Do Prestigious Schools Matter for Future Success?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:My oldest attended Ivies, and they were both jobless after graduation, and worked at Starbucks. My youngest DS was a D1 recruited athlete at UNC Chapel Hill, and he got a job in IB after graduation because the EVP was an alum at UNC. My DS was able to secure jobs for his older brother and sister because he contacted the EVP to help his siblings. Going to Ivies is not going to help you if you do not have the "right" connections. Therefore, in my children situation, it is a resounding NO. It is not how much you know but who you know, or who knows you.

UNC is ranked in the top 30...and with Duke, UVA, Stanford, and Vanderbilt it has a unique combination of top D1 athletics and prestige.

Something also tells me that the siblings wouldn't have been considered at all if they had attended say VCU

PP here. My DS was also able to secure a spot in the IB division for one of his cousins who attended GMU, just like he did for his older siblings. FWIW, I am an SES Fed, and I routinely reject Ivies candidates over candidates who attended JMU, VCU, or VT. It is because I know their parents, and I want to help them out. As I've said before, it is not going to do you any good if you attend a prestigious university, but you do not build any connections when you are there.

Whaaat?! You’re using taxpayer $$$ on nepotism? This is literally a fireable offense. Not to mention that you’re depriving the government of better performing talent

+100, I’ve never seen someone so brazenly admit to something immoral just to make a point

I actually found it refreshing. I cant believe anyone here thinks network don't matter. It's human nature to go with known quanitities and I've both hired kids I sort of know of due to parents (who I believe were smart good kids) and I have asked my friends in industries my kid is in to look at their resume. My kid is super accomplished and cannot break into the big (ultra) leagues so I get people being angry but thank God we had contacts in the mid leagues so he is thriving. I'd like to know how kids from the non elite are getting into these places absent connections, I am witnessing that it does not happen, I dont see ANYONE getting in big places unless they are at the top 5 schools or parents have connections. Top 10 does not cut it. Wish it was otherwise.

I grew up poor. This is angering. I understand it’s refreshing for upper middle class DC types, but no, your “network” isn’t a better fit for the workplace.

That's your definition, but others think differently. Have you ever heard of "your net worth is your network"? "Network" is the most important thing during high school, college, and post college graduation. I've seen Ivy candidate's resumes get rejected because they do not have the right "connections" in both government and in the private sector. Life is NOT fair.

FWIW, my DS attended Sidwell, and one of his best friends' father is the CIO at an F500 company. DS didn't even bother looking for jobs prior to college graduation. After traveling for six months post-graduation, DS called his buddy and he got a job two weeks after that from his buddy's (the CIO) father.

This is very unusual.
Getting a job from your best friend's dad is awkward to say the least unless you were otherwise well qualified for the job.

Unless you are blood relative, networks generally only respect competency.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My oldest attended Ivies, and they were both jobless after graduation, and worked at Starbucks. My youngest DS was a D1 recruited athlete at UNC Chapel Hill, and he got a job in IB after graduation because the EVP was an alum at UNC. My DS was able to secure jobs for his older brother and sister because he contacted the EVP to help his siblings. Going to Ivies is not going to help you if you do not have the "right" connections. Therefore, in my children situation, it is a resounding NO. It is not how much you know but who you know, or who knows you.

UNC is ranked in the top 30...and with Duke, UVA, Stanford, and Vanderbilt it has a unique combination of top D1 athletics and prestige.

Something also tells me that the siblings wouldn't have been considered at all if they had attended say VCU

PP here. My DS was also able to secure a spot in the IB division for one of his cousins who attended GMU, just like he did for his older siblings. FWIW, I am an SES Fed, and I routinely reject Ivies candidates over candidates who attended JMU, VCU, or VT. It is because I know their parents, and I want to help them out. As I've said before, it is not going to do you any good if you attend a prestigious university, but you do not build any connections when you are there.

Whaaat?! You’re using taxpayer $$$ on nepotism? This is literally a fireable offense. Not to mention that you’re depriving the government of better performing talent

Have fun proving that! Just because someone went to a more highly ranked school does not mean they are better performing. I’m sure this person papers the files with an acceptable justification for the folks they hire. There is no rule that you have to hire the person from the highest ranked school, especially if they are not a fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My oldest attended Ivies, and they were both jobless after graduation, and worked at Starbucks. My youngest DS was a D1 recruited athlete at UNC Chapel Hill, and he got a job in IB after graduation because the EVP was an alum at UNC. My DS was able to secure jobs for his older brother and sister because he contacted the EVP to help his siblings. Going to Ivies is not going to help you if you do not have the "right" connections. Therefore, in my children situation, it is a resounding NO. It is not how much you know but who you know, or who knows you.

UNC is ranked in the top 30...and with Duke, UVA, Stanford, and Vanderbilt it has a unique combination of top D1 athletics and prestige.

