<p>I’m with novaparent on this one. Please give it a rest, bigshot. </p>
<p>bigshot wrote,</p>
<p>“Apparently attending a no name school does not keep you from achieving things, it just gives you more opportunities when you attend a school with a name.”</p>
<p>and</p>
<p>“You should really work on your reading skills buddy.”</p>
<p>I see nothing wrong with novaparent’s reading skills, but bigshot’s sentence structure leaves a lot to be desired.</p>
<p>Prospective students reading these boards now and in the future – </p>
<p>Please do not be turned off to UVa because of the haughty comments of a future student. Be assured that they do not accurately represent the temperament of UVa students (although they do match some of the nastier stereotypes). </p>
<p>While it is fine and even expected that incoming students to UVa are excited about their future college (make a note that the possessive is “their” not “there” and you will better impress your future professors), it is not becoming for them to assume they are all-knowing on things UVa (or life, for that matter) before even setting foot in their first class on grounds.</p>
<p>As for the need to attend a “big-name college,” to be successful, see: </p>
<p>[Where</a> the Fortune 50 CEOs Went to College - TIME](<a href=“http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1227055,00.html]Where”>http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1227055,00.html)</p>
<p>Since one of the most unctuous among the rising first-year posters aspires to a career in investment banking, I’ll point out just a few of the names/colleges from the linked list.</p>
<p>Ken Lewis of BOA – Georgia State; Warren Buffett – U of Nebraska; Stan O’Neill, then of Merrill, Lynch – Kettering University.</p>
<p>Look, going to a big-name university is an honor, and MAY help with future employment. (I hope so for the price the students pay . . . ) But, I would argue contrary to wahoomb, that it may become less important overtime as more young people graduate from college, enter the work world, and give a hand up to graduates of their alma maters.</p>
<p>Big Shot, I have to thank you…I am feeling better and better that my daughter will not be going to UVA…</p>
<p>I think bigshot has a point, though it came off a little harsh (and may be slightly exaggerated). There’s a reason people still attend prestigious schools that are generally a lot more expensive, and it isn’t just to say they did.</p>
<p>That said, there are obviously a ton of people going to schools that aren’t top 30 or 50 or even 100 and who will still go on to do well. It really does depend on how you treat your experience. A student who chooses to start interning early or get involved in research will probably do better than a student who goes to a big name school but doesn’t get involved. In some ways, it can even be beneficial to go to a decent, but not excellent university simply because there are opportunities to take leadership positions that may be more competitive on a campus full of overachievers.</p>
<p>Really, bigshot’s comments were a little harsh, but it’s a UVA board. I get pretty quick to jump to the wahoo defense too :)</p>
<p>Chris–I was being facetious. And by the way, Thomas Jefferson wanted to be known, above all his accomplishments, for being the father of the University of Virginia (it is on his gravestone).</p>
<p>PS: UVA gets a pretty big influx of French students yearly from Lyon and Paris so I think our reputation is growing in France. </p>
<p>PSS: The university to which you referred to is colloquially known as “La Sorbonne.” And if it’s a “tiny” percentage of people who have heard of it, it is those who actually matter (the educated elite). Dartmouth might NOT be a household name with common people across America–that does not make Dartmouth a “non-elite/prestigious” college. </p>
<p>Missy1: You feel better that you’re daughter isn’t going to UVA…because that was not even an option for her as she did not get accepted according to one of your previous posts.</p>
<p>Yes, I have strong opinions and I have always loved UVA. I have been going to their football games for as long as I can remember. Yes, what I say is biased and my own opinion.</p>
<p>But seriously, name of the college you attend matters. The only thing that can help you more than name of college is networking and connections you have. </p>
<p>A- gets a degree from U of Kentucky . B- gets a degree from Wharton.</p>
<p>Let’s be honest, who starts off with the most opportunities, and who has the the most potential to achieve more things financially.</p>
<p>OP: If you are strong you will only apply for engineering jobs for the rest of your life then VA Tech is just as good, but if there is an ounce of doubt, you will be safe at UVA.</p>
