Polarbear, thanks for weighing in on this.

Another article introducing this book -

Your college is not your destiny
Katherine Long
March 17, 2015
The Seattle Times
Quote
“People bloom at various stages of life, and different individuals flourish in different climates,” Bruni says, noting that not all students bloom in high school. Parents (and children) often attach “a make-or-break importance to a finite circle of exalted institutions — and to private colleges and universities over public ones — that isn’t supported by the evidence.”

This reminds me of a bit of Colleges That Change Lives and the book of the same name, subtitled 40 schools you should know about even if you're not a straight-A student, from 15 years ago.