<p>I've been reading these posts for the past six months during the time my son has been going through the same process as most of you (or your children). I see a lot of discussion about which college has more "prestige" and people seem to base a lot of their decisions on whether or not a college has this thing called "prestige". I am a faculty member at a good institution and know that faculty also can get caught up in this term and all that it implies(rankings and so forth). However, it sometimes seems to me that "prestige" can sometimes be equated with "spending money"...and for an undergraduate education I wonder whether families aren't being swept into this hype so they fork over $40,000 for a more "prestigious" institution rather than going to a "good" institution that is often less expensive, or one that may offer more financial support (scholarships etc.). That is, it seems arguements on this site are often about going to an insitution that may be ranked on U.S. News etc. in the top 20 as opposed to the top 30. What does this prestige give these undergraduates? A better job when they get out? Higher salaries? A "prestigious" name on their resumes?</p>
<p>There are two types of prestige...which explains why there is a debate on the subject. To some, prestige is a function of exclusivity. The tougher it is to get in, the more "prestigious" the university. To others, it is a function of academic quality and reputation in academic and professional circles. Of course, prestige is mainly a question of perception. In the real world, prestige really has very little meaning.</p>
<p>Alexandre I agree. Given that I worked at an Ivy for 20 years and am now at a public institution (by choice) and given that many of my colleagues have done the same (floated around)....at any given time you may be paying 40k for the same instructor/faculty member that others are paying 10k for. It's very interesting. </p>
<p>Like you, I have been associated with a state university and an Ivy League. I consider them equally prestigious. Most people I have come accross in professional and academic circles have a similar opinion. But many other people, usually not in position to impact a person's academic or professional life, still insist that prestige is not related to academic quality but rather, with exclusivity. So the phenomenon is not purely aimed at state vs private schools. Cornell, Chicago and Johns Hopkins do not get as much respect as Penn, Columbia or Duke in many people's eyes because they are not as exclusive. </p>
<p>At the end of the day, one's definition of prestige depends whom one is out to impress...the well informed or the impressionable.</p>
<p>I appreciate these thoughts. What does it say about a candidtae that mnakes a choice of college almost exclusively on the so-called pretige factor? Are they the "impressionable" ones? Whom are they looking to impress? Does it work? Your thoughts?</p>
<p>I would say it works if it works in the individual's "head"...not trying to sound philosophical or vague but really the world does run by perception.</p>
<p>For example, the Ivy I used to teach at had many students who went on to get wonderful jobs. Now granted, many of them had it pretty well set...their parents had businesses and these students went on to work for their parents.</p>
<p>I am sure many others went on to do great things without that advantage. On the other hand, individuals from state schools or smaller "lower ranked" privates go on to do wonderful things as well.</p>
<p>I just find the Hype fascinating and it's also fascinating how well it works!
Universities are truly "big business"!</p>
<p>It doesn't say anything. One cannot pass judgement in this case. It is simply a question of preference. Some people like the feeling of knowing that they were one of the lucky and brilliant few who got into a top university. Others simply want to be part of a university with excellent academics. Most highly educated people are more impressed by a student who graduated from a top university (regardless of how exclusive or selective it is) than by a person who got into an exclusive and mega selective university.</p>
<p>Prestige is an intriguing concept in these times---- I often feel like a dissident challenging the obsession with it that you see on some of these posts. I see Webster's defines it as "trickery, illusion" and "standing, estimation in the eyes of people", "commanding position in men's mind". Does it? I am more impressed with a good hard luck story of resilience.
To the two posters that have worked/taught at both private and public insitutions of learning---do you feel a bright, scholarly student in say a top 75 college, but not necessarily so-called prestige U, gets any benefits from choosing the former if its an otherwise good fit?. Do academics like yourself reach out to those students more or less than you would if you encountered them in the other environment? Does it worry you that 8th graders are frequenting theses boards for tips on getting into so-called prestige schools and choosing their volunteer work according to what looks best on their application?</p>
<p>People sometimes say many of the top 10 or 20 liberal arts colleges are prestigious. Amherst, Bowdoin, Haverford, Carleton, Pomona, Grinnell... are these schools prestigious?</p>
<p>I believe they are. Many of those schools have a higher percentage of kids go on to earn PhD's and at some of the best schools in the country than your elite big name universities. Yes of course a student at Grinnell or Haverford isn't going to get the oohs and aahs from their friends back home, but are the kids that chose those places really going to care as they get good jobs and get into good graduate programs? I think the kind of prestige that matters is the prestige with those who are informed. Then again I am biased as I chose to go to Carleton myself over some bigger name universities.</p>
<p>To me, a prestigious university is one that commands respect, not from high school students or average Joes but from top academics and professionals. The top 20 LACs, top 10 Publics and top 25 private research universities are all prestigious for sure.</p>