<p>Ok, wahoomb and bigshot3008 make it sound like if you don’t attend UVA your life will end up in ruins. That is not the case. We love UVA. We are alums and have a daughter headed there in the fall. HOWEVER, UVA is not the Holy Grail and is not the be all, end all for everyone. It is a great school. So is Virginia Tech, so is William and Mary, and so are a multitude of other schools. Find the fit that is right for you. A great college experience is what you are after. It cannot be chosen of defined by another person, especially a hot head that can’t see past his own alma mater. Where you go and what you do in life will largely depend on who you become in college. Pick the school that is right for you, a and you will become the best you can be. Picking a name based on an alum who thinks his own sh** don’t stink is foolish. Following your heart to where you fit in is wise. Choose wisely and you can’t go wrong.</p>
<p>I never said that. In fact Bigshot and I have even named other schools (and better ones than UVA) in our examples. I have also prefaced my posts with a couple of IMOs. If people don’t want to acknowledge the fact that where you go to school matters, that’s totally fine. Not everyone can work at a hedge fund, be an investment banker, go to prestigious graduate schools, get a discount at JCrew or be part of The Ivy Plus Society…lol.</p>
<p>PS: Saneparent, did you just create an account to add to a discussion you have already been following or are you a user disguising herself with a new username?</p>
<p>and by the way, please do not use bigshot as a frame of reference when considering UVA. His sentence structure is abysmal and his logic is flawed. His character is pompous and embarrassing to all. As a UVA alum I can only hope that he is an imposter.</p>
<p>@saneparent </p>
<p>The OP asked for suggestions as to where he should attend college. Giving him a Disney inspired fairy tale , happily ever after, everything is going to be alright line, is not giving him points that will tip him towards one college. In addition, your assumption is flawed, in the post directly above yours I said, " what I say is biased and my own opinion."</p>
<p>And you are a disgrace to UVA alums everywhere, where you feel the need to use profanity to get your thoughts across.</p>
<p>bigshot, You just aren’t getting it. UVa is not for everyone and there are many other great schools out there.You have said “Prestige was #1 on my criteria for college” in a previous post. Very sad. If that truly is the case , it is unfortunate that you will not be at HYPSM(so famous for prestige that we all know what that means) and will have to settle for UVa. The quest for prestige/recognition based on something outside yourself will never end unless you let it. All the best at UVa!</p>
<p>HYPS do not have undergraduate business schools. McIntire is ranked #2 by business week. I achieved my goal. If someone is asking my opinion on where they should attend school I am going to give them it.</p>
<p>Thank you for adding nothing to this discussion</p>
<p>OK, so the guys at Wharton then have more prestige and will kick your butt at some point.By your logic, it would make no sense for someone to go to UVa for engineering when Virginia Tech is clearly more highly ranked in engineering.</p>
<p>Yes, some one who attends Wharton will have more opportunities than me. However if you continued to read my criteria, I said prestige, location and rank.</p>
<p>McIntire is ranked higher by business week.</p>
<p>Countless amounts of people go into college wanting to pursue one major yet end up with a totally different one. I said if there is any “doubt” over what his major will be, UVA has many top programs for whatever alternative major he will pursue. </p>
<p>So again you miss spoke.</p>
<p>Everyone needs to take a chill pill… Going crazy in here.</p>
<p>Sorry UVaorBust, I have to jump in here…</p>
<p>Bigshot…I’m a UVa alum. I’m a McIntire alum. I’m an exec at one of the top performing banks in the country. Based on the way you have represented yourself on this board, I would hire a kid who has slugged his way through a local community college before I would hire you with your (yet to be obtained) degree from UVa. That’s real life.</p>
<p>yes, we have some crazy UVA fans on this thread. let’s leave it at that and remember that one school can be phenomenal for some and not right for others. I hope everyone out there finds the right fit! There are great choices all over the state of Virginia! Please don’t let one crazy UVA fan keep you from going to one of the best schools in the state. I know that everyone’s hope is that each graduating Senior will find the best fit for him/her, no matter which direction that leads the young adult. No alum from any school would assume that the school is right for everyone. Good luck to all who are still trying to decide!!!</p>
<p>thanks robertr. I just hope my D never meets bigshot when she’s at UVa…kinda scary if you ask me!</p>
<p>@robert</p>
<p>ROFL</p>
<p>@gribbin26</p>
<p>Good luck with your decision!</p>
<p>Big –
Please gain some humility over the summer; work extremely hard at UVa your first two years; and come back here in two years and let us know if you made it into McIntire. Good luck to you.</p>