<p>Is there a significant difference in going to an Ivy undergrad vs going to other undergrad schools? Would job opportunities be better?</p>
<p>While the Ivies have better name recognition, do they really offer more opportunity, or is it simply just a prestige benefit?</p>
<p>Depending on what you want to do prestige means a whole lot. You also are typically getting a stronger alumni network as well. </p>
<p>There is a clear benefit to going to an ivy over some random un known school but once you start looking at the well respected non ivies the advantages become harder to identify.</p>
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<p>All of the top colleges offer stellar academics, professors, strong student bodies, active alumni networks and more opportunities than any one student could possibly take advantage of. The only people who overvalue Ivies (as opposed to thinking of them as a subset of the nation’s top schools) are: a) high schoolers who have no concept of the real world, b) people new to this country who have just heard the Ivy name / mystique and don’t know any better, and c) striver wannabes obsessed with so-called prestige who haven’t quite figured out that it’s actually more elite not to be so narrowly focused.</p>
<p>The Ivy League colleges are wonderful schools for sure. However, they are not the only act in town. There are many other FINE colleges and universities with strong alum networks and connections that can offer you an excellent education. Some of the most notables are Stanford, MIT, Cal Tech, Georgetown, UChicago, Williams, Amherst, Davidson, U of Virginia, U of Michigan, and MANY others.</p>
<p>In addition the honors college programs at many public universities are outstanding.</p>
<p>There are also some smaller, relatively “unknown” colleges/universities that provide outstanding opportunities for undergrads…and many of these schools’ graduates go on to grad school at more prestigious universities.</p>
<p>It is much depending on your ultimate goal. For one who wants to have Ivy name mentioned every time he is introduced, there is no other schools that will accomplish this. This person must enter Ivy. There are other reasons also. For some others it is completely irrelevant as they rely on themselves to get stellar UG education and other life-long dream experiences at any place that they feel a good match to their personality and wide range of interests.</p>
<p>Those who believe that the Ivy names matter only to “a) high schoolers who have no concept of the real world, b) people new to this country who have just heard the Ivy name / mystique and don’t know any better, and c) striver wannabes obsessed with so-called prestige who haven’t quite figured out that it’s actually more elite not to be so narrowly focused” are simply blind to reality. S1 recently graduated from one of the most selective LACs in the country. From his interviewing experience it was clear to him that while everyone knew and gave great respect to the Ivy names, name recognition for his school was very uneven. You can argue all you want about the abstract merits of particular schools. the reality is that in the real world the Ivy names matter far more than any other except perhaps Stanford, MIT and Cal Tech.</p>
<p>The only experience I have about this has been seeing what the Ivy and another top school has meant for my sons’. They have each had amazing opportunities both at their respective schools and following graduation. Would they of had that elsewhere…who knows? I do know that the name MIT means something when searching for a job, and Cornell meant something when my son graduated and landed his first job doing something that most people his age or experience do not have the opportunity to do. Son3 landed his job because Cornell alumni reached out to him when they knew he was looking. I would say that these top schools have a certain advantage that can not be denied. That does not mean that hard work and solid accomplishments are not had elsewhere.</p>
<p>Agree with EMM1 - I know several top Ivy (HYP) grads who said that the very name of their school got them interviews and instant attention from potential employers. Niece graduated a couple of years ago from one of these schools and to this day, when introducing her, her boss (and company founder) says “And this is Susie. She went to Princeton.” </p>
<p>That said, I also think the huge importance paid to the Ivies is a very East coast thing. In California, for example, reaction to these schools is much more measured.</p>
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<p>While nice, I think the employer is more mentioning this to compliment HIMSELF (for hiring an Ivy grad). If I were Susie, this would embarrass me…especially after several years…I would want to be introduced “this is Susie. She has been a leader in her division at our company”.</p>
<p>I am not having any negative thoughts about any schools. However, some people completely dismiss the fact that kids are having amazing unforgettable experiences and learning and other opportunities that are very well beyond family expectations at public state schools, while others at the same schools and possibly Ivy’s are just wasting their precious time and money at either. Many of my D’s Med. School classmates can attribute their accomplishment of getting accepted to their Ivy and Elite education. They will also point out to amazing opportunites outside of academics that they had at these outstanding schools. Well, my D. (who is in the Med. School with these people) can talk forever about her state public and misses it so much. She feels that it was very special and perfect place for her to be for 4 years. In either case how each will know what they miss in comparison? They have only one experience, either at Ivy/Elite or public state, how they can compare if end result is the same - acceptance to very selective Med. School and unforgettable life changing positive experiences.</p>
