<p>Semiserious, your post would have more weight but for all your recent posts asking if your SAT score would kill you at top schools. Really, bitterness and personal dissapointment should not enter into this if it's a real discussion.</p>
<p>I'm just curious about my SAT scores, but I've already explained what gives me pause about attending prestigious universities. Naturally, I feel some pull towards would many of us believe what ultimately result in respect and opportunity. I simply haven't let it control every aspect of my life right now. I do feel a certain amount of conflict but I stand by what I said, that you can make anything happen regardless of the "eliteness" of your degree. And I get more and more disgusted with the idea of attending top schools when I come here and see all of these peoples who are so OBSESSED with their superiority and the need to attend the BEST university for absolutely NO REASON other than that it is "the best" according to someone else. It's disgusting. I really don't think people are looking at this the right way.</p>
<p>College is more than a stepping stone to a career. It is 4 years of your life, some argue 4 of the most enjoyable ones, where you're finally out on your own, having fun, experiencing adulthood from a safe and protected distance. It doesn't seem like many people actually care about college for college. They're just thinking about what doors it will open for them later. </p>
<p>Suze, I suggest an attitude adjustment if you want to get any of those "top engineering" jobs you so covet. Your arrogance, pessimism, and belief in the aboslute authority of your degree (which apparently comes with a guarantee somewhere on it that says you'll make a 6 figure income, OBVIOUSLY the most important thing in life) is going to do you a major disservice.</p>
<p>I just need to point out the fact that once engineers get jobs, they don't socialize with anyone, so it doesn't matter whether or not they adjust their attitudes.</p>
<p>And as for the importance of an "elite college" degree...</p>
<p>I really think it depends on your major, as for Suze mentioning English majors in investment banking? I bet you there are plenty of economics/business majors to compete for those positions, so why would English majors fill it especially since they have no knowledge about economics/investing? If you did your undergrad in English, you'd most definitely have to go to graduate school to even earn above $100,000. </p>
<p>It is important when you first get a job, but not later in your career. I mean, when you are 50, do you think your employer will put more weight on your past work experience or your college degree?</p>
<p>Of course, having an elite college degree matters more when you get a professional degree (law, medical, PhD) than when you get an undergrad.</p>
<p>Semi, I covet a top investment banking job.. I may or may not get into a school that will afford me the opportunity. That, however, will not change my opinion that a top college offers a great deal more than a non top college. It's not about superiority, and I feel no entitlement. If my work and accomplishments get me where I want to go, amen. If they don't, I'll just work harder. But I'm not going to belittle anyone else's accomplishment. </p>
<p>All of who you have have been blessed with the inate ability and worked hard enough to get into the very best schools, you deserve it and you should enjoy it to the max!!!!!</p>
<p>sorry to ask, but what qualifies as an "elite" college. I mean, it is relative. Can someone offer their opinions.</p>
<p>
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Of course, having an elite college degree matters more when you get a professional degree (law, medical, PhD) than when you get an undergrad.
