<p>Interesting how the personal biases/experiences of the one doing the hiring weigh so heavily. OTOH, it seems a lot like college admission, when the pool of applicants is also vast and the decisions come down to fine points about fit made by (subjective) strangers.</p>
<p>There is obviously a list of schools that connote "very smart," and other than the fact that it generally includes the nationally-ultra-well-regarded schools, this list varies regionally. </p>
<p>UC Berkeley has become one of those nationally prominent schools, but it wasn't always that way. 25 years ago, over half my high school went UCs, and <em>lots</em> of B students went to Berkelely. Cal Poly was a safety. No more!!</p>
<p>I know my U and my degree got me in the door many times but I also targeted my applications to people likely to respond favorably (fellow alumni.) It seems really dicey to go cold through HR. Having a direct contact with an advocate in the company is so much more likely to yield an interview.</p>
<p>I was NEVER asked for my GPA, not even once, nor was I ever asked to produce proof that I had actually attended or graduated. (In one job, teaching english at a prep school, I had to be recommended by two of my English professors, I recall.)</p>
<p>Somehow one probably ends up hired at the right place that values one's unique set of qualifications, skills, personality, etc.</p>
<p>I had a friend who applied cold for a plum job with an experimental theater producer in NYC-- he wrote his cover letter in free verse, & printed it on really groovy handmade artsy paper... and he got the job.</p>