<p>I'm just wondering, all this talk about Ivy League and other highly prestigous schools... they're incredibly expensive, but do grad schools and job recruiters place this same prestige on these schools? Some people say that with Ivy League, you get the WOW factor, but from who--- the general public? Do grad schools and job recruiters even care? Please let me know what you think/know. I'm talking about the Ivy Leagues + Stanford and other highly prestigous schools.</p>
<p>It could help you get high prestige jobs like investment banking, top management, politics, etc. For other jobs it makes no difference, except maybe slightly higher starting salary.</p>
<p>I definetly think and Ivy League education is worth every penny. Going to Cornell, I have access to a huge amount of resources that my friends at other colleges do not have. These schools will push you hard and you will learn a lot. This is not for everyone, but if you can handle it, you will be rewarded. I know there are many companies that recruit only at the Ivies and a select few other schools. I have heard recruiters say time and time again, that they love Ivy League students because they know that they are smart, hard working, and at the top of their game. Now, this does not mean that those that do not go to Ivy Leagues school are lacking these qualities. Overall, if you are willing to pay for it and do the work, you will definetly be rewarded.</p>
<p>from my family's perspective and i think from a lot of middle class californian familys' perspectives, we have the UC system, and attending a UC is "good enough" as far as undergrad goes. obviously the ivies are much better than the UCs, but i think for what you get at half the price of an ivy, it seems like theres more bang for the buck. im not saying the ivies arent worth it (they are if u have the $$), its just that theres quality education elsewhere.</p>
<p>It depends on what your alternative is. If you are a resident of California, Michigan, North Carolina or Virginia, unless you get a great package from an Ivy League, it really isn't worth spending $40,000 at Brown or Cornell when you can spend $15,000 at Michigan or Cal or UVA or UNC. The $100,000 you save attending the state university in this case is really much more valuable than the difference in education. In fact, Cal and Michigan are considered equal to the lower ivies in the eyes of employers and graduate school adcoms...UVA, UCLA, UNC and Virginia are practically as good.</p>
<p>On the other hand, if your choices are the University of Arkansas or the University of Montana vs Harvard or Princeton, I would say it is most likely worth spending the extra money.</p>
<p>"obviously the ivies are much better than the UCs..."</p>
<p>kfc4u, that statement is not exactly correct. It is not obvious because we dont know what particular schools you are comparing. The better UC's are arguably better than the lower Ivies. BUT, on average, the Ivy League is better than the UC system. Or, in other words, the Ivy League as a whole is probably better than the UC system as a whole.</p>
<p>Well ... I got in Stanford for 17 a year but I could go to Chapel Hill possibly on a full ride. Ultimately, I chose Stanford due to environment and such. It depends on what you want to do. I want to go into teaching, so I sort of want to get involved with a university I'd like to work with in the future.</p>
<p>I just want to say that your own ability will eventually get you a better job or a higher salary, not the college you go to. Also, the ivies are NOT much better than the UC's, especially when compared to UCB and UCLA. Also, not all ivy league students are "smart, hardworking, and at the top of their game." Many of them get in because they have deep pockets. Also, not all the ivies are necessarily more challenging than public schools. For example, UCB is arguably harder than many of the ivies, and many ivies participate in grade inflation.</p>
<p>Alexandre, I heard you use the term "lower ivies" before. I would argue there is really no such thing. Penn for example is ranked higher than Stanford and Columbia's reputational score is equal to Cal-tech and has an acceptance rate comparable to HYP. Further more all the ivies have very low acceptance rates and even a so-called lower ivies such as Cornell would have programs that it beats Harvard or Princeton in. You should really sanction your use of that expression it is rather misleading.</p>
<p>Is an expensive Ivy-league education worth it?</p>
<p>In fact, there are many, many private colleges that are just as expensive as the Ivy's. (That magic $40K per year mark) I think that this misunderstanding is commonly held due to the fact that the Ivy's are primarily populated with the spawn of "rich folk". No, I dont believe their PR BS. Yep.</p>
<p>tobin, I cannot speak for Alexandre but perhaps I can clarify what is meant by "lower Ivy." Well, it means...the less prestigous of the Ivy League schools. Or it could mean the more inferior Ivy League schools. Keep in mind that every single Ivy League schools is excellent. Even the "lower Ivies" are better than most schools out there. Any Ivy League education is something to be proud of. </p>
<p>On a side note, I dont know why Cornell gets the reputation as one of the lowest Ivy League schools. Cornell is probably one of the better Ivy League schools out there. I think people mistake selectivity for academic quality.</p>
<p>I have a child at a UC and one to be at any ivy in Sept. They are both great values for what the individual wants and needs. The absolute dollars are not as much less at the UC as you seem to think. There are a lot of not included extra costs at the UC, my son will take either 5 or 6 years to get all the classes for his major and so on. That said, his bioengineering major is better where he is that at any ivy. My daughter, the ivy girl, would never have been happy with a school the size of a Uc. Stop comparing!</p>
<p>shyboy13, </p>
<p>My comment was intended only to dispute the idea that the Ivey's cost more than many other private schools. Nothing more. Falice Navidad.
