Just how much does undergrad count

Graduate School
1

<p>Okay, I know the name of your undergraduate school matters, but just how much? I'll give you some background so you know why I'm asking.</p>

<p>I'm a nontraditional student (30 years old with 3 kids). I had a 3.98 high school GPA, didn't take the SAT/ACT, and now have a 4.0GPA at the local community college (with about 40 credits). I applied to a couple of state universities this year (Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, and University of Michigan). I got accepted to the first two within two weeks, but have been waiting for 6 months for an answer from UofM due to repeated "misunderstandings", "clerical errors", etc. I'm guessing as spots are filling up my chances this year at UofM, IF I ever get it straightened out, will not be good.</p>

<p>So right now I see two options. Accept admissions at one of the two lower tier state Uni's, or wait a whole year, spend the money for the SAT, and apply to some other schools I'd like to attend. If I do that, I'll be paying out-of-state or private tuition, having to move my whole family quite a distance from our friends/family/and current source of income, and would be spending another year of my financial aid at the community college (knowing they don't have many courses in my major). All this only to hope I get accepted somewhere. Then, to top it all off, Eastern sent me a letter today. They are offering me 4 different grants, a work study, and a "Regent Scholarship" for 3,000 a year (the largest one they offer transfers, and it's renewable). I could commute there and would not have to take any loans. In contrast to trying to find a place to live and with no income.</p>

<p>This would normally feel like a no-brainer, but I'm hoping to attend a top University for graduate school (looking at Northwestern, Cornell, Vanderbilt, and Uof Washington right now). Would I be better off to take the route of re-applying elsewhere next year for the prestige of the name. or should I go to Eastern, join Honors, and work my behind off to make myself the most exceptional student there? Can I even get admitted to grad schools like that if I attend Eastern?</p>

<p>Hopefully someone here has enough knowledge of this type of situation to help (and counselors out there would be especially wonderful)</p>

2

<p>Someone else might be able to give better advice than I on this.
But in your situation, I think I'd go to one of the schools that admitted you without all those complications. Though it seems as if your qualifications are high, schools can be unpredictable, from what I've heard. What if you were to wait a year and still wouldn't get admission to U. of Michigan?
If you do go to Eastern, you might still get into a top school for grad school if you get excellent grades (i.e. graduating with high honors). That's my guess anyway.</p>

3

<p>The kids on CC get a bit obsessed with undergrad "prestige". Relax. Its nowhere near as important as they think. You can get in anywhere, from anywhere.</p>

<p>You don't say what your major is, but given a decent GPA (>3.4) and GRE scores (both of which are really more important for university wide fellowships than admission) you will distinguish yourself, not by the name of your institution but by what <em>you</em> have accomplished.</p>

<p>You want to make the most of every research opportunity, develop solid collegial relations with faculty, and participate as much as possible in the "academic profession". Because after research (ideally published) you'll need three LORs for your grad applications - and you want to give your professors every opportunity to remember you as a capable, enthusiastic, and personable student who will be a credit to any program.</p>

<p>Now, obviously, a huge public university like UM will likely have many more opportunities for this sort of thing, but the advantage of a small school is that you don't have to fight your way through hordes of sweaty teenagers to score an office hours meeting with a real professor.</p>

<p>And of course, the lower stress level of having what sounds like a free ride at Eastern, especially with your family responsibilities, is nothing to be sneezed at.</p>

<p>Finally, there are a couple good books about grad school that may provide a bit of perspective:</p>

<p>Getting What you Came For, Robert Peters
Graduate Study for the Twenty-First Century, Gregory M. Colon Semenza</p>

<p>The first one is hopelessly out of date in terms of technology, but both will provide a lot of insight on both grad admissions and how to survive once admitted.</p>

4

<p>You're aiming for grad school. Most undergrads, even in top universities, don't end up in grad school. Caltech and Harvey Mudd have 50% of their alumni head on to graduate school - and those are tops for any school. The undergrads who don't end up into grad school benefit more from undergrad prestige than those who do go to grad school.</p>

5

<p>zuzu, I applaud your determination to continue your study. The short answer to your question is going to a school like Eastern will not diminish your chance of getting admitted to top grad schools. But you may be interested in this story. Someone in my family went to a 4th-tier state school. He graduated with 4.0 major GPA, great LORs and one low-key publication. He was invited to interview in some of the top PhD programs and was eventually turned down by all. Fortunately, his professors used their connection to place him in a masters program at an Ivy grad school where he is happily pursuing his PhD (after getting a Science publication under his belt). </p>

<p>After getting involved with the admission/recruiting process in his department, it is clear to him that his supposedly-"top-notch" undergrad experience was simply sub-par compared those from HYP-like schools. Prestige is definitely overrated. However, the professors at top schools tend to do a better job advising and preparing their students for grad schools. In many competitive programs, hundreds of applicants apply for 10-20 funded PhD slots every year so excellent grades and scores alone don't cut it. </p>

<p>What does that mean to you if you choose Eastern?</p>

<p>First, be realistic. Either aim lower or prepare to use a stepping stone (a masters in a top school) to reach your "dream". Second, don't get discouraged if your peers (or even faculty) may not appreciate your lofty goal to attend a top graduate school (as it happened to my family member). Third, start building a relationship with faculty at your intended grad schools. Fourth, make sure your spouse is very supportive.</p>