During the second semester of my sophomore year, my district handed out a newsletter featuring the valedictorians and salutatorians of each high school. I was intrigued by how people praised the three graduates who were accepted to Harvard University. The local news even had their scoop on these three people's decision to attend Harvard. I understand. These are three people from the same class in the same neighborhood who joined an exceptionally renowned and very selective Ivy League college. My peers around me always considered Ivy League schools a godsend if they could even be lucky enough to be admitted or recognized by them. Known for its prestige, academic resources, and connections, an Ivy League education can be very valuable to many people. However, it's possible to get quality benefits elsewhere for a fraction of the price. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Most people believe that those who attend these prominent schools generally have greater opportunities than others: strong networks of alumni, research and study papers from the brightest intellectuals, and a head start in extremely competitive fields. I mean, it's true. These universities boast graduating classes dating back to the 1700s. Their alumni network power is highly impactful and essential to students' lives and futures. Attending an Ivy League can provide you with the resources and connections needed to gain access to world-renowned companies. Simply having a degree from an Ivy League school could open doors to better job opportunities, including the possibility of earning an above-average salary in the future. They may gain more recognition and prejudice through their attendance at one of the most infamous schools ever known. When I talked with alumni and upperclassmen friends about why they pined so much for the Ivy Leagues, their responses seemed to just want to pick the name. For glory. So they can brag about how they managed to surpass everyone and get chosen to attend a remarkable school. I mean, it's not bad to brag. Anyone would be jubilant at the prospect of attracting the attention of a top university. This fuels their pride, makes them more confident in themselves and more motivated to work even harder. Nonetheless, I would like my peers to realize that these honored traits of these remarkable schools could be found at other colleges. For example, there are small liberal arts colleges, state universities, and private schools with viable financial aid programs and academic excellence comparable to the Ivy League. Rice University, the University of Texas at Austin, and Texas A&M are among the most prestigious higher education institutions in the state of Texas. People always strive to get the best of the best, but they don't realize that the best deals may be right under their noses all this time. I had a friend in the class of 2019 who worked hard to apply to some of the top schools, Harvard and Yale. Almost every day, he talked about his college interviews and his desire to be accepted to a top university. He always scolded me, telling me that I shouldn't go to an average or "poor quality" school (like the University of Houston) and that,.