It’s okay to choose a less selective school

Many colleges have been turning away more student applicants recently. As this trend continues, one of the best tips for getting into college may be to look at schools beside highly-competitive establishments. 

According to the National Association for College Admission Counseling, in 2011, the average acceptance rate at four-year institutions was 65.5 percent. For those applying for a scholarship, this rate may make getting into the ideal school seem like a dim possibility. 

Many applicants dream of slapping an Ivy League sticker on the bumper of their cars, but studies show that the name isn't everything. 

According to Princeton University's Alan Krueger, those students rejected by more selective schools, including Ivy Leagues, can go on to make the same amount of money as those who went to such institutions.

In a 2011 report published in the National Bureau of Economic Research, Krueger, as well as Stacy Dale of Mathematica Policy Research, analyzes how a graduate's eventual earnings reflect the selectivity of the school he or she attended.

According to Krueger, student initiative ultimately leads them to this success. 

"What matters most is what students put into their education - how seriously they take their studies and how much work they put in," said Krueger to Time Magazine.

Prospective students therefore can feel assured in picking a school with a less impressive name.

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