Do Grad schools look at Undergraduate Schools?

Graduate School
1

<p>I am an incoming freshman at Loyola University New Orleans, and I am planning to major in physics. At this point in time, Loyola's physics department strongly encourages undergraduate research and is becoming more and more involved with the Laser Inferometry--Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) in Livingston, Louisiana. I have already spoken to the physics professors at Loyola, and I am planning to become involved with this research and possibly become a research assistant to a professor working at the observatory. </p>

<p>My question is: Do graduate schools mainly look at the undergraduate school you attended? I realize that Loyola University isn't an Ivy League school, but this private university has many things to offer, including undergraduate research. If I keep my grades up, have good recommendations, and conduct research, will I have a good chance at being accepted into a good graduate school?</p>

<p>Emily</p>

2

<p>Yes, some schools will retain/keep an alum and retain them in a graduate program others will not and indeed some schools give preference to an alum.</p>

3

<p>I do know that most graduate schools don't want alumni to study at their school in the physics category. I would like to know if graduate schools look more at how elite the undergraduate school is instead of the research, grades, and recommendations for the student.</p>

<p>Emily</p>

4

<p>You can find similar questions and answers regarding this topic on other threads on CC but the short answer is that grad schools appear to weight research experience, undergraduate preparation, GPA, GRE's and letters of recommendation most highly. One's undergraduate school appears to be weighted less than these other factors at most grad schools.</p>