Something also tells me that the siblings wouldn't have been considered at all if they had attended say VCU

PP here. My DS was also able to secure a spot in the IB division for one of his cousins who attended GMU, just like he did for his older siblings. FWIW, I am an SES Fed, and I routinely reject Ivies candidates over candidates who attended JMU, VCU, or VT. It is because I know their parents, and I want to help them out. As I've said before, it is not going to do you any good if you attend a prestigious university, but you do not build any connections when you are there.

Whaaat?! You’re using taxpayer $$$ on nepotism? This is literally a fireable offense. Not to mention that you’re depriving the government of better performing talent

Have fun proving that! Just because someone went to a more highly ranked school does not mean they are better performing. I’m sure this person papers the files with an acceptable justification for the folks they hire. There is no rule that you have to hire the person from the highest ranked school, especially if they are not a fit.

Which is why our government is highly inefficient and lacking. We should really implement civil service exams. Being the son of someone is the worst measure of a potential good employee.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:nice duke trolling. it is no way better than most of the ivy league.

as for does it matter? ofcourse it does. Is it required for future success no -
no, but it helps a ton.

This! Obviously, a Duke booster. Ugh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My oldest attended Ivies, and they were both jobless after graduation, and worked at Starbucks. My youngest DS was a D1 recruited athlete at UNC Chapel Hill, and he got a job in IB after graduation because the EVP was an alum at UNC. My DS was able to secure jobs for his older brother and sister because he contacted the EVP to help his siblings. Going to Ivies is not going to help you if you do not have the "right" connections. Therefore, in my children situation, it is a resounding NO. It is not how much you know but who you know, or who knows you.

UNC is ranked in the top 30...and with Duke, UVA, Stanford, and Vanderbilt it has a unique combination of top D1 athletics and prestige.

Something also tells me that the siblings wouldn't have been considered at all if they had attended say VCU

PP here. My DS was also able to secure a spot in the IB division for one of his cousins who attended GMU, just like he did for his older siblings. FWIW, I am an SES Fed, and I routinely reject Ivies candidates over candidates who attended JMU, VCU, or VT. It is because I know their parents, and I want to help them out. As I've said before, it is not going to do you any good if you attend a prestigious university, but you do not build any connections when you are there.

Whaaat?! You’re using taxpayer $$$ on nepotism? This is literally a fireable offense. Not to mention that you’re depriving the government of better performing talent

Have fun proving that! Just because someone went to a more highly ranked school does not mean they are better performing. I’m sure this person papers the files with an acceptable justification for the folks they hire. There is no rule that you have to hire the person from the highest ranked school, especially if they are not a fit.

Which is why our government is highly inefficient and lacking. We should really implement civil service exams. Being the son of someone is the worst measure of a potential good employee.

I don’t disagree with you that nepotism is bad, particularly in government, but I do disagree that a particular college makes a better candidate. A large percentages of kids in Ivy and similar colleges are there because they are athletes and legacy (nepotism), wealthy or some other hook. That doesn’t make them better—it makes them connected, just like the kids you are complaining about. They are connected, just not in the way that your kid is connected.

As for the exam, I’m not a fan unless it is a skills exam related to the role. Otherwise, it doesn’t say much. Let people interview and provide work samples.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My oldest attended Ivies, and they were both jobless after graduation, and worked at Starbucks. My youngest DS was a D1 recruited athlete at UNC Chapel Hill, and he got a job in IB after graduation because the EVP was an alum at UNC. My DS was able to secure jobs for his older brother and sister because he contacted the EVP to help his siblings. Going to Ivies is not going to help you if you do not have the "right" connections. Therefore, in my children situation, it is a resounding NO. It is not how much you know but who you know, or who knows you.

UNC is ranked in the top 30...and with Duke, UVA, Stanford, and Vanderbilt it has a unique combination of top D1 athletics and prestige.

Something also tells me that the siblings wouldn't have been considered at all if they had attended say VCU

PP here. My DS was also able to secure a spot in the IB division for one of his cousins who attended GMU, just like he did for his older siblings. FWIW, I am an SES Fed, and I routinely reject Ivies candidates over candidates who attended JMU, VCU, or VT. It is because I know their parents, and I want to help them out. As I've said before, it is not going to do you any good if you attend a prestigious university, but you do not build any connections when you are there.

Whaaat?! You’re using taxpayer $$$ on nepotism? This is literally a fireable offense. Not to mention that you’re depriving the government of better performing talent

Have fun proving that! Just because someone went to a more highly ranked school does not mean they are better performing. I’m sure this person papers the files with an acceptable justification for the folks they hire. There is no rule that you have to hire the person from the highest ranked school, especially if they are not a fit.

