It's a common struggle for high school students to choose between an affordable state school and a name brand school that could potentially increase future job potential. However, the hand off is the extra ten to fifty thousand dollars that a student might pay to attend one of these upper level schools, assuming they were accepted. I'm not here to tell you if you should attend an ivy league school or if you should save money at a state school and aim high for a graduate degree, however I want to provide an example of somebody that deserves more attention.

Marilee Jones, the Dean of Admissions at M.I.T. for nearly thirty years, resigned in 2007 because of a major lie on her application in 1979. Actually, not just one major lie, but three. She recorded that she had graduated from Albany Medical College, Union College and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. However, what took M.I.T. 28 years to discover, was that Jones had not graduated from a single one of these schools and actually had no degrees from any university.

In fact, Jones had done such a fantastic job as the Dean of Admissions that she won the M.I.T. Excellence Award for Leading Change: the highest honor for administrators (The New York Times). She earned the respect of all of her students and transformed the way that M.I.T. looked at and accepted students into their university. A woman who had only attended college as a part time student for one year decided who deserved to gain attendance to one of the top schools in the nation.

This story should not be an inspiration to students, but it should serve as an example for the unfair expectations placed on them. A college degree is not necessary for a person to be successful or happy in their life unless they desire an upper education. Additionally, this story presents the idea and proof that if no college degree is necessary, then is one from a brand name school actually required? M.I.T. accepted responsibility for the action of hiring a woman that had lied about her credentials, but they should have also acknowledged that the woman they hired did an extraordinary job. She did not just coast for 30 years, but she inspired students and worked her was up the ladder and gained the highest position that she could.

Should you lie on your application? Of course not. You should think about what kind of education is right for you and your future. If you think you belong at an ivy league school, don't doubt yourself. If you know you want to save money, then go to a state school and follow your dreams.