We’re all told to work hard in school, so that we can get into the best colleges or
universities, and be successful. But, does the school you choose actually matter?
Take a look at these SAT scores for an average school - which are out of 800, by the way.
Those that have the highest SAT scores end up representing over 50% of the people who
get degrees at these schools, while the lowest SAT scores only represent around 18% of the
people who actually graduate. Not so surprising.
But now let’s look at a top school, like Harvard. Here, the students with the lowest
SAT scores, are still smarter than the best students at an average school. And yet, when
we look at their rate of completion, it looks awfully similar. The top students represent
just over 50% of people who graduate, while the lower SAT scores represent around 15%
of people who actually graduate.
Wait, what’s going on?? This phenomenon is known as the Big Fish - Little Pond Effect.
Simply put, we compare ourselves not globally, but to our neighbours or people who are in
the same boat as we are. As a result, students at top schools compare themselves to their
brilliant peers, and if you’re in the bottom half of your class, you’re likely to have
feelings of inadequacy. Even though compared to the rest of the world you are at the top!
Who do you think has a higher incidence of suicide? People who live in developed countries
that declare themselves as very happy, like Switzerland, Denmark and Canada or those which
describe themselves as unhappy, like Italy, Greece, and Spain? The happy countries. If
you’re depressed but everyone around you is also unhappy, you may think of yourself
as normal, as opposed to being stuck around people who are happier than you.
Similarly, if you’re very intelligent at an elite school, you may end up being a little
fish in a very big pond. And feeling as though you’re at the bottom impacts your confidence
and ultimately your motivation. Need more statistics? 50% of US students in STEM programs
drop out in the first or second year of school. But for every 10 point decrease in the school’s
average SAT score, degree completion rises by 2%! Meaning, you’re much more likely
to even get your degree if you don’t go to your top pick.
But who ends up being more successful in the ‘real world’? A study looking at publications
produced by economists in their first six years after graduation showed that top students
in the 99th percentile - ie smarter than almost every other person at the school - from the
top 5 schools in America were producing an impressive amount of publications. But those
in the 75th percentile, still the top quarter of best students, are publishing next to nothing.
Essentially failures in their field.
But if we now look at the best students from the 30 worst schools, we see that they’re
publishing more than those in the top quarter of the best schools in the country! Clearly,
your surroundings and peers matter.
Now, of course, this doesn’t cover every aspect of going to a top ranked school - including
the fact that having a degree from one of them can be a badge of honour, and may help
you find a job more easily. But, that’s if you ever even graduate.
So when you’re applying for school, or even at your new college, keep in mind that whether
you go to the best or worst school, the formula for success is mixed. Remember the importance
of confidence in your abilities, and how being a Big Fish in a little pond can sometimes
be more important than your school itself.
If you’re worried about doing your best at school, you can check out our previous
video on the 9 best scientific study tips with link in the description. And subscribe
for more weekly science videos!