<p>Hi, I am a junior in mechanical engineering at Iowa State University. I am looking at graduate school. I wanted to aim for more well-known institutions to "upgrade my resume" but everything really comes down to money. (._.) I know MS candidates have less opportunities for aid than PhD candidates, but I just want to attend the institutions that I couldn't attend when I was applying for the undergraduate program. Iowa State is very generous in financial aid, but my goal is to enroll in Purdue (or Virginia Tech) for the MS. However, if I did do the accelerated program, will employers look down on me because I am not one of those MIT "elites" but just someone from a state institution? I am a little bit concerned. Thank you for your inputs.</p>
<p>They will not look down on you. Most engineers didn’t go to a school like MIT, so for them to think badly of you purely for the school you go to would be nonsense. Just do your best to be a candidate that stands out!</p>
<p>Thanks for the fast response. I just did not feel secure about my standing in the job market after a recent encounter with someone from one of those institutions…sigh</p>