So I have narrowed my college search down to two schools - St. John’s Univeristy and Fordham Univeristy. I received a full tuition scholarship to St. John’s and virtually no aid for Fordham. What I was essentially wondering was that will attending St. John’s (lower ranking and less prestige) hurt my chances for grad school? How much do elite grad schools (such as the ivy leagues or those of similar status) take into account where you attended for your undergrad verses the grades and test scores you achieve and the internships/extracurriculars you participate in?
Many knowledgeable CC participants may disagre, but I believe your Bachelor’s institutions is considered by graduate and professional schools, HOWEVER IT IS MUCH LESS CRITICAL THAN GPA, CURRICULUM, LSAT/GRE/GMAT RESULTS, RECOMMENDATIONS, etc. Many CC posters I respect have indicated that your undergraduate university doesn’t matter. I believe they are wrong – it matters, but not too much – for postgraduate admission.
Where it may matter a good deal, however, is in decades of networking for internships, jobs, and promotions, for membership in selective social and athletic clubs, for social situations, for election to non-professional leadership roles, and so forth (yes, it’s snobbish, but it’s also reality).
However, I don’t think most people would perceive much if any difference between Fordham and St. John’s.
I would definitely take the money. The difference (if any) between them is definitely not worth the huge cost differential.
Agree completely^
^^^
I, too, completely agree. To keep this in the NYC Metro area, if it were Columbia and Saint John’s, that might (not certain, but worthy of evaluation) be something different. However, Fordham and Saint John’s . . . take the money.
Does it matter who your first wife is? Yes, especially if u never get divorced.