<p>Since when is there a large difference in prestige between GWU (52) and UD (67)? I could understand if it was a comparison b/w Georgetown and UD, but for the most part GWU is not a name that stops people in their tracks.</p>
<p>I'm with you on that brand.</p>
<p>Brand, I agree with you too</p>
<p>I was responding to a comment that there was no significant difference between any of the top 50 schools.</p>
<p>Yeah there is definitely a difference between Yale and, say, NYU. That statement was bunk.</p>
<p>
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Is this mentality able to be validated?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>yes.</p>
<p>all it takes is a quick look up of graduate school placement, job recruiting, average starting salary, etc. to see that "prestige" has a very noticable effect on future successes after graduation as applied to the entire university.</p>
<p>that's not to say that you can't be successful coming from an unprestigious school, but there is a reason a school like Indiana University (30k+ students) is represented less in Harvard Law School than Notre Dame (from the same state).</p>
<p>I am not saying there is no basis for the prestige mentality in general, but rather the one that says that a school that is more often heard of is better. </p>
<p>For example, I will be attending The University of Rochester next year. For many CCers, this is probably a fairly well heard of school, probably known as an ivy-league bakc-up, but a great school in its own right as well. Now let's say that a person who is unaware of UR as an excellent school states that GWU is better b/c they themselves have heard of it, as have their friends.<br>
This isn't true, and is essentially the equivalent of the argument I was trying to make: that schools realtively similar in academic excellence should not be decided between based solely on name recognition.</p>
<p>Schools with similarly ranked programs are likely to be just as helpful when it comes to graduate school. People doing the hiring are knowledgeable on schools and their programs, thus, a lesser heard of school will not make a difference afer graduation.</p>
<p>^^ there's a difference between anecdotally heard of schools, and schools with an overall notoriety across the population. In this case i would say gwu falls into the latter category while UD does not</p>
<p>Overall notoriety?
I've heard the complaint from GW students that when they tell people where they go to school they get back-
"Uh....you go to Georgetown?</p>
<p>
[quote]
yes.</p>
<p>all it takes is a quick look up of graduate school placement, job recruiting, average starting salary, etc. to see that "prestige" has a very noticable effect on future successes after graduation as applied to the entire university.</p>
<p>that's not to say that you can't be successful coming from an unprestigious school, but there is a reason a school like Indiana University (30k+ students) is represented less in Harvard Law School than Notre Dame (from the same state).
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I'd go to IU in a heartbeat over ND.</p>
<p>ND is a tough place to go...do they still gender segregate dorms?</p>
<p>Robotab, I agree with you. He should have chosen the school based on program strength in his field instead of just the perceived name recognition, unless he is undecided about his major. If this is the case, then -- and only then -- should prestige be considered.</p>
<p>I agree with brand_182. The prestige gap between the two schools he mentioned is significant. However, I think the point being made is the overall quality of the academic programs offered among the top 50 is not significant.</p>
<p>I was going to University of Delaware but just heard from Penn State. I was offered admission to Penn Sate off the wait list. Is there a prestige gap between University of Delaware and Penn State?</p>
<p>Despite what people here will say, there's not that much of a difference between PSU and UDel.</p>
<p>It's a better choice for future job placement to go to a big name school--but only if you aren't sure of your major. Generally, big name schools have <em>on average</em> better programs--that's how they acquired big names. Even if you think you're sure about your major, and the lesser-known school has a better program, you should think twice. 50% of people change majors once in college.</p>
<p>I changed my mind about my major twice during my first year of college. many of my peers did the same. </p>
<p>There are a few departments out there whose reputation greatly outstrips the general reputation of the school where they are situated, but they're not all that common. </p>
<p>It's probably a little more common to find a department whose reputation lags behind the general reputation of the school. (I once met a guy who had majored in English at MIT. He drove a cab after that for a couple of years, then went to law school at Stanford. Things worked out pretty well for him in the end, but I'm sure I'm not the last person who asked him "whatever possessed you to major in English at MIT?)</p>