A lot of colleges have similar undergraduate programs and won’t differ too much. For example, going to Cornell for biology will probably be similar to going to Brown for biology (really generalizing here but just trying to make a point by saying that they’re both Ivies with good programs). However, if I choose a smaller, not as well known school that has an equally good biology program, how will that affect my chances of going to a selective graduate school? In other words, will they see my acceptance into an Ivy and value that over my acceptance into a smaller school even though the programs are equal? Thanks.
I really think what you do in the four years AT the Ivy will be WAY more important than the initial acceptance. If you finish four years anywhere and the most impressive thing you can show is the acceptance four years ago, your graduate school application will be in trouble.
Thank you! @JustOneDad
MD or PhD program?
For PhD, school may matter more in terms of strength of department (not the school overall).
PhD. So you’re saying that the department itself is more important than just getting the good name/reputation of an Ivy or other similar school?
Yes, strength of department, as viewed by the PhD program, will affect how much credibility your courses, grades, and recommendations are given.
Thank you very much @ucbalumnus !
That said, that’s only a smaller factor in admissions, and what you do in undergrad will matter a whole lot more.
Your undergrad school matters more indirectly than directly. Your department determines with who you do research, what kind of research you do, what classes and resources are available to you, and what kinds of opportunities you have. For example, let’s say that it turns out you have an interest in computational biology and Cornell has a computational biologist who has a great love for mentoring undergraduates, so you get into his lab and he nurtures you as a student through college. He just also happens to know the computational biologists at the top PhD program in your field, so his letter of recommendation carries some weight in that department.
BUT, your faculty advisor doesn’t have to know anyone in your destination department in order for you to get in. It’s a cherry on top, but a strong student from a less well-known program who has research experience can still get into top programs.
Asking about this sounds like you’re approaching this with an “external locus of control” mindset (google that phrase for more info). You seem to be counting on these colleges, these departments, to something that will make you a better PhD candidate. And while its true more resources & more attention to students are good things to have, at an undergrad level the real lever on the controls for your future is going to be you. I guarantee you there are kids from lesser-known colleges picked for the top PhD programs over some kids from Ivies and other what you’d consider “top” schools because they did more. There are kids majoring in Bio at Cornell or Brown that never took part in research, that are largely strangers to their profs. It isn’t just getting into a name school that matters, it’s like @JustOneDad said, what you do matters.
Sorry to hijack the thread a little, but what research opportunities are available for an undergraduate student majoring in accounting who wants to get a Ph.D in accountancy in the future? (Hypothetical situation btw)
Thanks for your advice, I appreciate it! @juillet @mikemac
I don’t know anything about that, sorry @Irreplaceable !
The strength of your department, the solidity of your academics, the closeness factor with your professors and any type of research opportunity is important about undergrad. The NAME (which is completely different from the strength of the department) is irrelevant. Choosing a lesser-known school will not affect your grad school chances. You just need to keep your GPA high, work well with your professors and get to known them on a strong level, and make the most out of your time there by doing something worthwhile.
Thank you @TheDidactic .