CHE: A Prestigious Degree Doesn't Always Equal Success

Applying to College
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<p><a href="http://chronicle.com/temp/email2.php?id=6ybwjpKy8dprkXG3gpnwQ5FnhRDZ5Pp2%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://chronicle.com/temp/email2.php?id=6ybwjpKy8dprkXG3gpnwQ5FnhRDZ5Pp2&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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One of the biggest fallacies about academic institutions is that attendance at a big-name college or university is virtually essential for reaching the top later in life. In fact students will not necessarily get better educations at more-prestigious institutions with higher-paid faculty — especially since a college's academic prestige depends primarily on its professors' research and publications. Various studies have shown students at small liberal-arts colleges doing as well as, and sometimes better than, students from prestigious research universities on tests like those for medical schools and a higher percentage going on to receive Ph.D.'s. That is not surprising in view of a study indicating that teaching takes up less than half the working time of faculty at research universities yet nearly two-thirds of it at liberal-arts colleges.

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<p>Though most of this has been said before, I'd say it's worth a look.</p>

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<p>@ fhimas8888888</p>

<p>The argument also holds if one must have an Ivy degree to succeed in life. The answer is absolutely no. There are many non-Ivy colleges and universities in this country that have similar prestige and preparation for vast career opportunities.</p>

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<p>Though I must say, there is something to be said about the rigor that these kinds of colleges provide compared to those that are a bit less prestigious. Furthermore, prestigious colleges attract more top students in higher numbers than state schools; this is an important trait.</p>