<p>Just as a point of reference, I interviewed for a job with an employer who had never heard of williams and I was offered the job over someone one went to HYP. In general, the importance of the college's name is way overblown on CC.. I am currently enrolled in a doctoral program at a top Ivy, and it's quite rare for someone to even ask where I did my undergrad. Though there are several Williams alums in my particular program, so I suspect that all of the students/professors are familiar with the school.</p>
<p>^^^ I agree. The whole name recognition thing is given far more significance on CC than its actual value for most people. There are those esoteric enclaves where a name might provide some added traction, but most students will do no better or worse based solely on the market brand of their school's name. It may help compliment, but is definitely not a good reason by itself to select a school.</p>
<p>Bowdoin I hear is REALLY fun, and has a flourishing arts department. Williams, however is an amazing school and I would choose it simply based on its academics.</p>
<p>Yeah I think I'm gunna go with Williams</p>
<p>If they haven't heard of Williams then you may want to think twice about working for them. I can tell you that in financial circles, if you tastes run in that direction, it is very well known and respected. I would guess that more people know of the University of Florida that Oxford, and that more know Timex that Patek Philippe, but I would rather have the Patek. Both are excellent schools, edge to Williams.</p>
<p>^^^ what is it with the obsession with the "financial circle" 0.01% of the population might have something to do with the financial world, the rest of the williams graduate will never be impressed by anyone, employers included. People who go to these school for name must be deluded. It's a great school. It will prepare you well, but it will not give you an edge over anyone else because virtually no one's heard of it.</p>
<p>
[quote]
^^^ what is it with the obsession with the "financial circle" 0.01% of the population might have something to do with the financial world, the rest of the williams graduate will never be impressed by anyone, employers included. People who go to these school for name must be deluded. It's a great school. It will prepare you well, but it will not give you an edge over anyone else because virtually no one's heard of it.
[/quote]
That's fine, but the point is that all else being equal (which I think it virtually is when deciding between Bowdoin and Williams) you would still want to go to the one with the greater level of prestige.</p>
<p>Williams is well known among people who went to comparably strong schools.</p>
<p>"It will prepare you well, but it will not give you an edge over anyone else because virtually no one's heard of it."</p>
<p>Alice in Wonderland.</p>
<p>interesting... I was at a meeting recently, where an HR person was giving a presentation on dealing with gen x and y employees. The problem, it seems, is that they think working is all about them, and in the corporate/working world, this is pretty difficult to deal with because you get hired to do a job for someone else. So the name on your sweatshirt is something you should be proud of, but don't think it tells your story. And an obsession with that name will not overcome an unwillingness to go above and beyond without being told specifically what to do and without getting an "A" for it. From high school or college, hearing people oooh and aaah over your college choice is cool. Enjoy it while you can. Nobody cares where you went to school once you have a diploma in your hand. And the rate of workplace complaint about recent grads from top schools is higher than any standards HYP have put in place. Start worrying more about what you do and less about what other people think about where you've been. It will make you a happier and more successful person.</p>
<p>Networks. They come in all shapes and sizes. The top colleges have them and they work and they last. People may try to convince that the 50 k a year you are spending to attend Williams et al is a waste and you may believe it if you would like. The job market that people who graduated 20+ years ago faced is nothing like the one faced by todays graduates. The country for that matter is not very similar. College grads from the old days did not compete in a global market and against grads from China and India and other places. Brands are more important today that ever, for goodness sake we now live in a world where many people are famous for being famous, or where you can become president without ever discussing the issues of the job. Ignore the people who are telling you that your education has no value. Why do you think that these schools get the number of apps that they do. They have the placement and recruiting edge and lifelong affilliations.</p>
<p>First let me say that I graduated from a top LAC, and my daughter is going to one, too. That said, when it comes to networks, would you prefer one that has 10,000 new members a year, or 400 new members a year? And yes, there might be a difference in where they end up, but I'm pretty confident that at least 400/10,000 ended up at the top of the heap.<br>
3% of the kids attending college every year end up at LAC. Just by the numbers, if you're looking for "networks," you should go to Michigan, Illinois or UNC. You're odds are vastly improved.</p>
<p>Fatladysings,</p>
<p>I don't think you've seen the true value of the netowrks at some of the elite schools. Its not that your network is small, but its small and powerful. You tend to know a great percentage of your class (and are only a friend of a friend away from most), which increases the strength even more. In my world undergrad rep has come up more than one would think. People instantly know you're smart, and that's yours to lose.</p>
<p>Visited the purple mountains of Williams and loved the scholarly feel of the place, and the history (They have originals of the constitution!) and tradition. Loved the student teacher ratio. And the new theatre. Decided to apply ED. BUt a week later visited Bowdoin, including the rocky islands out in the atlantic, and ate lobster. Loved the feel of the place, the history (they have originals of the scarlett letter. and tales of Perry's arctic trips) and the student-teacher ratio. But the people at Bowdoin seemed happier, as far as I could tell, that is. Their expressions were more open, they shared more, and seemed appropriately humble but serious--not a lot of posturing. I felt very welcomed, and so I picked Bowdoin, cause of the feel of the place--better for me to learn in. That beats name recognition, which in my town is pretty equal and low for both, (they do know UCONN though, and Tulane, for some reason) or rankings. WHose life is it anyway? Good luck to all of us lucky people with choices like these.</p>