<p>So I have heard that the prestige of the school you get your phd matters a lot when trying to get a job as a professor at a university. Would that still apply if you work in research for a number of years outside of the university before you try to become a professor. </p>
<p>For example I am going to get my phd in either mech or aerospace engineering and I could possilbly go to a university that is ranked 30 or so even if i were to get into a higher ranked program because the lower rank has research that I am very interested in. Then after I get my phd I go and work for say NASA for a few years. Would the fact that I did not got to a top 10 school matter so much if I then tried to get a job as a professor? Are there any complications with trying to go from somewhere such as NASA to a university?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>