<p>Hello noimagination,</p>
<p>(1) You’re right about the small sample size and the qualitative nature of the research.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that these are elite employers, whose influence – especially in candidates’ minds – far exceeds their proportion among employers in general. </p>
<p>Also keep in mind that the nature of the problem – discerning motives and preferred qualifications (especially those that can’t be publicly discussed) – demands a strong qualitative component. </p>
<p>Bottom line, “running the numbers” will only get you so far…especially when even getting the data to crunch would probably require the same level of access as these interviews and events in the first place.</p>
<p>(2) I said that people are given certain kinds of advice. I did not say that this advice is being given at every single campus across America, or even close to it. As you have pointed out, these are elite employers – who don’t even interview at many campuses.</p>
<p>I think it’s fair to infer that if Professor Rivera herself actually saw that advice being given, and it’s consistent with the criteria the recruiters and other decision-makers are telling her, other people are also giving that advice to other candidates.</p>
<p>That having been said, if you just want to talk about what’s specifically related in the article I quoted, I’ll say that people have been advised to specify that they were also accepted to Ivy U but went to Inferior U because of a full-ride scholarship or other strong reason.</p>
<p>(3) As for Public Ivies and the WSJ survey, I gave no reason for you to believe they are “[consistent] with Rivera”. Keep in mind that, again as you have pointed out, Rivera’s article refers to elite employers. That’s what I covered in Point 1 of my previous 3-point post (#54), and Point 1 has a narrow focus. The Public Ivies and WSJ survey are mentioned in Point 3 of that post.</p>
<p>My subsequent in-depth discussion of the article (#56) came in response to Joblue questioning something I’d said in Point 1.</p>
<p>I’m sure we’re all agreed that BigLaw, investment banking and management consulting are a narrow slice of job opportunities, and (I hope) I made that clear in Point (1) of #54. Where they end [if not sooner], other portions of my advice begin.</p>