<p>Or is more about the GPA you received.
Like, say you went to a not so renowned school for college and you busted your butt and got a 3.8-4.0 GPA, would colleges care if you went to a school that's not all that known?</p>
<p>Yes [10 char]</p>
<p>Somewhat, and depending on the field and the school. If you’re shooting for Harvard Medical School or Yale Law, a known undergraduate school will certainly be helpful. But plenty of people get into good med/law schools and into good MBA programs from not-so-famous schools if they have the grades, MCAT/LSAT whatever-scores, and desireable work/practical experience.</p>
<p>It depends a lot on what school you go to. For instance a 3.5 at Swathmore is not at all the same thing as a 3.5 at most other schools. </p>
<p>However, if you do extreamly well, even at a unknown school, you will still have a really good shot.</p>
<p>It also depends on the strength of the program you came from and the strength of the program you are trying to get into. And what many people forget, the recommendations of faculty you have now who may well know people at the graduate program you are seeking entry. </p>
<p>How well is your present school “connected”? Meaning, are there any faculty members where you are now who went to that graduate school? Or know someone there? It makes a HUGE difference if they do.</p>
<p>Which is a reason to look at the faculty credentials of your undergrad school/program before you go there. </p>
<p>Of course your LSAT, MCAT and GRE scores are very big factors too.</p>
<p>Yes, it matters. But as others noted, what matters also are your grades, test scores, faculty recommendations and research or indepedent projects, particularly in the sciences [not medical school]. Also, when applying to graduate programs do not disregard or ignore the faculty members’ research interests. If you application addresses areas or specialties which the target faculty has no interest in, you’re not likely to be admitted to their graduate department.</p>
<p>Also keep in mind that “not well known” means one thing when you’re talking about the public in general, and another thing when you’re talking about graduate admissions directors and graduate faculty knowing the strengths of different undergraduate programs around the country in their specific field.</p>
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Spoken like someone with truly no grasp of graduate admissions.</p>
<p>It is easier to be prepared at a top school than at a weaker school. Top universities are more likely to have academic superstars, have funded research opportunities, have pre-graduate advising offices, have administrators who prep students for graduate fellowships (Rhodes, Fulbright, Truman), etc.</p>
<p>Graduate admissions these days is TOUGH. In worst case scenarios, up to 100 qualified people competing for 2-3 spots. You need every leg up you can possibly get.</p>
<p>For example, here’s an excerpt from a UCR professor’s [url=<a href=“http://schwitzsplintersunderblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/applying-to-phd-programs-in-philosophy.html]advice[/url”>The Splintered Mind: Underblog: Applying to Ph.D. Programs in Philosophy: Full Text]advice[/url</a>] on applying to graduate school.
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