<p>I would like to know how attending a “under the radar” school effects career prospects. I honestly don’t care what friends and family know or do not know about Elon, but I do hope that in this hypercompetitive job market resumes from Elon grads will get the same consideration as better known schools. I know that when I was reviewing resumes from recent college grads, those from rigorous and selective schools rose to the top of the pile (often a very large pile). After that I considered the accomplishments of the candidates and then I began making calls. I know that this is often unfair and that some very talented candidates were missed but how else to narrow the field? Elon has so much to offer but the lack of name recognition does worry me.</p>
<p>As a parent of a potential student, I have to less to add than parents of current students or grads. However, to answer 2kidzmom: Yes, we are met with blank stares many times when we mention S’s interest in Elon. I feel like I sound defensive when I start explaining what attracts my S (and me) to the school. Additionally, given that he does not attend, I am often met with comments, “Well that’s what they say on paper…” So I’ve stopped explaining myself. I love what I’ve read in Transforming A College, and what I’ve learned from our visit, and multiple emails with the school, oh… and you parents here on CC.</p>
<p>I too tend to wonder how this school has stayed under the radar. We’re in MA. Like pushydad, while I feel that Elon is a good fit for my S, and that the overall experience can potentially be wonderful… I do wonder about job opportunities with a degree from a lesser known school. And potentially grad school admission?</p>
<p>I work at a liberal arts university that is in the top 20 nationally, and admits less than 18% of applicants, and thus am very familiar with the importance (to the institution itself, and to many families and students choosing a college) of the US News & World Report rankings. But when it came time to help my younger D choose a college, rankings were less on our minds than was the right fit, and finding a match for our D’s personality, interests and learning style, as well as (of course) future career plans. My older D (just graduated from college herself in May) has plenty of friends who attended Elon and loved it so much that we thought to take a look for younger D, and the fit was almost immediately apparent. Yes, there are people to whom we say “Elon” who give those polite, blank looks, smile and say “Oh, that’s nice.” But there are many others who have heard of it and have worked with graduates and have great things to say. I am confident that my D will graduate from Elon with the skills and qualities she needs to land a good job.</p>
<p>D is sal of class with strong SATs (2170) and is applying to nothing but top schools plus Elon. It is well known in NOVA area (about 15 kids from her HS are applying). While it used to have a bit of a reputation as a “finishing school”, that has long since passed with its great book class options, loyal alum network, and strong placement record. The only d/a’s I see are lack of diversity which college is committed to changing), and Burlington, NC, which is more of an express way stop between Durham and Greensboro, and lack of research facilities for scientifically inclined students. .</p>
<p>In the past year since my S applied ED, I have had numerous people tell me that they had never heard of Elon until we spoke of it, but since then they have heard it mentioned, noticed car stickers, and even found other kids that go/went there. The good stories of happy campers keep accumulating, and I think it’s quite fun to be a part of the “up and coming” status - the car sticker was put on shortly after S got his acceptance, and I proudly wear my Elon tees and sweatshirts to the gym, sporting events, etc. to help provide exposure.</p>
<p>As for job placement, from what I have seen Elon does an outstanding job of providing career services assistance, and encouragement for students to make the most of the engaged learning opportunities. If they take advantage of this, it will help open doors for them. I also think those that do this will have a much better idea of how to approach the job search. Sending a resume and <em>hoping</em> it makes its way to the top of pushydad’s or anyone else’s pile is no longer a sound strategy, even for those from better-known schools…</p>
<p>pushydad brought up the point I intended to make…about the recognition of Elon by employers. As my D is a senior, we made a list of companies she would like to work for. Checked each website to see where they would be recruiting, and as most were top companies, they were going to top B schools. We would like to see more firms recruiting on campus, since we all know face-to-face interviews will win over waiting to get to the top of the resume pile. As the Elon business school has moved into top 50 rankings, we hope that companies will make the effort to visit and recruit from Elon.</p>
