If not pursuing IB, finance, MBB, are Ivies undergrad really that much better than schools like Rice, Swarthmore, CMU?

Anonymous
I get that if you want to be on a CEO track or make big bucks on Wall Street, Ivy names could open more doors. But if you’re pursuing medical research, tech, natural sciences, are Ivies (undergrad) really that much better than schools a tier below?

With AI changing everything, is old-guard Ivy prestige still as important as it has been before?
Anonymous
In a word, no.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I get that if you want to be on a CEO track or make big bucks on Wall Street, Ivy names could open more doors. But if you’re pursuing medical research, tech, natural sciences, are Ivies (undergrad) really that much better than schools a tier below?

With AI changing everything, is old-guard Ivy prestige still as important as it has been before?


The quality and breadth of basic science research at a Harvard, MIT, Cal Tech, Hopkins is going to be pretty hard to match outside of a few flagships - Michigan, UCLA, UCSD.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I get that if you want to be on a CEO track or make big bucks on Wall Street, Ivy names could open more doors. But if you’re pursuing medical research, tech, natural sciences, are Ivies (undergrad) really that much better than schools a tier below?

With AI changing everything, is old-guard Ivy prestige still as important as it has been before?


The quality and breadth of basic science research at a Harvard, MIT, Cal Tech, Hopkins is going to be pretty hard to match outside of a few flagships - Michigan, UCLA, UCSD.


At the undergrad level? There are at least a dozen schools that could offer better research opportunities than Harvard does.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I get that if you want to be on a CEO track or make big bucks on Wall Street, Ivy names could open more doors. But if you’re pursuing medical research, tech, natural sciences, are Ivies (undergrad) really that much better than schools a tier below?

With AI changing everything, is old-guard Ivy prestige still as important as it has been before?


The quality and breadth of basic science research at a Harvard, MIT, Cal Tech, Hopkins is going to be pretty hard to match outside of a few flagships - Michigan, UCLA, UCSD.


At the undergrad level? There are at least a dozen schools that could offer better research opportunities than Harvard does.


Disagree.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I get that if you want to be on a CEO track or make big bucks on Wall Street, Ivy names could open more doors. But if you’re pursuing medical research, tech, natural sciences, are Ivies (undergrad) really that much better than schools a tier below?

With AI changing everything, is old-guard Ivy prestige still as important as it has been before?


Rice CMU and Swat (and a couple others) are effectively the same boost as ivy+ schools for pHD MD tech and in some areas CMU and Rice are much better than three of the ivies
Anonymous
If you think your kid is going to start a tech or biotech company it's probably worth it to go to an Ivy.

If they just want to work as a scientist or engineer in academia or industry then you should look into what opportunities the different schools offer for getting research/industry experience during undergrad as that will matter more for grad school/job applications than the name of the school. For example, can they get a job working in a professor's lab assisting with their research?
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I get that if you want to be on a CEO track or make big bucks on Wall Street, Ivy names could open more doors. But if you’re pursuing medical research, tech, natural sciences, are Ivies (undergrad) really that much better than schools a tier below?

With AI changing everything, is old-guard Ivy prestige still as important as it has been before?


The quality and breadth of basic science research at a Harvard, MIT, Cal Tech, Hopkins is going to be pretty hard to match outside of a few flagships - Michigan, UCLA, UCSD.


At the undergrad level? There are at least a dozen schools that could offer better research opportunities than Harvard does.

Absolutely not. There are not a dozen non-ivy schools that are better at providing undergrad research experience than even the worst ivy for research.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:If you think your kid is going to start a tech or biotech company it's probably worth it to go to an Ivy.

If they just want to work as a scientist or engineer in academia or industry then you should look into what opportunities the different schools offer for getting research/industry experience during undergrad as that will matter more for grad school/job applications than the name of the school. For example, can they get a job working in a professor's lab assisting with their research?