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</p>
<p>I would cross medical off of that list, unless you go into academics/research.</p>
<p>I agree with just abou teverything you said, Zip. And I laughed at the first bit.</p>
<p>I mentioned earlier in this thread that its significantly more important in some jobs than in others--even the prestige of the school can differ depending on career field. For example, in the film industry, (although formal education basically matters not in entertainment) a USC film school grad is far more respected than a Harvard one.</p>
<p>It also depends on where you live. For example, in Texas, many employers value a UT degree over an Ivy one simply because of their love for the school, not to mention that valuable connections abound for grads of UT and other large state-funded universities.</p>
<p>By the way, Suze, I did not ask about my chances at top univerities because I want to attend a top university simply because it's a "top university". I asked about Duke (and Wake Forest, and UVA) because of their support for their sports programs and overwhelming school spirit, one of my most important criteria. Also, if it helps you to understand where I am coming from, I want to enter the film industry, where degrees mean virtually nothing. I can understand why a top school degree is important to you as an aspiring investment banker.</p>
<p>Didn't mean to target you semi. There are many people who have weighed in on this threads whos opinions correlate totally with their luck at top colleges. Good and bad.</p>
<p>again: what is ELITE to you guys. US News top 5, top 10, top 15, top 50, top 100, que pasa?</p>
<p>Top 20 to most people I would think.</p>
<p>that would exclude from very prestigious universities, including berkeley and georgetown. i think top 25 is more appropriate.</p>
<p>If it wasn't important, you wouldn't have to ask.</p>
<br>
<blockquote> <p>Roger_Dooley, what did you vote?</p> </blockquote>
<br>
<p>I voted "slightly important". Despite the apparent simplicity of the poll, it's indeed a more complex topic. For instance, if one is seeking a career in investment banking, an elite degree could be of major importance; for a career as a family physician, of little or no importance.</p>
<p>From what I've seen, studies that control for the quality of the student show relatively little difference in long-term earnings between elite and non-elite grads. I'd say in many areas of endeavor, the elite degree may give a boost for the first job, both from better access to interviewers and a hiring bias toward grads who are well-qualified on paper (since often there's little else to go on). Later in one's career, the elite degree might be a slight edge when a recruiter is sifting through a stack of resumes; the higher one's level in executive ranks, though, the more one will be hired or promoted based on accomplishments (and personal relationships).</p>
<p>I'm speaking in very broad generalities. Individual industries and firms may have their own bias toward particular schools or groups of schools, and I'm ignoring completely differences in education and intellectual development. These could well exist, but their value might be more in personal growth than cumulative salary.</p>
<p>Oh forgot. A friend's daughter went to Stanford as an undergrad (after going to elite prep high school) & didn't get into ANY med school; she was a state champion runner. The parents are sending her younger brother to Willamette instead, where he probably got good merit aid. The daughter is now pondering her options & may try getting into law school or other grad school.</p>
<p>My friend's son went to so-so public high school & got into USC (UCLA was the only school he applied to who turned him down). He is starting his 1st year of med school at his 1st choice of med school, at in-state tuition rate, since he's still considered a resident here.</p>
<p>What does all this mean? Who knows?!!?</p>
<p>see....HImom, i might be in some trouble. I got into some less competitive schools like NYU and my parents really wanted me to consider going b/c they thought my chances of making it to med school were better b/c I would do better. Now, i am at one of the most competitive schools in the country if not the world--Cornell.</p>
<p>Dunno, my brother did great at Stanford as an undergrad & got into EVERY med school he applied to. Harvard & JHU were VERY offended that he rejected all of them for UCSF because he said he couldn't justify their inflated tuitions. He did the same thing again when he was accepted for their residency & internship programs. He said that at least for him, Stanford was NOT all that tough to get good grades (he graduated with highest honors in about 2.5 years (transferred as 2nd semester sophomore).</p>
<p>I'm sure you'll do great & get into many great med schools. My allergist is a Cornell grad, as is the dad of son's friend. My neighbor's daughter went to UCB, hated it & transferred to Rice (very competitve too) & loved it & because of contacts made there got a full-ride grad program & degree at an East Coast school (forgot the name, but it was prestigous). Their other daughter went to UCDavis & loved it & then joined the military & is in Germany.</p>
<p>The main thing is do your best wherever you end up. I believe many schools DO recognize the increased competition that may exist at more elite schools. </p>
<p>I found that going to UOregon as an undergrad gave me a lot of time to explore many different things that I doubt I could have done at a more academically rigorous school. Being able to do these things made my college experience very challenging & interesting; I found my experiences outside of class more rewarding than what I covered in class.</p>
<p>In any case, I agree that once you get out in the workplace, people are interested in how you PERFORM & don't really have all that much interest in where you went to school, other than as a conversation starter.</p>
<p>Since you answered the other question Roger, I just have to ask, where did you go to college?</p>
<p>People always told me elite degrees were the keys to success...but I'm working at a branch of an investment banking firm, and among people who make $300k on a bad year, I'm the only one who'll have gone to an "elite" university (and I'm making $10/hr - haha).</p>
<p>Maybe they are much older than you???</p>
<p>As for UC Davis---ewwwww..I hate the location. Absolutely hate it. Not to mention it's not well-rounded.</p>
<p>look at the profiles for big firms such as lehman brothers and others, you will see that ppl that work there go to all sorts of colleges anything from reallly average state schools up to Harvard, Yale, Princeton.</p>