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<p>No statistical analayis is perfect and this one is no exception. If I was to point out a flaw, the first one would be that these are self-reporting data. The sample sizes are actually pretty decent.</p>
<p>Here are the sample sizes:</p>
<p>Princeton: 55
Dartmouth: 50
MIT: 50
Johns Hopkins: 110
Duke: 96
Harvard: 100
Stanford: 91
UC Irvine: 33
WUSTL: 61
UCLA: 276
UC Berkeley: 222
U of Florida: 125</p>
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<p>Even though it was well said as it is, I’d like to extend this further to employers or any other post-grad opportunities one is looking at.</p>
<p>I mean these posts have been great and all, but I don’t think anyone answered my original question. My original question was would a 3.8 from Harvard or Princeton be viewed more favorable to employers than a 3.8 from Columbia or Dartmouth?</p>
<p>Princeton perhaps because of the new grading policy. But overall, no not really. Especially since a 3.8 from any school, especially at that level of prestige, is extremely impressive for the GPA category, neither would be viewed as more favorable. Now perhaps a 3.0, 3.3 or even 3.5 could be viewed differently but I highly doubt it. Again, the exception being Princeton (a 3.3 there will look more impressive for employers aware of the grading policy, but not because it’s “better” than Columbia and Dartmouth).</p>
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<p>The reason no one has answered is because there is no one answer. The best we can say is it depends. Some companies are prestige whores the same way some people are. Others are not.</p>
<p>Harvard is definitely more famous than Dartmouth, so if the employer is one of those who is very focused on the name or prestige they my pick a Harvard grad over a Dartmouth grad on that basis alone. But in general grads from all Ivy League schools do very well in the job market.</p>
<p>I’d say no one is answering because the question misses the point entirely.</p>
<p>I actually kind of hate these kinds of threads but I’m bored today and want to waste some time so here’s my 2 cents:</p>
<p>The 3.8 from Harvard will beat a 3.8 from anywhere else because graduating from Harvard means you were accepted at Harvard and with a 7 percent admission rate it is the most selective college around. Being a Harvard graduate means you have been pre-screened by the world’s most exacting admissions committee already. That is why there is a lot of truth to the saying: If you get into Harvard, you go to Harvard.</p>
<p>If you could just put down on your resume for the rest of your life that you were accepted at Harvard, then perhaps there really would be no real need to attend. Except that then you would miss spending four years with other ridiculously talented and intense people just like you. The challenge of the place is not just the grades in the classes. It’s holding your own where everyone is a star. That is what employers and grad school admissions committees are going to recognize and value.</p>
<p>There’s so much bashing of Harvard that goes on and accusations that its graduates are conceited. In fact, I think spending four years at Harvard tranforms many a rather egotistical valedictorian into a thoughtful adult with an appreciation that there is ALWAYS someone smarter than you. Frequently, sitting next to you. That is a conditioning experience that produces a lot of leaders.</p>