Most people blindly only consider top universities for education. However, top universities does not mean a top education. One has to wonder the premium of prestige is it really worth it? The economic utility of a top university tends to be a lot lower compared to the overarching aspects of work experience.
- Top universities come at a higher cost with huge student debt.
- There is significant intensity for competition. Usually this competition is from students with traditional backgrounds that are unwilling to challenge the status quo. It can lead to stress and burnout.
- Too much focus on prestige means the quality of education and individual student needs suffers significantly.
- Limited personal attention makes it difficult to cater to the potentials of students.
- They may not be the best for everyone especially with the style of learning, interests, and career goals.
- There tends to be more focus on theory rather than practice. Grades become the emphasis of a narrowmind with limited opportunity for creativity and independent thinking.
- They may lead to a clique environment on university campus and false sense of self-worth, likely an increase in bullying culture.
- Top universities statistically also have higher incidents of rape, abuse, discrimination, and prejudices.
- The ROI from attending a top university may never materialize for you in the real-world especially if you take on a course that has limited opportunities.
- By focusing on academic performance one loses the entrepreneurial mindset.
- The university may also not be the best in teaching and research for your chosen course.
- Limited opportunities for apprenticeships and work experience.
- Law of diminishing returns: after a point, the additional benefits of attending a top university may not justify the additional cost.
- Prestige premium: going to a top university initially offers a slight advantage, but this diminishes over time.
- Overtime, it matters most what you do with the degree, what you learned from the course, not where you got it from.
