<p>Only as important as your first few posts, contingent on your GPA.</p>
<p>Going to a prestigious school is occasionally useful for networking purposes.</p>
<p>Harvard2400 wrote, "Not for GRAD school placement. Almost most medical schools will take the Rutgers student who graduates with a 3.9, 38 MCAT than the Cornell student-who endures a much more rigorous curriculum- with a 3.3/3.4 and 35 MCAT score anyday."</p>
<p>I believe I wrote "all other things being equal." If both candidates had 38 MCATs, the lower GPA at Cornell is unlikely to be disqualifying. </p>
<p>The service academy example I used doesn't apply as much to medical school because only about ten graduates per year each from West Point, Annapolis, and Air Force are allowed to apply directly. Not surprisingly, since their med. school is fully paid by the government (in exchange for an extended active service obligation), these spots are filled very quickly and hence typically go to cadets/midshipmen near the top of their class (though that may mean "only" a 3.7 GPA -- again, NO grade inflation). However, for those service academy grads who complete their five years of active duty and then apply to med. school ... on their own hook or on the government ... there are many examples of admission with significantly lower GPAs while candidates with higher GPAs from other schools are denied.</p>
<p>Its really not that big a deal at all. One of my family's friends has an engineering degree from Rice, and he told me personally that its actually not as good as having a degree from the University of Texas because there are more UT alumni in the workforce tahn Rice alumni in the workforce by far. And we all know that alumni of a certain school will look to hire other alumni of their school.</p>
<p>Vyse wrote, "an engineering degree from Rice, and he told me personally that its actually not as good as having a degree from the University of Texas because there are more UT alumni in the workforce tahn Rice alumni in the workforce by far."</p>
<p>Probably true within Texas, but nationally the Rice engineering degree would carry more clout. Also important is how organized and active an alumni association is in placing more recent grads.</p>
<p>For very top engineering jobs the only 2 schools are Caltech and MIT (OK, maybe UCB, Stanford and Mudd) unless you've proven yourself!</p>
<p>Best engineering-- MIT, Stanford, Berkeley.</p>
<p>To the people saying that elite college degrees help you get into grad school:</p>
<p>I doubt this is the case. Many factors account for the high application/acceptence rates at top grad schools from elite colleges. I would say the most important one is that the the types of students who attend these institutions are the types of students who are already thinking about and desiring to attend grad school. It is safe to say that more people from Harvard will apply to grad school than will people from Cal State Fullerton--which results in a seemingly greater number of admits for Harvard students.</p>
<p>Secondly, the types of students who attend top tier schools are already the types of students who would look good on applications to grad schools. To a certain extent the process is self-selecting because Harvard doesn't really MAKE the kids smart--they were smart self-starters long before they ever attended Harvard; in fact, that's probably the reason they were admitted to begin with.</p>
<p>I hope this makes sense; I'm tired. :/</p>
<p>semiserious,</p>
<p>Although I agree that the top schools have self-selected for students who are more likely to attend grad school, independent of the undergrad school they attend, I do not think that this is the entire story. Very few students are completely impervious to peer pressure. If you could take two identical students and place one at a premier university and another at a decent state university, IFthe students are VERY self-motivated they may have equal chances for grad school. But many, many kids are affected by their peers, friends, etc. at school, at least to some extent. If your friends are all applying the the top grad schools, then you may be more likely to apply there as well. If few of your friends are considering grad school, then you may be less inclined to apply.</p>
<p>I agree with you pafather but I think you are actually supporting my point. Other people have been arguing that grad schools like to pick applicants from certain undergrad schools, and while that may be true to a certain extent, I think that many other factors contribute to the seemingly high admit rates for certain colleges. You've just listed another very good explanation as to why those admit rates are so high, independent of the name of the school.</p>
<p>This link from a Wall Street Journal seems to indicate that a "top 25" degree does make a difference, at least in terms of top grad school acceptances.</p>
<p>yeah, but you guys want to know something. 10 schools are seperated between 3.0 % and 5 %. Wow, 2 percentage points is a big deal, don't u think. Also, look at the schools that are used. Just by using U of Chicago law, Chicago gets all the way up to 3 percent b/c its class is soo small. Then add, Chicago MBA, Chicago climbs up to like 4-5 percent. Then factor in some of those other schools, and the school climbs to 6-7 percent. I mean, you have to take this survey with a grain of salt. If you look at the disclaimor, you will see that it says most of the data was not verified and they got it through "face book" accounts and asking former alumni, sounds very scientific to me...? I mean, I guess its good to be in the top 25 or so, but I mean, the difference between a 15 and a 25 is not a big difference.</p>
<p>Hey Que, go to Ithaca college when people come around to recruit for: TV -radio and film, speech, audiology, Physical Therapy, music, drama, physical education, and some other majors and you'll see a lot of people out in the field who will hire Ithaca college students a lot faster than Cornell grads....because most of the people in those fields went to Ithaca College, too! Ithaca doesn't have hotel mgmt, that was not a very good comparison. Some of Ithaca's grads in those fields do a lot better than Cornell grads.. Every school has some areas in which it excels. When I went to Ithaca in the early 1970's we had some Cornell students who moved over to Ithaca because, even then, it was the place to go if you wanted TV radio.</p>
<p>The point is that even second tier schools have some wonderful departments that are as good as those in the top tier.</p>
<p>Your college degree is one of the most defining aspects of an individual.</p>
<p>Probably the people who think it's a huge deal are the people that either have too much of their identity wrapped up in the school name on their sheepskin, or who spent a fortune sending their kids there (they BETTER feel it's worth it!)</p>
<p>No, there are also actually those of us who had a wonderful career and life after attending one (on a free ride no less!) and credit the school in large part.</p>
<p>It not only depends on the field you go into, but also where you live. Here in Houston (TX), I guarantee you that a UT or Texas A & M grad is more highly regarded than someone coming out of an Ivy...Which is why I am moving out of Texas and going to UPenn. :D</p>
<p>This is an article from the U. Chicago magazine, from the orientation of 2003, and the first part talks about the impact of an elite college degree. <a href="http://magazine.uchicago.edu/0310/features/zen.shtml%5B/url%5D">http://magazine.uchicago.edu/0310/features/zen.shtml</a></p>
<p>So here's a bruning question.</p>
<p>A UCSD grad vs. a say...harvard grad</p>
<p>when applying to med school</p>
<p>The UCSD kid had a 3.8 GPA and a 36 MCAT</p>
<p>The harvard kid had a 3.5 GPA but a 38 MCAT</p>
<p>All other factors are presumed to be equal.</p>
<p>Which one would get in?</p>
<p>No question. The Harvard grad, even if you decreased his MCAT to an equal 36. Just go look at admit stats, no mystery.</p>
<p>I think it also depends on your major. An "unemployable" major won't really give you a higher salary compared to an employable major from a lesser college.</p>