<p>dstark--
Here's a different perspective. S graduated from UCLA this spring (design|media arts). He had been doing freelance design all four years and developed a strong job network through faculty, administrators, and other students. For him, the undergrad school did make a difference. If he had attended any of his other choices, I don't believe he would have had the same opportunities afforded him in LA. On Saturday, he's off to England for two months to co-produce and be director of photography on an independent film. He's also had the opportunity to develop the investor's package.</p>
<p>After that? He doesn't know yet, but he can always do more freelance design work from the comfort of his apartment.</p>
<p>An interesting thread yet one with no clear answers. D graduated from a Jesuit college in the northeast with a degree in IR. Through contacts made with the faculty she has been able to study in China, participate in a historical research project in China this summer and hopes to return to teach in China this year. Her faculty contacts are somewhat unique to her college and afford her some advantages not open to students without such contacts. I am sure the same can be said for many other students in many different fields. Her college afforded her the opportunity to sample D1 athletics, student government and the aforementioned China connection. I think she would have gotten lost in a more high powered college environment. I believe it comes down to the match between school and student as to how much the undergraduate school impacts future job, graduate school and employment. I disagree with kirmum's notion that the HYPS graduates are looking at possiblities not on the radar screen for grads of other programs, but would agree that there may be a good match between those schools and the highly driven, ultra-competitive students who most want to attend them.</p>
<p>I would have to agree with Kirmum. I think that in law and business, there are jobs that are only prized by kids at a handful of schools. From jobs at the top Wall Street law and banking firms to jobs in management consulting and in private equity, these seem to be the prize at maybe 10 colleges. I know that I'd never heard of these jobs before attending a top college and that my friends made it through most colleges without knowing anything about such jobs. Yet from freshman year, the mantra was to work hard for these jobs for so many at my LAC. The numbers are miniscule, but if a kid really wants one of these super charged high paying careers, school is everything.</p>
<p>I haven't read the whole thread, so forgive me if I repeat something already said. From conversations with friends who have kids the same age, I have come away with the feeling that my S's school (Penn) gave him an edge in obtaining internships and getting his job after graduation. Although he found these things on his own, I think the school name helped get him noticed. His degree is economics. Friends' kids didn't seem to be getting the same opportunities or job offers. I have no idea, though, whether they put the same kind of effort into looking / applying that S did. However, most of these friends decided to go to grad schools when they didn't find jobs right away, and are doing fine there, and didn't have any trouble getting in. Everyone's path seems to have led them to something they are happy with.</p>