CMU is tops at tech startup, as is Harvard Penn Pton MIT UCB Columbia CalTech. These schools have huge startup culture and funds/links with industry.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I get that if you want to be on a CEO track or make big bucks on Wall Street, Ivy names could open more doors. But if you’re pursuing medical research, tech, natural sciences, are Ivies (undergrad) really that much better than schools a tier below?

With AI changing everything, is old-guard Ivy prestige still as important as it has been before?


The quality and breadth of basic science research at a Harvard, MIT, Cal Tech, Hopkins is going to be pretty hard to match outside of a few flagships - Michigan, UCLA, UCSD.


At the undergrad level? There are at least a dozen schools that could offer better research opportunities than Harvard does.

Absolutely not. There are not a dozen non-ivy schools that are better at providing undergrad research experience than even the worst ivy for research.


Are too
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I get that if you want to be on a CEO track or make big bucks on Wall Street, Ivy names could open more doors. But if you’re pursuing medical research, tech, natural sciences, are Ivies (undergrad) really that much better than schools a tier below?

With AI changing everything, is old-guard Ivy prestige still as important as it has been before?


The quality and breadth of basic science research at a Harvard, MIT, Cal Tech, Hopkins is going to be pretty hard to match outside of a few flagships - Michigan, UCLA, UCSD.


At the undergrad level? There are at least a dozen schools that could offer better research opportunities than Harvard does.

Absolutely not. There are not a dozen non-ivy schools that are better at providing undergrad research experience than even the worst ivy for research.


Disagree. There are more than a dozen non-Ivy that are better than Dartmouth in terms of undergraduate research. JHU CmU for example are known for extensive undergraduate research.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I get that if you want to be on a CEO track or make big bucks on Wall Street, Ivy names could open more doors. But if you’re pursuing medical research, tech, natural sciences, are Ivies (undergrad) really that much better than schools a tier below?

With AI changing everything, is old-guard Ivy prestige still as important as it has been before?


The quality and breadth of basic science research at a Harvard, MIT, Cal Tech, Hopkins is going to be pretty hard to match outside of a few flagships - Michigan, UCLA, UCSD.


At the undergrad level? There are at least a dozen schools that could offer better research opportunities than Harvard does.

Absolutely not. There are not a dozen non-ivy schools that are better at providing undergrad research experience than even the worst ivy for research.


There are a dozen SLACs which will provide better basic undergraduate research opportunities than an Ivy. Top R1 labs are not in place to support undergraduates and undergraduates are inefficient when you have a large supply of grad students to work in your labs. There are always some opportunities for undergraduate research at top R1s (it isn't absolute) but it's not the be all and end all that too many people believe.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I get that if you want to be on a CEO track or make big bucks on Wall Street, Ivy names could open more doors. But if you’re pursuing medical research, tech, natural sciences, are Ivies (undergrad) really that much better than schools a tier below?

With AI changing everything, is old-guard Ivy prestige still as important as it has been before?


The quality and breadth of basic science research at a Harvard, MIT, Cal Tech, Hopkins is going to be pretty hard to match outside of a few flagships - Michigan, UCLA, UCSD.


At the undergrad level? There are at least a dozen schools that could offer better research opportunities than Harvard does.

Absolutely not. There are not a dozen non-ivy schools that are better at providing undergrad research experience than even the worst ivy for research.


Disagree. There are more than a dozen non-Ivy that are better than Dartmouth in terms of undergraduate research. JHU CmU for example are known for extensive undergraduate research.


No they aren't. Can you provide some back up for that statement?
Anonymous
How good is Brown when it comes to post grad opportunities compared to the other Ivys? DD is deciding between Brown or Rice.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:How good is Brown when it comes to post grad opportunities compared to the other Ivys? DD is deciding between Brown or Rice.


Both a great schools but Rice is regional/local in a way that Brown is not. Look at percent of students from Texas and also focus on Texas related industries, like oil and gas.
post reply Forum Index » College and University Discussion
Message Quick Reply
Go to: