Look, everyone wants the “best”.  If I need a doctor, I want the doc who knows what’s up, and the good schooling is an apparent indicator of that.  And with my kid, of course, I want what ‘best” for him, and it feels like one is closing doors by not going with the “best”.  But I submit to you that what is ‘best’ is often not so apparent on the surface, and is more of the whole package, not just the prestige.  It’s like saying the best wife is the most beautiful wife, because, well, look at her, she’s gorgeous.  That is obviously poor planning.  The best solution to any problem is multifaceted, generally involves monetary considerations, and is sometimes counterintuitive. 

People from cal state, and other state schools across this great nation of ours get in to medical schools every day.  And they make as much or more money than their more heavily indebted counterparts.