Ivy League vs UC/CSU
Does it matter which school I go to for my bachelor’s?
I am a Philosophy major right now in community college taking gen ed, major requirements, and PA school prereqs.
I am also a military veteran who had a medical job while in service. I also had a 3.97 GPA in HS before joining.
I plan on applying to prestigious universities such as Princeton, Columbia, and Dartmouth but also less prestigious schools like certain CSUs and UCs. With the GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon Program, I can attend these schools completely free and get paid every month doing so.
What I heard from other people is that these top schools make it harder to get a high GPA which is required by most PA programs and I am not sure if I should risk attending these schools if I end up graduating with a low GPA. (3-3.5)
But, if I attended a CSU or UC where it could be less rigorous and easier to obtain a high GPA, wouldn’t it make more sense to go to school where the environment is less stressful and less competitive?
I feel like if I got accepted to a UC/CSU and an Ivy League, I would have a very hard time choosing between the 2. If I could attend one of the top universities in the country for free, why wouldn’t I? If I choose a CSU or UC instead I feel like I may regret not attending an Ivy League, since the network, connections, alumni, prestige of the school will be something I will be missing out on. Like, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity but I am going to go to a UC/CSU because I am afraid and not confident that I won’t obtain a high GPA at an Ivy League??
Please help me with this lucky problem I could potentially have haha.