I went to Harvard, and can say that most people don’t give a darn where you went to college. What they care about is what kind of person you are (when it comes to looking for friends) and what experience and skills you offer (when it comes to consideration for jobs).</p>
<p>Probably the majority of people including many managers respect Flagship State U and even Nearby State U far more than they respect Ivies. </p>
<p>Many also think that Second Tier colleges are as good as Ivies.</p>
<p>While at a few high schools (not most!) there may be a frenzy at this time of year as students vie to get into top colleges, at most high schools students willl get some measure of respect by going to any college, even a community college.</p>
<p>In my large, well respected state, we have top government officials who started at community college. In my city, we have bank VPs who started at community college. No one cares. What people care about is what you have personally accomplished, and what kind of person you are, not whether you went to a private school or an Ivy.</p>
<p>Indeed, where I live, going to a private school may hurt you because the best networks are through personal connections forged at State Flagship and State Wannabe Flagship.