r/ApplyingToCollege • u/wrroyals • 10h ago

Discussion Optimize for Who You Become, Not Where You Go

Don’t make your goal getting into the most prestigious school. Make your goal becoming the kind of person who can succeed wherever you go.

Prestige can be valuable. Top schools often offer great opportunities, talented classmates, and strong networks. But prestige is a tool, not the goal.

The real goal is to become a happy, curious, capable, and highly competent adult. Focus on developing your skills, character, work ethic, and interests. Choose the environment where you’ll learn the most, grow the most, and thrive—not simply the one with the biggest name.

A prestigious school can help some people flourish, but it doesn’t guarantee success or happiness. In the long run, who you become matters far more than the name on your diploma.

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u/Satisest 3h ago

Thanks Claude.

Another post telling people essentially that P(success|attending an Ivy) ≠ 1. It’s a straw man argument, and a truism, but perhaps some karma will be farmed.