In the working world rarely does your gpa come up. Elite schools on a resume may get put in a pile for an interview but it boils down to experience that gives a person an edge. Too many threads on CC get caught up in school rankings, prestige and the like but college is a four year bubble. A person’s career will span decades. So I say to those HS kids on here, follow your passion, make wise financial choices when it comes to paying for college and don’t get caught up in the hype and stress of picking a school for the reputation if you can’t afford it. A degree from an Ivy League may open more doors but career success really depends on the person and how they create and take advantage of opportunities.
Just an anecdote, I work in healthcare and I’ve dealt with students from both state universities and elite privates doing their clinical rounds. I’ve been very impressed with the public school students. Comparing drive, work ethic and critical thinking skills I would say they have held their own against the elite private school students and in some cases outshined them.