Does my undergraduate university's prestige play a big role when applying to a prestigious graduate?

<p>As my plans stand, I will probably attend either Purdue University, University of Indiana-Bloomington or Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and major in Physics and at least minor in Mathematics (hopefully double major, but we'll see where that wild wind takes us)
From my research, they're no Caltech, but they're not the King John of universities. And for someone living in Indiana, I don't really see any better options, as I am a poor child raised in the ghettos, think of me as some Will Hunting.
But lets say after I graduate, I want to go to somewhere like Caltech or MIT.
Is this possible if I didn't go to a big name school for undergrad, or for those three schools I mentioned?
My ultimate goal is to become a professor (yes, I know the nerdy kid who everyone hates dating the hottest cheerleader in school is more likely to happen than becoming a professor, but I'm determined to at least try. If all else fails I could be the smartest man to ever work at McDonalds) so that is why I want to attend such great schools for graduate. </p>

<p>Indiana, Purdue and RHIT are all fine schools for physics. Indiana and Purdue are AAU members and research universities so you will be able to fine significant research experiences on campus with funded programs. At RHIT, you will also have the opportunity to get involved in research. Graduate schools don’t really care where you went for undergraduate as long as you have solid grades, good GRE scores and research experience. This is particularly true in physics (I know, I have been teaching advising physics majors for 30 years at Illinois Tech) where selective graduate programs will take students from any solid undergraduate program.</p>

<p>This whole ranking thing is insidious and rarely makes any real difference for graduate school. What is more important in physics is that you take the most rigorous graduate prep program. Make sure you get a full year of senior level E&M and Quantum. Get involved in research as soon as possible and try to get a publication or close to it. Don’t bother with a double major if you are planning to go to graduate school in physics, just take all your electives in physics and mathematics.</p>

<p>Finally, even in graduate school, it is more important to be at a university where you can find a good advisor than being at the top ranked program in the country. My Ph.D. students have all found good jobs at universities, national labs or industry. Rankings are overrated, find the best fit.</p>

<p>@CaptainGorn15‌
It is definitely possible to go to prestigious grad schools, despite not going to a top undergrad school.
One of my friends from high school went to Purdue’s undergraduate aerospace program, and then came to MIT for grad school. While at Purdue, she was one of the top students in her class.</p>

<p>So, it is definitely possible.</p>

<p>Prof. Winston (he teaches AI at MIT) says that, unlike for undergrad where applicants write about why MIT is right for them… for grad school applicants, the applicant has to show why he/she is right for MIT. What skills, experience and expertise does the applicant have that will benefit MIT. Often times, this means applicants should already have research lab experience coming in. Classroom performance alone is usually not enough. </p>

<p>For most grad school programs, a PhD candidate works under an adviser (supervising professor). It is not about how much you want to work for that adviser. It is about getting the adviser to want to hire you from the entire pool of applicants.</p>

<p>Note that the biggest percentage of MIT grad students were MIT undergrads (maybe around 20%).
But also note that some 80% of MIT undergrads have research experience, via MIT’s Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP).</p>

<p>So, if you want to go to someplace like MIT for grad school, do well academically at Purdue or wherever, but also seek out research opportunities at your school outside of a class. It is that research experience and (hopefully) expertise that you bring to the table that can get you into the grad school of your choice.</p>

<p>Is this possible if I didn’t go to a big name school for undergrad, or for those three schools I mentioned?</p>

<p>Definitely.</p>

<p>Rose-Hulman has very respectable outcomes for students going on to grad school. Off the top of my head, I can think of friends of my boyfriend (Rose alumnus) who are attending Harvard, Stanford, and Michigan, highly competitive schools in their various fields of study. Others are at fully-funded programs at Illinois Institute of Technology and the University of Florida. In short, yes, going on to a big-name university after Rose is very possible. I’m sure that IU and Purdue have similar outcomes, as well. </p>

<p>Make the most of your undergraduate opportunities at any of those schools, and you will position yourself well to accomplish your goals.</p>