You always can find an outlier to just about any statement.When one makes a statement it is usually a generalization and sad to say but @Formation is closer to real life than she is to being out in left field. In careers like medicine, teaching, engineering or an average business field I agree where one graduates is not as important as GPA, board scores and other resume builders, but if you want to get hired to work in New York, at a top financial firm, directly out of school, your institution of higher learning is the most important.You could be a great interviewee, or the nicest person but most times your application will not get you in the door. Same goes for obtaining internships at those top firms. When my son applied for internships and went to super days, he was flown in for these meetings the applicants
all were from Ivys, Nescac and top B schools from across the country. He said he did not see one “regular” school applicant at any of his days. When he landed his job prior to Thanksgiving of Senior year, which apparently is the norm for these jobs, all the other hires were from the same type of schools. This year, the new hires all from Ivys and Nescacs. Yes, I am sure someone will reply about a friend of a friend who got an internship or a job from a top firm but that is not the norm. That being said, one can do great or have a great life without working in New York, but to be in New York as Formation is talking about it is very unlikely without that pedigree. It is not a coincidence that the major of Econ at the Nescac schools has grown tremendously over the last 5 years.
Even getting an MBA, will not help get you into a top firm, unless that degree comes from a top program.