[adanthar]

Jeff,

You in particular have no need to go to a top notch school. In fact, for you in particular, a top notch school is an opportunity cost, possibly for six digits a year.

You need a school and a curriculum where you can make B+'s while doing absolutely nothing. If you lived in Cali, I would recommend their community colleges because they're absolutely perfect for you/can get you into Berkeley two years from now if you're so inclined. Since you don't, look into similar type situations in the Northeast.

Keep in mind that if you stop with a college degree, your education will be absolutely useless for anything you do, because you are capable of making mid six figures from now until the end of time and therefore will never work 'for' anybody with a BA/BS. The only thing you can do that would net you more than that is Wall Street work, for which you can simply go to grad school.

Anyway, as to recommendations/personal statements, just play up the Magic/starting a successful business stuff and ignore poker.