Toblin</p>
<p>kirmum -</p>
<p>The reason why we are comparing is to gain some helpful information between Ivy-league education, the amount it costs, and it's real worth in the employee and graduate school world. I think this discussion is valid.</p>
<p>Is an expensive Ivy League education worth it?</p>
<p>Depends.</p>
<p>What are your choices / options (financially and otherwise)?
How much value do you place on prestige / instant name recognition?</p>
<p>As for post graduates, I'd say the importance of an Ivy degree gets the most leverage immediately after graduation (with recruiters / alumni) and dissipates over time (i.e. in the "real" world you will sink or swim regardless of your Ivy degree) then rising slightly as one considers admission into a graduate degree program (then dipping after re-entering the professional world) and then rising slightly again when coming time for executive / management level screening process / selection.</p>
<p>Finally, it is also something that you stays with you and any future kids applying to your alma mater will have a slight edge as a "legacy" candidate (particularly if you have been an active alumnus / contributor).</p>
<p>Is it all "worth" it? Really depends on the individual and that individual's own circumstances. I mean let's face it, you are going to get a top quality education at great universities around the country - and a bright, focused, determined individual is going to have success regardless of where that individual graduates. Finally, an Ivy degree in and of itself is by no means any guarantee of future life success.</p>
<p>So it all comes down to: "what is important to you?"</p>
<p>Even I think going to a UC is good enuf for undergrad...but eventually, I want a degree from the top schools (Ivies and near-ivies) in the country. I don't think I could simply settle for a public UC degree as my final/only degree. </p>
<p>I'd hate to be passed over for a promotion just because another Ivy grad went to Harvard or Upenn and I went to a UC....if anything, I want to be the Ivy guy doing the passing! I'd rather have people automatically think I'm smart than having to prove it everytime....it's the difference between "presumed innocent" and "presumed guilty"...obviously one in much more enviable.</p>
<p>Golubb, promotions are performance based and have nothing to do with education. The powers that be do not sit down and decide to promote someone based on where she/he got their degree but rather based on who was the most steady and effective performer. </p>
<p>Secondly, evenif you believe that the qualityof one's alma matter is instrumental in getting a promossion, UC Berkeley is at least as good as 5 of the 8 Ivies and UCLA is not far behind.</p>
<p>Actually golubb, Berkeley is stronger in more graduate programs than any Ivy except Harvard. So, getting a PhD from Berkeley would be more respected than PhDs from many Ivies in various areas, especially if you stayed out west. </p>
<p>Living in NC, the only private schools I would shell out money for are HYPMCS, Duke, and Chicago. Since I have no shot at the acronymed schools, I'll only be applying to the last two. However, if any private school stiffed me on need-based money, I would choose UNC in a heartbeat.</p>
<p>Yes. It's completely worth it. I'd take out all 40k in loans if I had to.</p>
<p>Wow. CC is really depressing. I feel like a good-for-nothing underachiever just because I'm going to Brown next year. I figured this was something to be proud of (and humble about), but, as I have learned on CC, mine is really not a noteworthy accomplishment.</p>