Big Fish or Little Fish?

Would you rather be a big fish in a small pond or a little fish in a big pond? This analogy can help when choosing a college and is important for both students and parents to consider.

It is often assumed that it’s better to attend a more selective school, even if your grades, test scores, etc. place you toward the end of that college’s student body. The rationale behind “small fish in a big pond” is that students will benefit from being surrounded by smarter classmates and enjoy the perceived prestige of a more selective school.

But, research actually suggests the opposite. A myriad of studies of shown that students who elect to be the top student at a less selective school—the “big fish in a little pond”—tend to feel more competent, have better GPAs and higher career aspirations than the students who attend a more selective school.
​​
In a 2013 presentation with Google Zeitgeist, author Malcolm Gladwell pointed out that being a big fish in a small pond can be extra beneficial to those who pursue a career in STEM-related majors and careers (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). In his presentation, Gladwell talked about how many students that start college intending to major in a STEM field switch to non-science and math majors. The students who are least likely to change majors are the ones whose SAT scores put them in the top third of their peers, whereas the students whose scores are in the bottom are most likely to switch.

Gladwell noted that this equation doesn’t vary based on the selectivity of the college. A student’s SAT scores may put them at the bottom of a highly selective school or at the top of a less selective school. But, the odds of them persisting through to graduation in a STEM major are greater at the less selective school where they are in the top third.

“As human beings, we dramatically underestimate the cost of being at the bottom of a
hierarchy,” said Gladwell in his presentation. “We form our self-assessment and confidence based on our standing relative to the group, not the entire world.” If a student is toward the top of their class in college, regardless of its selectivity, they will be more likely to see themselves as capable of keeping up with the group.

There are many things that factor into choosing a school. A student might prefer a specific location, different programs, financial aid, extracurricular activities and many more at one school over another. Regardless of how a student compares to their campus peers, a highly-motivated student can succeed at a variety of institutions. Those who are more likely to become “big fish” among their classmates at a highly selective school will reap the same benefits as they would by attending a less selective college. On the flip side, some value the perceived prestige of attending a more selective school, even if it means they’ll be a small fish in a big pond.

Deciding whether you want to be a big or a little fish is an important part of finding which school is right for you. Weigh the pros and cons of a big pond vs. a small pond to help make your decision.