<p>5 years after a student graduates from undergrad, how much will the A school he went to, B GPA he got, and C initial job offer out of college all matter to his career? If you get a "2nd or 3rd tier" job offer out of college rather than a offer which was coveted by the top 10% of competetive graduating seniors, how much of a difference will that end up making? Can most of that difference be made up "on the job" and can how a person performs after they have been hired be a bigger factor?</p>
<p>Noway man, it's all 100% compartmentalized and static. You are what your schools tells you. Whatever you attain at a younger age is what you are stuck with for the rest of your life. No movement is allowed. If you are able to get a top 10 job, you have it made...but unless you get that job right out of college, you will never ever progress again. </p>
<p>Come on man, silly question.... life, at least in these United States, is more dynamic than that, you have to know this.</p>
<p>To quote the business school dean at my school: "Throughout my post college professional career, most opportunities presented themselves from the side rather than the front. There is no way I could have planned my career, and I like it that way."</p>