<p>sakky–you make good points, but in my industry (apparel / fashion advertising), believe me, underperformers stick out like sore thumbs. We’ve had RISD-trained designers who had to be let go because they weren’t doing the work. In an industry that’s deadline-driven and quick-turnaround, you have to deliver, and that’s a matter of drive, talent, and hard work, not “where you went to school.”</p>
<p>(We’re plenty Dilbertian, too, but I guess the operative term here is “deadline-driven.” ;-))</p>
<p>So, I guess it just depends on the industry. Some are more on-the-ground / in-the-trenches meritocratic than others.</p>