<p>We've all heard stories about top 10 undergrad business college grads getting jobs as venture capitalists and investment bankers. Or at least commanding nice salaries before going to get their MBA.</p>
<p>My question is, what happens to the graduates of colleges that AREN'T top 10 undergrad in business, do they work in offices all day below other people like drew carey did in his show or what?</p>
<p>They work at regular banks, Fortune 500 firms, smaller regional companies, accounting firms, all sorts of good jobs. I'd say it starts to drop off some below the top 50 or so.</p>
<p>The question is what constitues a below the top 50 schools? That could well mean every school in the country. </p>
<p>The so-called ranking of schools is not cast in concrete and is extremely subjective. If does not hurt to have a degree from a school that is on everyone lips, but it is not a sine qua non requirement. The deeper you look at the biographies of successful executives -let alone entrepeneurs- the higher the chance to find less than known schools, especially for UG. </p>
<p>After all, what is recognized is the talent of the INDIVIDUAL and not necessary the name of the school. After a few years, the name of the alma mater will drop in relevance like an anchor.</p>
<p>"After all, what is recognized is the talent of the INDIVIDUAL and not necessary the name of the school. After a few years, the name of the alma mater will drop in relevance like an anchor."</p>
<p>This is very true. I'm doing an internship at a large corporation and I look at the list of schools of where the other interns come from. I was in a shock, because some of the schools I've never even heard of (and I frequent CC quite often). It's not like people who don't go to a certain school are going to be poor or something. Sooner or later, you'll realize that some people who come from lesser regarded schools are competing, and sometimes beating, those who come from better schools for the same jobs.</p>
<p>Let's be honest though, there are many firms like the one I worked at for a decade (management consulting) that only recruit at very top schools. People coming from industry do find their way into such firms by excelling within corporations, but many service sector firms do keep recruiting to very few schools.</p>
<p>If you want a top management consulting firm, law firm, investment bank or the like, work in industry and make a name for yourself, then make the transition. Or do well and go to a top grad school which will then give you access.</p>
<p>And there are 1000's of good firms to work for that are not top consulting and Ibanks. They might even allow you time time for a life.</p>
<p>Relax. This from a recent article on CNN.com:
[quote]
Research at Columbia University shows that jobs, pay raises and promotions are more apt to be awarded based on a worker's charisma than on academic background or professional qualifications.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Also interesting is their assertion that likeability is something you can also learn.</p>
<p>Interesting research findings...in many years of my career (I refuse to say how many!) I have seen more people get promoted because of who they know than what they know, but for those who truly earned it, it was a combination of their business and people skills. If people like you, they want to do business with you. Charm goes a long way, but if you don't have the brains to back it up, they figure that out fairly quickly and won't take you seriously. That has nothing to do with where you went to school.</p>
<p>And it is true...once you are a few years out of school, you need to prove yourself through your own efforts. The name of the school you went to can help you get started, but it's up to you to build the career you want. </p>
<p>I went to a big state school that wasn't a top 20, but my department was #11 for my discipline, and I made the most of it. It's what you do while you're there, and how you take your education with you into whatever job you start with, and develop the right "blend". I started as a sales assistant after I graduated, and eight years later became VP of marketing (with a few different companies in between).</p>
<p>btw, about those management consulting jobs with the likes of Andersen et al...they are more likely to recruit fresh MBAs than recent undergrads. I was recruited by Andersen when I was 30, and had neither a pedigreed bachelor's nor an MBA...it was my experience that caught their attention.</p>
<p>Bottom line of my late-night ramblings....don't worry so much about rankings and what potential employers might think of where you went. Kick butt wherever you go and you'll trade off your own name, not that of a high-priced hoitey-toitey school.</p>