<p>Our daughter first heard about Elon from my cousin’s daughter who was Elon '04. They live in NC. Since her acceptance and enrollment, I consistently get the same response from other people, “I had never heard of Elon until a few years ago, and now it seems like everyone I know is talking about it or has a kid going there!” I’ve heard this from neighbors and co-workers in New England, and last weekend I heard it from a friend who lives in NJ. The awareness of Elon in the northeast is definitely growing. </p>
<p>D’s friends who graduated last year have jobs in their fields in Boston (business major), Chicago (business) and LA (communications) - just off the top of my head.</p>
<p>I was on the Elon website this evening and read that about 51% of their Alumni are under the age of 40. It is logical that as the Alumni age and Elon continues to grow and attract a broader base of students, name recognition will increase. I also read that they plan to grow enrollment by about 100 students per year. I guess this leads back to the transformation Elon has undergone in the last 20 years. </p>
<p>It seems only a matter of time before Elon acheives the renown it deserves. In the interim it is great to hear so much positive feedback. In fact, it sounds like the Elon experience and focus on engaged learning more than compensates for whatever the university lacks in name recognition.</p>
<p>How could you not love Elon and Leo?</p>
<p>Leo M. Lambert on facebook and twitter:
If U need a carb and protein boost at 10 pm tonight to fuel your studying, I’ll be serving pancakes, eggs, and bacon in McEwen at Cram Jam.</p>
<p>The more we learn about Elon, the better it sounds. I do worry a bit about name recognition, but Son’s goal is to land a job overseas, so maybe name recognition shouldnt be my top worry. So, from this point forward, our new worry is that that Son might not get accepted! :D</p>
<p>This is such a great thread! D got deferred as a freshman and then denied. Has gotten accepted as a transfer. Deciding now between U of SC, Emerson, and Elon; all ver different and in different diverse areas. Question: how’s the school spirit? Are the sporting events well attended? I loved the school on our tour and thought the town of Elon was so quaint and cute, yet Burlington and shopping was close by.</p>
<p>Congratulations on the transfer acceptance! I believe school spirit is strong, based in part on the kids I have seen on campus wearing Elon clothing. Not sure about the attendance at football games, but believe basketball and soccer are popular. My son has attended many games as a freshman. Will his interest wane over the years? Unknown. They seem to do a number of social/food events designed to foster camaraderie, like coffee and bagels for the entire campus on Tuesday mornings.</p>
<p>Just had a lengthy conversation with a very successful Wall Streeter who graduated a lesser known LAC 30 years ago. He was accepted at top tier, larger well known schools in the NE but had to follow the money. </p>
<p>He had tremendous opportunity (was RA, played sports, internships, one on one connections with professors, etc) at the smaller lesser known school and knows that would not be as likely if he went to some of the highly selective schools he was accepted. He graduated extremely confident with a great ecucation & expereince.</p>
<p>He said he has come full circle on chasing the diploma for his kids regarding name recognition vs. fit. No longer cares about the selectivitly of the school. With loads of experience of sending his own kids off to college, hiring for his company and refelction on his own journey. He wants to hire the kids who are hungry and have shown work ethic. Some of his young employees with prestigious degrees are not promotable (book smart- not street smart), they expect to be earning as much as people who have been at it for 20+ years. They don’t get it. </p>
<p>Not to say that’s true of all H,P,Y grads - just the bloom is off the rose. Send your kids to the school that feels right & where they will grow, learn to navigate the work place and society and mature. (and try not to go into too much debt along the way…)</p>
<p>rgaines - Elon has a lot of school spirit, but it’s not athletic-team school spirit. Sad to say, the football games are not generally well-attended (although I hear the basketball team is pretty good this year, so maybe kids will go to them?). My daughter tells me many kids at Elon are sports fans, but they cheer for UNC or Duke or professional team. </p>
<p>But that’s not to say Elon doesn’t have school spirit - every kid I know of who goes there loves the school. They are proud to say they go there, and they embrace the community. Because 80% of students are from out-of-state, it is NOT a suitcase school - kids stay on the weekends and participate in intramurals, club sports, religious groups, other interest clubs, Greek life, and volunteering in the community. Things like College Coffee (on Tuesday mornings, that rockvillemom referenced), the Festival of Lights at the beginning of December, the holiday party at the President’s house… Elon is incredible at getting kids to feel involved and a part of the community. So it’s a different type of school spirit.</p>
<p>Thanks all for the wonderful, insightful comments.</p>