<p>There’s a very famous study that looked at earning ability of people who went to elite schools vs. those who got into them–there was no difference in their salaries on average. So I think there is some truth to what Annasdad is saying.</p>
<p>However, I still think there are some advantages to going to the more elite set of schools.</p>
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<p>No, that’s what is clearly shown by the voluminous evidence whose summary I have presented, as accurately and as fairly as I can.</p>
<p>And I await eagerly evidence to the contrary.</p>
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<p>Because I question opinions that are contradicted by the available research?</p>
<p>Incredible, just simply incredible.</p>
<p>I’m done responding to your posts. You may have the last words.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t trade MIT or Cornell for any lower level education for any of my sons even if they were sent there for free or given a stipend. Both of the schools were worth every penny and because of the generousity of both schools they were worth a heck of alot more than their sticker price. If you haven’t been to these schools than you really are talking out of no where.</p>
<p>I think that the advantage one has from an elite school is one of those things that cannot be easily measured.</p>
<p>It is the kind of thing that one sometimes sees in high school. Why are some kids considered “cool” and others not? One can argue that “coolness” doesn’t exist or at least shouldn’t, but the truth is that almost any kid in a high school knows who is “cool” and who isn’t.</p>
<p>There is an awful lot of networking that goes on that cannot be measured in surveys.</p>
<p>There are also subtle judgements that are made by people that will be based on what school you go to. Very few of us will not initially think that someone who graduates from Harvard is probably smarter than one who graduated from a remote state college. The same way that one will initially assume that someone who is well dressed and arrives in an expensive car is probably more wealthy than someone who is driving an old civic and wearing old flip flops with crummy jeans.</p>
<p>My husband is many years out of college, but people who have interviewed him still will comment that Carnegie Mellon is a good school, etc. He works in real estate, most recently for a private equity fund that is chock full of ivy/ top private school alumni. He is there for his connections/ expertise in real estate, but the fact that his resume confirmed that he is “smart” helped. To them, “smart” was confirmed by his college as well as his reputation/ knowledge of the industry.</p>
<p>Out of curiosity, where is the line drawn for “top tier school”? For a moment just consider national universities. What is the exact demarcation number? Is number 15 top tier, but number 16 not? I assume at some point there has to be a maginot line or it all blends together meaninglessly. I’m curious where people draw it, so people can make sure they’re actually on the same team here. :)</p>
<p>If I continue to post on this thread then who is the idiot?</p>
<p>If I post again later you know what you need to call me.</p>
<p>You know… better than 25% of the posts on this thread have been written by one poster who says the same thing over and over and over.</p>
<p>The OP to the thread has not been back here since Jan 31.</p>
<p>I vote for closing the thread.</p>
<p>^^^
Oh no!!! Then I may never get an answer to my question!!!</p>
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<p>Agree fully.</p>
<p>AD, you having a slow day out there in E***ville?</p>
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<p>Not to mention the other posters who continue to make the same tired argument (“we haven’t got any real evidence, just take it on faith, okay?”). I guess repetition only counts when it’s on the other side, thumper?</p>
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<p>I agree … close the thread. Apparently no one can refute any of the research I’ve posted, and the name-calling has become borderline abusive, not to mention apparently people posting out-of-context private messages from six months ago.</p>
<p>Whether or not the thread is closed, I’m done with it. See y’all soon!</p>
<p>The arrogance is simply astounding.</p>
<p>** and the comment
appears to be in response to my post #194
[quote]
I’ll not hold my breath for an apology for telling me to “take my opinion and shove it”. Such a polite way to converse. <a href=“unless%20of%20course%20he%20said%20that%20to%20other%20posters%20%20as%20well”>/quote</a>. And to think you really didn’t read my posts, eh annasdad? Who were you kidding ;)</p>
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<p>AD, you have 10x the posts that thumper has on this thread, you have 10x the posts that thumper has on this thread, you have 10x the posts that thumper has on this thread…etc. This is what your rhetoric sounds like. Glad you’ve called it a day.</p>
<p>" Apparently no one can refute any of the research I’ve posted"</p>
<p>you’re still looking for a fight and dont know when to give up.</p>
<p>I guess what I said earlier did not penetrate that cranium of yours, as you obviously still dont “get it”. perhaps you’re a little punch drunk at this point? </p>
<p>so here it is again: [I tried to make it simple to understand.]</p>
<p>CC is NOT based on the premise that threads are a prize fights where there can only be one winner. But you clearly seem to need to always be the “winner” in all discussions you enter into.</p>
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<p>There are tiers within tiers.</p>
<p>My son graduated from a university that is currently tied for 55th in the U.S. News rankings (which are not the only criterion but will do for the purposes of this post). He doesn’t consider it top tier, and I don’t think most other people do, either. But it’s a state flagship and certainly would be considered superior to the regional state colleges in the various parts of our state.</p>
<p>My daughter graduated from a university that is currently tied for 15th in the U.S. News rankings. Is it top tier? It depends on your basis for comparison. Many people would consider it top tier, but there is clearly a small group of colleges with stronger reputations – Harvard, Stanford, etc. One could argue that only those schools with the ultimate reputations (perhaps 6 to 8 of them) should be considered top tier and that schools such as my daughter’s should be considered second tier, or “bottom of the top,” or whatever. Does it matter?</p>
<p>Imagine the case of an inspired high school student doing everything she can to get into an elite college. She takes all the hardest classes, competes in the toughest competitions, and works as hard as she can. Imagine she is successful and gets accepted by an elite school. She enrolls there and continues to work hard. During her four years there she is amazed at how much she didn’t know. She realizes she has learned how to think and she is so happy this elite school has taught her this. She graduates, finds a job and continues her success by taking on more responsibility and earning more money. </p>
<p>Now imagine the case of an inspired high school student doing everything he can to get into an elite college. He too works hard and is also accepted by an elite college. For his own reasons, though, he enrolls in Podunk U. He continues to work hard and is amazed at how much he didn’t know. He realizes he has learned how to think and is so happy Podunk has taught him this. He graduates, finds a job and continues on his path of success after success. </p>
<p>Can both of these cases be true? I sure think so. In fact I have worked with people who followed the first path to success and also a few who followed the second path. If all this is true somehow, then look at the power of the individual! Through passion, elbow grease, and at least some innate smarts anyone can be successful. Imagine that that’s true!</p>
<p>If all that is true, then does that mean it’s foolish to aspire to attend an elite school? No, it’s great to aspire to something big. Just don’t end your aspirations there. When I was in high school I didn’t think I belonged in Tippy Top U. I attended a middle tier school – somewhere between Tippy Top and Podunk. That’s where I learned to work hard and began to taste success. I was so happy that I attended this school that taught me how to think.</p>
<p>This last year when I visited some top tier universities with my son I felt excited for him. More than a few times I wondered what it would have been like if I had been able to attend one of these tremendous schools. In many ways I wish I could have even though I love my alma mater. If I had I do doubt, though, that I would have been any more successful than I already am. I think that’s a great feeling. Wow – just think about the power of the individual!</p>
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Not to me. But apparently to a lot of people. This thread has over 200 posts of people arguing about a “top tier” school. I was just wondering if they had any idea what they were arguing about. In fact, this is just one of many threads with this same theme.</p>
<p>It’s a little bizarre to debate the merits of something for which there is really no universal or even consensus definition of what it is.</p>