Which is why our government is highly inefficient and lacking. We should really implement civil service exams. Being the son of someone is the worst measure of a potential good employee.

I don’t disagree with you that nepotism is bad, particularly in government, but I do disagree that a particular college makes a better candidate. A large percentages of kids in Ivy and similar colleges are there because they are athletes and legacy (nepotism), wealthy or some other hook. That doesn’t make them better—it makes them connected, just like the kids you are complaining about. They are connected, just not in the way that your kid is connected.

As for the exam, I’m not a fan unless it is a skills exam related to the role. Otherwise, it doesn’t say much. Let people interview and provide work samples.

PP here. On the topic of exams, I would note that USPS has an exam and I would argue it has not helped them get top employees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My oldest attended Ivies, and they were both jobless after graduation, and worked at Starbucks. My youngest DS was a D1 recruited athlete at UNC Chapel Hill, and he got a job in IB after graduation because the EVP was an alum at UNC. My DS was able to secure jobs for his older brother and sister because he contacted the EVP to help his siblings. Going to Ivies is not going to help you if you do not have the "right" connections. Therefore, in my children situation, it is a resounding NO. It is not how much you know but who you know, or who knows you.

UNC is ranked in the top 30...and with Duke, UVA, Stanford, and Vanderbilt it has a unique combination of top D1 athletics and prestige.

Something also tells me that the siblings wouldn't have been considered at all if they had attended say VCU

PP here. My DS was also able to secure a spot in the IB division for one of his cousins who attended GMU, just like he did for his older siblings. FWIW, I am an SES Fed, and I routinely reject Ivies candidates over candidates who attended JMU, VCU, or VT. It is because I know their parents, and I want to help them out. As I've said before, it is not going to do you any good if you attend a prestigious university, but you do not build any connections when you are there.

Whaaat?! You’re using taxpayer $$$ on nepotism? This is literally a fireable offense. Not to mention that you’re depriving the government of better performing talent

Have fun proving that! Just because someone went to a more highly ranked school does not mean they are better performing. I’m sure this person papers the files with an acceptable justification for the folks they hire. There is no rule that you have to hire the person from the highest ranked school, especially if they are not a fit.

Which is why our government is highly inefficient and lacking. We should really implement civil service exams. Being the son of someone is the worst measure of a potential good employee.

I don’t disagree with you that nepotism is bad, particularly in government, but I do disagree that a particular college makes a better candidate. A large percentages of kids in Ivy and similar colleges are there because they are athletes and legacy (nepotism), wealthy or some other hook. That doesn’t make them better—it makes them connected, just like the kids you are complaining about. They are connected, just not in the way that your kid is connected.

As for the exam, I’m not a fan unless it is a skills exam related to the role. Otherwise, it doesn’t say much. Let people interview and provide work samples.

PP here. On the topic of exams, I would note that USPS has an exam and I would argue it has not helped them get top employees.

USPS next to firefighters are the most highly rated government service- and look at that, firefighters have to pass an exam

[Anonymous]

No.

I went to a non-prestigious school. Then went on to prestigious schools for grad school (after turning down Harvard and Yale for grad school). Made decent $, got a PhD. Made full
Professor (after having achieved the kinds of things academics need to achieve that).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It depends on your how far down you are comparing schools. UVA vs VT, no. UVA vs GMU, maybe, but probably not. UVA vs Longwood, absolutely

My GMU kid had better job prospects than friends with similar degrees from UVA who graduated the same time.

What they do with internships and other opportunities really matter as,much as the school, when you are comparing state schools

UVA seems to have more competition for everything, cutting many qualified kids from taking advantage of opportunities at the university. Just something to keep in mind.

My kid who attends a top 10 will have more doors opened based on the name of the school. We already see that happening.

My sister worked while a student at Mason interning for local govt and parlayed directly into her Govt job (of 30+ years). She retires earlier than me because of it. A lot of her courses were at the law school as well, though not in the law program.

I went to a top school, and then I went to Mason nights for my Master's degree (worked full-time Fed during the day, feds paid for the degree). I can honestly say what many of my colleagues and friends have said, an 'A' at Mason was much, much more difficult than at UVA. Additionally, my co-workers were doing law nights at Catholic, American, Mason, Georgetown, GW and consistently people who had crossover spoke of the rigor at Mason.

[Anonymous]

As some have already said, it matters most for a select set of professional roles; otherwise, no.

Aside from jobs, it’s much like an accoutrement - unnecessary, but nice. If you are good looking, have money, are interesting, and have a prestigious university degree, you are the package, in some social circles.

[Anonymous]

FWIW, the site below has lists of where people in highly desirable positions went to college. It doesn't seem to make a difference where they went, which suggests that it's the individual that matters, not the school. Here's the list for Mayo Clinic neurologists.

https://lesshighschoolstress.com/medicine/