a school solely because of its name recognition.
“A prestigious school can get your foot into a door… career-wise, but it won’t maintain your success,” Leidemer said. “A school is more than its name. You have to be happy there, and you need to make sure that you fit into your campus. Does it have the program that you’re looking for? Does it have the support that you’re looking for? Does it have the student life that you are looking for?”
Leidemer, who began her undergraduate education at Rider University in Lawrenceville before transferring to Felician College–now Felician University–in Lodi, said she transferred from Rider to Felician because Rider’s campus was too big, and she did not like living in a dorm. She said she had not thoroughly researched or visited the school before enrolling.
“I tell all my students to go and visit the schools they are looking at, which is something I wish I had done when I was first applying,” Leidemer said. “There are so many search engines that allow you to look at a wide range of universities across the world. It doesn’t cost you anything to go look.”
After transferring to Felician during the spring semester of her freshman year, she said she realized she wanted a smaller environment.
“I had very close relationships with my professors. They all knew me on a first-name basis, and I could talk to them about anything. One even had me house-sit,” Leidemer said.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Felician, Leidemer went on to New Jersey City University for her master’s in counseling and then got her post-master’s degree in school counseling from Caldwell University.
“I decided to attend New Jersey City University and Caldwell University because I knew they had good programs for school counseling,” Leidemer said. “They had small, intimate classes where I could connect with peers and mentors, [I was] close enough to commute and [it was] affordable,” Leidemer said.
She said she did not value prestige when she was applying to graduate school.
“While prestigious schools can provide valuable opportunities, they are just one factor among many in determining overall success and satisfaction in life. In the end, for a field like school counseling, practical experience, real-world skills and unique ideas are valued over the reputation of a school,” Leidemer said.
Media specialist Ms. Murru attended Bergen Community College in Paramus after graduating high school, earning an associate of arts degree. She then went to Ramapo College in Mahwah, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in communication arts.
Additionally, she holds a master’s from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, where she studied librarian information sciences. In January 2023, Murru returned to Rutgers to get a certification in media specialties.
“A school is more than its name. You have to be happy there, and you need to make sure that you fit into your campus.”
“Going to a prestigious university definitely will play a role when applying for jobs, but if you have the same qualifications as someone else, and you did well in school, I don’t believe it really matters,” Murru said.
She said it is also important to consider the cost of higher education.
“Do not limit your choices, but once you get your financial aid packages, sit down and really think about it,” Murru said. “I studied communications, and the job outlook for that is not that great…. If I had gone to a very prestigious school, I would be in thousands of dollars of debt, and it would not be worth it.”
Senior Jaylene Ayala, who started working on her college applications in September, intends to major in medical imaging.
“When choosing my schools, I made sure to research if they had a good medical imaging program,” Ayala said.
She said she toured Rutgers University-Newark and appreciated the environment.
“I really liked the diverse group of students that were there, and I could see myself involved in the social life at Rutgers,” Ayala said.
She said an elite school would be a poor fit for her.
“I want a college experience that isn’t as stressful as the experience of a student who attends a prestigious school,” Ayala said. “I do not see myself in a competitive environment either.”
Senior Lasmie Blidi, who intends to major in psychology, said he wants to attend a school with a strong program.
Blidi said he is applying to Montclair State University, Ramapo College and Stanford University in Stanford, California.
U.S. News & World Report ranks Stanford as the fourth-best national university. Founded in 1885, the private research university offers 66 undergraduate majors and admits between 3.6 and 4.6 percent of its applicants, according to Crimson Education, a college admissions consulting company.
Blidi said he is applying to Stanford because it would provide him with excellent job prospects and help him stand out among other candidates when he applies for work.
“When people hear someone graduated from Stanford, they automatically think that person must be really smart,” Blidi said.
He said there are also challenges to consider before committing to a prestigious school.
“One disadvantage of attending a prestigious university is that there is an expectation placed on you. You are expected to perform at your best,” Blidi said.
He said every student reacts differently to the stress of attending a prestigious school.
“Some might feel pressured, and some might feel confident and believe they can handle it,” Blidi said. “I think I would be confident [in] myself and live up to those expectations.”
To strengthen his applications, Blidi said he is accruing more volunteer hours and polishing his college essay.
“I feel confident about my applications so far, and I believe that they will get me into my top schools,” said Blidi.
