Common wisdom frequently dictates that students should always elect to attend the “best” school to which they are accepted. Whether “best” is determined by some intangible measure of reputation, US News and World Report ranking or the lowest acceptance rate, there is often inadequate lip service paid to the merits of intentionally choosing one of your “likelies.” Why in the world would a student want to consider selecting one of his “likelies” (aka “safeties”) when he has also been accepted to some “matches” and “reaches”?
Malcolm Gladwell answers this question better than I ever could in this video explaining “The Theory of Relative Deprivation.” In a nutshell, he offers proof that STEM students are more successful when they are smarter than their classmates. In other words, he tells us that the smartest science/math student at a less selective college is more successful than the average science/math student at Harvard.
This incredibly entertaining and enlightening video will open your mind to a whole new way of thinking about your college selection. As an added benefit, you are more likely to secure merit aid when you are at the top of the admissions pool!
