<p>Just a comparison of hypothetical schools and situations...</p>
<p>Do you think that a person with a MBA from an average state university and over 5 years of practical management and/or financial experience pulls even with a new grad from a top business school?
Do you think that a person with an MPA from an average university and 5 years of congressional experience pulls even with a graduate from the Kennedy school or W. Wilson?
<now add="" in="" about="" $30k="" student="" loan="" debt="" to="" the="" equation="">
Can practical work experience make you just as valuable a hire by potential employers as those who have attending top institutions? </now></p>
<p>It is my opinion that people (especially on this board) downplay the importance of real world experience, maturity and the ability to lead. There is no substitute for people who have a proven track record for performing under deadlines, delivering results under stress of long hours and are employees that move up fast in large corporations.</p>
<p>Where I work (small corporation), experience is valued much more than school reputation.
School reputation will get some “ooohs” and “aahhhs” but the real-world experience gives a person the ability and skills to immediately understand the job, demands of the job and expectations. It also allows the person the necessary skills and knowledge to communicate with the hiring managers about the job on a very real level.</p>
<p>This exact situation went down recently in my department. A molecular bio PhD who just graduated from Chapel Hill and a graduate from a lesser school, who had been in the industry for 8 years, were both hired.</p>
<p>The experienced person got a management position. The Chapel hill person got an entry-level job.</p>
<p>When it comes to academia, your educational history matters more. But in the ‘real world’ of profits and capitalism, experience (assuming the person was very successful in their previous position) trumps a fancy degree. Employers want to hire sure-things, most of the time, I would think.</p>
<p>Oh AND the person with the experience had a Masters.</p>
<p>The Chapel Hill guy just got his Ph.D.</p>
<p>It seemed like HR just thought experience in the field was more important.</p>
<p>These considerations of school prestige mean more for those of us staying in academia.</p>