<p>Ya I've read that book, and I kind of like Outliers. Although I agree that Tipping point was a little bit better, haven't read blink yet (I think that's the name of the other one).</p>
<p>Grunji's post:</p>
<p>Perhaps if wall-streeters didn't trust school rings and were less cliquey, there would be more of a meritocracy in business and we would be in less trouble? I'm just sayin'.</p>
<p>My response:</p>
<p>Grunji you are totally wrong. The Hotchkiss Alumni in business helped create the modern American economy as it stands. Hotchkiss alums "grease' the wheels of American capitalism as in make them work better not stick a huge cog in them to stop them from working. </p>
<p>If it were not for FORD and his descendants (almost all of whom attended Hotchkiss) then we would not have the conveyor belt and hundreds of thousands of jobs would be lost. If it was not for Thomas Edison's descendants astute business prowess (who also attended Hotchkiss by the way) then the world would have commercialized the light bulb far later on. And the financial institutions founded by Hotchkiss grads such as Morgan Stanley are far more sound than their competitors.</p>
<p>If you look at the auto industry the greater the influence of Hotchkiss grads on the company the better the company does. For instance Ford whose Chairman is a Hotchkiss alumnus and has a long history at Hotchkiss is doing the best. Chrysler where Walter P Chrysler JR attended Hotchkiss is not doing as well as ford but it is still doing well and though I have not researched this I don't believe Hotchkiss alums are currently running the company. And GM is doing the worst, but Hotchkiss connection to GM are complex, members of the Dodge family attended Hotchkiss and when the Family that owned American Motors before it merged with GM also attended Hotchkiss and the owner of another company that was the largest producer of axels in the world before in merged with GM also attended Hotchkiss so Hotchkiss alums have a stake in the company but do not own it directly. </p>
<p>Furthermore Hotchkiss alums invested heavily in facebook when it was just a baby and helped it become the megalith it is today (though it was founded by an Exonian and a Phillipian). Mr Mars runs his company impeccably and provides jobs (and chocolates) for many many Americans. And I haven no excuse for citi bank. So as you can see Hotchkiss has done a LOT of good for the American economy. So as you can see Hotchkiss alums have been VERY helpful it shaping the American economy and are currently helping in getting us out of this mess. </p>
<p>BUT conveniently I do have excuses for the other Hotchkiss alumni controlled companies. Take Lehman brothers for instance - though the Lehman family did indeed send many members to Hotchkiss the family sold almost all of its stock ages ago and took a limited role in administering the company so its not their fault. Goldman Sachs is doing brilliantly (comparatively of course) and Morgan Stanley is also doing comparatively well. </p>
<p>So as you can see Hotchkiss alums have been very responsible with the enormous power they have over wall street and have been responsible in almost all of the companies they own/run. If you are looking into making connections for a career in business this is the best school in the world hands down.</p>
<p>Think of the Hotchkiss business connections like making you a legacy applicant who also happens to be a URM. You still have to be extremely qualified to beat out other contestants but you will get ten extra looks and a push through the door. PLus it will be emotionally harder for another Hotchkiss alum to fire you. </p>
<p>Time Magazine was created by the Hotchkiss Alumni Network. They pulled their resources together to support a poor man who could not afford to do it on his own (Henry Luce) and helped him create the most influential magazine of all time (forgive the pun).</p>
<p>The same thing happened with Fay Vincent take a look at this article SPS did on him:</p>
<p>spspelican.com</a> Boarding School to Baseball School</p>
<p>So what fields do you guys think networking is most useful ? </p>
<p>Business ? Politics ? Academia ? I mean I am sure networking is more useful in some fields than others.</p>
<p>Personally I think it goes like this: Business Politics Law.</p>
<p>But then again what do I know I'm just a teen.</p>
<p>nope. I only feel a connection with people who went/go to my current school. Don't really care about the others.</p>
<p>haha, that sounds kind of snobby in itself. But it's the truth. Say you go to Harvard. Why would you feel connection with someone who goes to Princeton based solely on the fact that they're tied for 1st place in the college rankings?</p>
<p>^ dude, Harvard and Princeton are universities. Do you realize how many freaking people identify themselves associated with those COLLEGES? </p>
<p>On the other hand, boarding schools are a small, small world. Not many people can say "OOH, I WENT TO CHOATE. YES, YOU WENT TO DEERFIELD? I MUST HAVE PLAYED YOU IN THE LAX GAME!"</p>
<p>Yeah prep school ties are far closer than college ties ... unless of course you are in AD or some awesome society like that, like the porc ... and if you go to that other university in new haven then i suppose you have the skulls and scroll and key. Society connections trump all.</p>
<p>Ya especially skulls and bones in Yale...well I guess scroll and key to. But skulls and bones just sounds so much better</p>
<p>AD is extremely powerful as well, don't forget the finals. AD and the Porc are considered equal to the bones.</p>
<p>I dont really know what AD or the porc is the only societeies for Yale i know are Skull and Bones, Book and Snake, and Scroll and Key.</p>
<p>And I know Skull is the oldest and has the most prestige for sure once it comes to jobs.</p>
<p>Ad and the proc are at Harvard mate. But they are equal to the bones I am sure on that one.</p>
<p>Alright if you say so...people are more intrigued with Skull and Bones though.</p>
<p>Skull</a> And Bones, Secret Yale Society Includes America's Power Elite - CBS News</p>