Are you ever secretly jealous of people with degrees from elite private schools?

[Anonymous]

I'm moderately successful, I would like to think. I'm by and large happy and stable. I have a degree from a public school that, for the most part, hasn't been a disservice to my career. My college experience, many years ago at this point, was fine (no highs or lows). I feel like I came into my own after college, where I was fortunate to fall in with a circle of brilliant friends and acquaintances. Here's the thing. They all have degrees from from Yale, Stanford, Cornell, Brown, Northwestern, Columbia, UChicago, etc. ... and I am literally the only one who graduated from your average run-of-the-mill school. Although they never make it a point to alienate me, I do definitely feel like the odd duckling out at times, and can't help but feel a little bit jealous at points.

Anyone have this experience, too, or am I crazy?

[Anonymous]

No, my spouse went to no name schools and makes more than my sibling doctor who went to ivys.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, my spouse went to no name schools and makes more than my sibling doctor who went to ivys.

I guess for me, it's not really about the money. It's about all the vague, ambiguous things, like class and pedigree. I don't necessarily like that I think this way, but I do. You can fake a lot of things in life, like the ability to buy luxury brands or nice clothing or an expensive watch, or certain affectations. But education? You can't fake that.

[Anonymous]

No- I went to a state university for undergrad and lower tier law school but ended up at a big law firm. If you are smart and resourceful, you will rise to the top.

[Anonymous]

If you’re over 25 it’s a bit much. You should have enough life experience at this point to know that there are great,smart, interesting people who went to all types of schools (and boorish louts at all, too.) I’m not sure if it’s a self esteem issue or snobbishness but you’re right to want to work in it.

[Anonymous]

My ivy kid says 99.9% of people who will hire him will be non-ivy graduates.

So, OP's in a good position.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, my spouse went to no name schools and makes more than my sibling doctor who went to ivys.

I guess for me, it's not really about the money. It's about all the vague, ambiguous things, like class and pedigree. I don't necessarily like that I think this way, but I do. You can fake a lot of things in life, like the ability to buy luxury brands or nice clothing or an expensive watch, or certain affectations. But education? You can't fake that.

Columbia was literally caught faking rankings, and 1/3rd of their students come in through the General Studies backdoor. Definitely fakeable.

[Anonymous]

No. But then again I’m a SAHM. Maybe that’s why? Or I just don’t care

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, my spouse went to no name schools and makes more than my sibling doctor who went to ivys.

I guess for me, it's not really about the money. It's about all the vague, ambiguous things, like class and pedigree. I don't necessarily like that I think this way, but I do. You can fake a lot of things in life, like the ability to buy luxury brands or nice clothing or an expensive watch, or certain affectations. But education? You can't fake that.

Columbia was literally caught faking rankings, and 1/3rd of their students come in through the General Studies backdoor. Definitely fakeable.

Sure... but a Columbia College (or a degree from one of Columbia's actual grad/professional schools) is still highly covetable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, my spouse went to no name schools and makes more than my sibling doctor who went to ivys.

I guess for me, it's not really about the money. It's about all the vague, ambiguous things, like class and pedigree. I don't necessarily like that I think this way, but I do. You can fake a lot of things in life, like the ability to buy luxury brands or nice clothing or an expensive watch, or certain affectations. But education? You can't fake that.

Columbia was literally caught faking rankings, and 1/3rd of their students come in through the General Studies backdoor. Definitely fakeable.

Sure... but a Columbia College (or a degree from one of Columbia's actual grad/professional schools) is still highly covetable.

Nope. Columbia has the lowest median income 10 years out from graduation compared to all the Ivies:

https://www.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/info-Salaries_for_Colleges_by_Type-sort.html

[Anonymous]

Nope. Some of the kids I know from the best backgrounds went to places like Arizona State. And I know dropouts making 10x what someone who spent $400K on successive degrees is making.

I’m only ‘jealous’ of people who are truly talented.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, my spouse went to no name schools and makes more than my sibling doctor who went to ivys.

I guess for me, it's not really about the money. It's about all the vague, ambiguous things, like class and pedigree. I don't necessarily like that I think this way, but I do. You can fake a lot of things in life, like the ability to buy luxury brands or nice clothing or an expensive watch, or certain affectations. But education? You can't fake that.

I care about the money.

[Anonymous]

No, never.

[Anonymous]

No, because I would’ve had to work much harder in HS and college. Do you mean you’re mad you didn’t attempt to compete? Or you attempted and didn’t make the cut? That’s not snark. Just asking if you regret not trying/feel like you didn’t try hard enough.

[Anonymous]

You’re not crazy. I feel the same way but am not really bothered because we’re all in the same place today and none of it really matters.