Just like fashion has its brands, students have been pressured to choose  a “name brand” school in hopes of being successful.

However, a “brand” school is not always the right choice. Many famous and successful people started off at state colleges or didn’t even finish at all.

Walt Disney got his start at Joplin Junior College. Disney was rejected from the Army, which allowed him to pursue his interest in art by drawing political cartoons and taking art classes at night.

Others got their start at state schools, yet were unable to finish.

Academy Award winning actor Paul Newman started college at Ohio University, but was soon kicked out for truancy. Newman then enlisted in the Navy, but finished his degree at Kenyon College. Newman then made the move to Hollywood where he starred in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and Cars.

Fashion designer Calvin Klein began his career at a technical college that allowed him to focus on fashion, allowing him to develop his multi-million dollar brand.

Focusing on the prestige of a school can force a student into attending a school they will not be happy at.

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