myUface Blog

Yesterday we wrote about having realistic expectations regarding “elite” universities n the U.S.  Many international student set their heart on attending a university like Harvard without understanding:

• how difficult it is to get into such universities, especially if you need a scholarship; and
• how the demand for an education at such universities makes them extremely expensive, generally speaking

The flip side of this expectation is that most international students think that every U.S. university that isn’t a well-known school must be bad.  We hear this at myUface all the time:  “What?  I’ve never heard of that university.  It can’t be very good.”  Nothing could be further from the truth.

To gain accreditation in the U.S., every university has to meet a set of exacting standards.  Those standards ensure that the quality of the education you receive at any U.S. university will be high.   At every U.S. university you’ll meet interesting students form all over the world.  At every U.S. university you’ll take classes with brilliant professors who fascinate you, and you’ll take classes with boring professors who frustrate you.  At every U.S. university you’ll have a chance to earn not only a degree, but knowledge and skills that will positively impact your career.

So, if every U.S. university is similar, why do people go to so much trouble to get into the “elite” schools?  Don’t get us wrong, there are advantages to going to such universities:  for one thing, the prestige associated with your degree will be higher.  For another, the alumni networks of such universities tend to be stronger, and this can lead to advancements in your career.  And many would indeed argue that the quality of the faculty and fellow students at such universities is a little higher, leading to a more challenging educational experience.

The point here is not that Harvard, Yale and such universities are “bad,” or even that they’re overrated.  They are exceptional institutions that rightly have wonderful reputations.  The point is that all the other U.S. universities – the ones you haven’t heard about – are also high-quality institutions from which you can benefit immensely.  And that’s GREAT NEWS!!!

So before you form an opinion about whether a university is good or not, do some research.  Don’t judge the university solely based on whether or not you’ve heard of it.  And understand that every U.S. university, if accredited, offers an outstanding educational experience.