<p>Actually, I agree, thumper. I suspect what’s also going on is that it’s his way of validating his company: “if a Princeton grad wants to work here, it must be a good place.” Which is of course another way of complimenting himself, as you say. </p>
<p>I’m a former Californian who now lives in Colorado. The Ivy obsession on CC, and in life, is something I treat as a bit of a regional anomaly. Kind of like, eating snails and frogs in France ;)</p>
<p>Finance and management consulting, two of the highest paying industries for new grads, do tend to value ivy leaguers more. It isn’t because these firms are snooty - though it would seem that way at first. The reason is because clients, who are shopping for a financial or consulting service, like to be able to go back to their bosses and say things like, “I know using [insert financial or consulting firm name here] is expensive but they’re putting five Harvard guys on the case!”</p>
<p>The network is stellar, too. At Columbia, kids often arrive on campus for their senior year having accepted a full-time position. I’ve had no real interest in a finance career, myself. But, through my fraternity and Columbia, I feel like I’ve had dinner and drinks with every managing director on Wall Street.</p>
<p>Last, a lot of recruiting is automated now. If you upload your resume to McKinsey’s, Goldman Sachs’, or other sites, you’ll be filtered through based on the information you’ve presented. These programs are designed to select for top schools. So, again, it’s just a way to get your foot in the door.</p>
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<p>You’re kidding yourself that this isn’t strongly dictated by region. This is the usual, typical, “but what they think and how they react in the East Coast must indeed be how they think and react everywhere in the country.” Anyway, my D goes to one of the most selective LAC’s and I couldn’t give a darn that it has less name recognition, since it has name recognition among the people who matter.</p>
<p>Name recognition…well…our daughter went to a school with absolutely NO name recognition on the East Coast (at least not where we live). However, once she got there, she quickly realized that the school had quite a lot of positive name recognition where it mattered…it was located smack in the middle of the Silicon Valley…a great place to have your school “recognized” especially in business or engineering.</p>
<p>Region matters. Ivy league grads are more likely to come from the east coast (local region and huge population). Here in the Midwest they are only on the radar for a few top HS students, and then most likely only HYP. Name dropping potential- but then what did the person do after the undergrad degree- far more impressive to have a post BS/BA degree from anywhere (what’s the big deal about an Ivy if you only get a bachelor’s degree?). Likewise the nonHYP schools mentioned as being elite won’t be known here, they’re East coast schools that mean something to those from there. </p>
<p>Regarding offering “more”. No matter where you go to college you have to give up the experiences you may have had elsewhere. The sum of experiences has to add up to 100%, no extras possible for being at school HYP or XZ. Remember, there is life outside the Ivy league- the professors teaching there know that from personal experience, as do many/most of their grad students.</p>
<p>If you don’t care about name recognition, then it doesn’t matter to you. But the reality is that the Ivy degree does offer more. In addition to a fabulous education and peer group it also offers prestige. And that does matter - a lot. Especially in the early years of a job search. And trust me - it’s not only for finance jobs.</p>
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<p>San Jose State University or Santa Clara University?</p>
<p>Santa Clara University…but in the SV…San Jose State has name recognition too!</p>
<p>@ OP - </p>
<p>I think it depends on your goals for after college. If you are average for your Ivy League school and you think you want to become a medical doctor, even if you have good study habits and are willing to work hard, you might do much better if you attend an undergrad school where you are more likely to be ahead of the curve in weeder classes. </p>
<p>Some students choose a specialized program at a lower-ranked school because the research opportunities are better, because they like hands-on learning and want to take advantage of co-op education, or because merit money gives them more flexibility to add an extra semester or year if their interests change, they want to avoid loans or save money for professional school, or they decide they want to add a second major. It is not clear that an Ivy would be the best choice for these students.</p>
<p>Let’s also point out that top post grad programs typically take students who went to top undergrad schools (ivies).</p>
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