<p>I'm getting kind of down about this whole application process. It seems I have no chance at any prestigious school. I have matches and safeties that are great too and that I would be happy to go to, though. As far as the workforce and adulthood in general goes, would it be more... "honored" to say "I went to Harvard for my Bachelor's" or "I went to Harvard for my Master's"? Especially in the workforce-- how much do they care about undergrad? I'm just wondering...</p>
<p>master's... undergrads only help students get into great grad programs... the relationship is similar to high schools: if you go to a non-competitive public school you really need to be valedictorian to go to ivies whereas if you go to the most competitive private school in the nation you may only need to be in the top half of your class... Grad school is what matters in life. Good undergraduate programs (like ivies) help us get there but aren't the only way.</p>
<p>Master's is essential. Undergrad isn't.</p>
<p>Then again, why are you asking a bunch of 17 yr olds this question??</p>
<p>as important as u believe it to be.</p>
<p>A lot of people say stuff like "ohh I'll just go to X State U. and go to Harvard for law school." That's really unlikely just fyi. The reason good undergrad programs are so competitive is that they usually lead to good grad programs, and you usually need a good undergrad education to get into a good grad program.</p>
<p>actually zogoto I thought more than the name of the undergrad (which is still impt.) it really matters how well you do undergrad and what top % you graduate in. Is the fact that one graduates from Harvard impt. if they graduate in the bottom 25% of the graduating class..? Just a point...</p>
<p>"Master's is essential. Undergrad isn't."</p>
<p>That doesn't even make any sense. You can't get a master's degree without an undergraduate degree...</p>
<p>it depends...some people stop after undergrad so for them its most important</p>
<p>Your last degree is the most important.</p>
<p>It depends on what part of the country you are in because there are many companies that are fiercely loyal to their state universities and could care less about the ivies (outside of the northeast). I live in NYC where Baruch College (part of the City university system ) gets a lot of respect because most HR people (the first ones who read your applications) are very familiar with the school.</p>
<p>Where you went to undergrad is going to count for about 5 minutes because it does not matter whether you went to Harvard or Matchbook U, if you can't get the job done, you will both be out.</p>
<p>As you grow in your career, where you went to school becomes less and less important because the emphasis shifts to how well you perform.</p>
<p>this is a good thread, we should talk more about it. (and it'll make people like me who have no chance of getting into a good undergrad school feel better). But seriously, the thing is, I really feel like graduate school provides a second chance - for those who have the ability - to get a prestigious education. I think I have the potential to get into a good school, considering I have an pretty much top notch sat scores, and some good ideas in my head. But I also have crappy ass grades and no ecs, because i didn't think they were important (i'm in canada) before I started applying to universities. I'm not saying underachieving now neccesarily means I'll achieve in a demanding university. I'm saying that that if the underachieving was something that I can control, THEN it is possible for me to get to places like the ivies. That's why getting into a premiere graduate school can be a sort of redemption for people like me</p>
<p>
[quote]
I'm getting kind of down about this whole application process. It seems I have no chance at any prestigious school. </p>
<p>As far as the workforce and adulthood in general goes, would it be more... "honored" to say "I went to Harvard for my Bachelor's" or "I went to Harvard for my Master's"? Especially in the workforce-- how much do they care about undergrad? I'm just wondering...
[/quote]
</p>
<p>What you make of your college education is up to you. Even if the name on the diploma isn't HYPS you can challenge yourself to learn, to get involved in activities, to get guidance from profs, take advantage of the career center, and meet lots of friends. There's no guarantee the kids at the prestigious schools are any happier than you, and some find they are quite unhappy because they chose a school based on name rather than on whether its a fit for them.</p>
<p>As for the workforce, anybody who lets you know what college they went to when you first meet them is pompous and a fool. Nobody cares where you went to college once you're in the workforce; they care about whether you can do the job. Doing a lousy job on a project or missing deadlines isn't going to be excused by saying "well, I went to Harvard".</p>