<p>I have thought really hard about this and I wonder why it is that people try as hard as possible to get into the "best" school possible. But is the name of the school on your degree really that important? I think we make a big deal about this but is it really that important Will someone from an Ivy league always get the job over an incredible student from xyz university regardless of gpa, class standing, or accomplishments? If so, why is this?</p>
<p>I am of the opinion that where you go to get your Bachelor's degree doesn't really matter -- as long as it is from a recognized university/college. Where one goes to get their professional degree (JD/LLB's, MD's, MBA's, MA & PhD's, etc.) is what really counts on the job market.</p>
<p>Your undergraduate years are just the minor leagues, no matter where you are.</p>
<p>but it wouldn't hurt to spend your undergarduate years in an ivy league school either.</p>
<p>No, of course not -- you will likely receive a better education there (better profs, for one). But the point is, not getting into an Ivy League (or top-20 or top-whatever) school for undergrad studies is no reason to think that you won't go on to have a great career in whatever field you choose. </p>
<p>BTW, I think many students would be far better off if they realized that a Bachelor's degree by itself doesn't carry much weight in the world, no matter where you get it. People on this site place too much importance on what school you should go to and what you should major in to get that job, get that money, etc. It's ridiculous. The truth is, with just a BA or BSc -- from ANY university, majoring in ANYTHING -- you aren't going to get far unless you start your own business or something.</p>
<p>A bachelor's degree suffices, and is enough to get you a good paying job (as you begin the job you can easily increase your salary within years). BTW, more companies are interested in the work experience you have, than the degree itself. They love love love work experience. I know of someone who has a PhD and works at a bar. It's not solely based on "degree."</p>
<p>"I know of someone who has a PhD and works at a bar."</p>
<p>LOL I know someone like this too a cousin of mine actually but he has a PhD and works at Sears. Yeah I also agree that work experience and internships are crucial and something that many employers look for when hiring someone but a degree from Harvard is still a degree from Harvard no matter how you look at it.</p>
<p>I don't think that the Bachelor's degree is enough. I know several people with them who applied for jobs and didn't get them because someone else had a PhD..or something better than a Bachelor's degree, I don't remember exactly. could have been a Master's.</p>
<p>Bach's don't matter.</p>
<p>Grad school does.</p>
<p>2002 Cum Laude Harvard Law graduate came from GWU (who graduated as summa cum laude).</p>
<p>Anyway, more jobs are readily available at top tier grad schools like UChicago Law, Harvard Law, etc. My cousin isn't even out of UChicago and she has an internship at a firm for $500 a day.</p>
<p>It's all about where you're happy.</p>
<p>I think there's going to be a vague correlation between how 'good' or prestigious your university is, and the quality of classes and your education or whatnot, but not nearly as much as some people here like to make it out to be. We're not talking about the difference between school #4 and school #20 on whatever list being noticable, but about the difference between a fairly well-known school and your local community college. And there are also differences for what you study between certain kinds of schools...someone studying English would probably have a better experience at a LAC than a tech school, in general.</p>
<p>Beyond things like that, I don't think it really matters. There are plenty of people out there who want to drive a fancy car to seem impressive, or who insist that designer clothes are the only clothes worth wearing, just as there are people who insist that Ivys are the only schools worth going to. It's trying to present a certain image, and it just doesn't matter in the long term if both do the same thing.</p>
<p>I think that sometimes it's also for the sake of one's self-esteem.</p>
<p>Yeah it feels awesome when you get the fat envelope as opposed to the small white one</p>
<p>Because by being in a prestigious Undergraduate College will get you a higher chance in getting in a prestigious Graduate school (or a graduate school period) which wil get you a job faster and in a higher paying job or at least better starting pay.</p>
<p>will one's undergraduate school neccessarily be the same as their graduate one?
Back on the issue, it doesn't really matter what the undergraduate school you go to. The grade is the thing that matter. And anyways it's more important that you passed. Why waste a lot of money on a prestigious school that basically teaches the same courses that offer at a state school or something.</p>
<p>Let me start by saying that extremes are never healthy. Very few experienced people in high places believe in extremes. What does that mean? Simple:</p>
<p>1) Prestige doesn't matter 20 years after you graduate.
2) Prestige does matter when you are 21 and fresh out of college.
3) Not going to a "prestigious" university will not condemn you to a lifetme of servitude. We live in a world that rewards hard work and ability. So if you graduate from a no-name university but are willing to work hard and prove yourself, you will do great. Going to a prestigious university will only help in that it will make it easier.
4) No matter where you go to college, be it Harvard or Podunk Community College, you are going to have to start at the bottom and work your way up. I guarantee you that the only way to climb up, assuming you aren't the child of some senator or CIA chief, is to produce excellent results consistantly and play the game of office politics to perfection.
5) There is practically no difference between a university that is ranked #8 or #9 (like Duke or Columbia) and a university ranked #22 or #23 (like UVa or Georgetown).
6) There is a difference between a university ranked among the top 25 and one that is not ranked among the top 100.</p>
<p>In short, there is no black or white and there is no sure path to success.</p>
<p>...but getting into Harvord will automatically start you higher than a guy who went to X Community College ;) (that is unless you throw it away and decide to become a cabbie)</p>
<p>It doesn't matter when you're 40 (unless you plan to go just to tell your Great-Grandkids 'I went to Harvord, which would make you stupid) but it does when you are freash out of College finding a job and trying to pay off your 100K of debt, living expences, and possibly a wife and kid(s). If, say one guy goes to Princeton and the other guy goes to Syracuse University. (not saying SU is bad, it's a very good school) The guy from Princeton will probably be better off once he starts his life. Yeah, when they are both 50, it'll be pretty much the same, but until then...</p>
<p>honestly, everyone ends up in the same place. if you are bright and motivated, you will do just as well at a 'top 5' schools vs the average state school. regardless of what anyone on this board thinks. likewise, if you are not so bright and not so motivated, you'll do just as poorly at a 'top 5' school as you would at at average state school.</p>
<p>So I guess the consensus is that it is important for the first five years after graduation right?</p>
<p>not necessarily. i just saw a list of incoming students in a very prestigious and extremely competitive grad program, and the backgrounds of the students run the gamut from 3rd tier colleges to the very top. its MUCH more important what you do and how you do than where you did it.</p>
<p>I am not so sure Huskem, at the top 10 Law schools, Medical schools and MBA programs, I'd say anywhere from 50%-80% (depending on the program) come from elite (top 20 private, top 20 LAC and top 10 public) universities. The remaining students come from over 200 universities.</p>