Where are you going for colleges?

[sneepity]

I was in this same boat my freshman year, but then I realized that the uni you go to doesn't matter a ton. There are plenty of the same degrees out there, and some "lesser" universities are way cheaper. Do you want to pay extra for the clout of the university? Just something to consider.

That's true. Maybe Ivies are just trying to get money from students because they're Ivies. I still have time to consider though.

Very true. There are some benefits to going to more selective/prestigious universities, but it may not be worth it for the cost (depending on how much scholarship money you get), and you'll get a good education even if you don't get into Harvard. Something else to consider is that these universities are often known for how stressed and busy the students are... maybe it would be better to go somewhere that yes, you'll have to work hard and you'll learn a lot, but not where your mental health will be damaged because of all the work.
We'll have plenty of time to think about all this stuff when we're older, best not to stress about it too much now.

Big facts in this post. Often people feel like they have to attend a prestigious university, and while they're great, they are most certainly not for everyone. Finding a fit from a culture perspective is frequently one of the most underrated parts of a college search, rather than just the quality of the facilities or departments. It's not that you have to get along with everyone at the school, because that's never going to happen, but you want to feel like the culture is at least compatible with your own personality. This is why I always recommend to visit every school you want to apply to. It's better to know that a school feels "off" to you before you apply than after.

And I haven't even touched on cost. There is nothing wrong with going to a cheaper school, and often times public schools have nearly as much name recognition as the traditional elites. Don't get trapped into thinking cost correlates with worth!