HYPSM/Elite School Alums - What has been the downside of your degree?

[Anonymous]

No one said there are huge downsides. The OP seemed curious, and those of us who went to HYPSM are answering the question. If this isn't worth your time, then get off DCUM and go read about Gaza or something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not an elite school alum but I’ve been part of hiring committees at companies where these kids apply for jobs alongside kids from other schools.

The biggest downside I’ve witnessed is people making certain assumptions about the kid because of the school. Lets be honest, when someone comes from Princeton, people think, yes, he must be smart but also that he is likely an entitled and spoiled little brat. Nobody hears Princeton and thinks smart, hard working LMC kid.

State and lower ranked school grads don’t have to overcome that bias. People tend to assume that they will be more humble and willing to do the grunt work. People make these assumptions purely based on the school name without knowing anything about the kid. The reality could very well be that the kid from Princeton is LMC and humble and the state school kid is a brat.

You need to get acquainted with the real world.

Everyone I know thinks Princeton students & graduates are smart, hardworking, and from various economic backgrounds.

I think that of Princeton kids but I don’t think most people do.

I think most people think that those attending HYPS are mainly legacy, full pay/rich, athlete, child of donor or staff.

[Anonymous]

Legacy is a blessing and a curse. If your dc gets in due to legacy, people assume it was just because of legacy. If they don’t get in, people assume the Ivy degree isn’t what it used to be.

[Anonymous]

The only downside is the unspoken message it sent to our kids that gaining acceptance to those schools is reasonably achievable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not an elite school alum but I’ve been part of hiring committees at companies where these kids apply for jobs alongside kids from other schools.

The biggest downside I’ve witnessed is people making certain assumptions about the kid because of the school. Lets be honest, when someone comes from Princeton, people think, yes, he must be smart but also that he is likely an entitled and spoiled little brat. Nobody hears Princeton and thinks smart, hard working LMC kid.

State and lower ranked school grads don’t have to overcome that bias. People tend to assume that they will be more humble and willing to do the grunt work. People make these assumptions purely based on the school name without knowing anything about the kid. The reality could very well be that the kid from Princeton is LMC and humble and the state school kid is a brat.

You need to get acquainted with the real world.

Everyone I know thinks Princeton students & graduates are smart, hardworking, and from various economic backgrounds.

I think that of Princeton kids but I don’t think most people do.

I think most people think that those attending HYPS are mainly legacy, full pay/rich, athlete, child of donor or staff.

Also, I’d add spoiled and entitled to the mix. Not saying this is true, just general perception.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only downside is the unspoken message it sent to our kids that gaining acceptance to those schools is reasonably achievable.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not an elite school alum but I’ve been part of hiring committees at companies where these kids apply for jobs alongside kids from other schools.

The biggest downside I’ve witnessed is people making certain assumptions about the kid because of the school. Lets be honest, when someone comes from Princeton, people think, yes, he must be smart but also that he is likely an entitled and spoiled little brat. Nobody hears Princeton and thinks smart, hard working LMC kid.

State and lower ranked school grads don’t have to overcome that bias. People tend to assume that they will be more humble and willing to do the grunt work. People make these assumptions purely based on the school name without knowing anything about the kid. The reality could very well be that the kid from Princeton is LMC and humble and the state school kid is a brat.

You need to get acquainted with the real world.

Everyone I know thinks Princeton students & graduates are smart, hardworking, and from various economic backgrounds.

I think that of Princeton kids but I don’t think most people do.

I think most people think that those attending HYPS are mainly legacy, full pay/rich, athlete, child of donor or staff.

Also, I’d add spoiled and entitled to the mix. Not saying this is true, just general perception.

Maybe add simpering & prissy, just to cover all the bases.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Legacy is a blessing and a curse. If your dc gets in due to legacy, people assume it was just because of legacy. If they don’t get in, people assume the Ivy degree isn’t what it used to be.

In my family we had 3x family legacy and of all very qualified cousins that applied I was the only one to get in, so it isn't as good of an edge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not an elite school alum but I’ve been part of hiring committees at companies where these kids apply for jobs alongside kids from other schools.

The biggest downside I’ve witnessed is people making certain assumptions about the kid because of the school. Lets be honest, when someone comes from Princeton, people think, yes, he must be smart but also that he is likely an entitled and spoiled little brat. Nobody hears Princeton and thinks smart, hard working LMC kid.

State and lower ranked school grads don’t have to overcome that bias. People tend to assume that they will be more humble and willing to do the grunt work. People make these assumptions purely based on the school name without knowing anything about the kid. The reality could very well be that the kid from Princeton is LMC and humble and the state school kid is a brat.

You need to get acquainted with the real world.

Everyone I know thinks Princeton students & graduates are smart, hardworking, and from various economic backgrounds.

I think that of Princeton kids but I don’t think most people do.

I think most people think that those attending HYPS are mainly legacy, full pay/rich, athlete, child of donor or staff.

Also, I’d add spoiled and entitled to the mix. Not saying this is true, just general perception.

Maybe add simpering & prissy, just to cover all the bases.

OK so you Pps are envious and have to be bitter. The truth is that with all the URM, first generation stuff there are very very few kids that are full-out legacies anymore at HYS (you shouldn't put the P in there if you agree with the earlier PP's comments about Princeton). Even the Harvard lawsuit showed us that. Even though 30 percent hooked sounds huge that still means that the Ivies are commited to serving underprivileged and low economic youth. How do I know? My legacy kid didn't get in to Harvard or Yale (triple legacy). White boring male. So why don't you sit back and think about RECENT grads of these schools that you actually know before you throw old the old, stale adjectives?????

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not an elite school alum but I’ve been part of hiring committees at companies where these kids apply for jobs alongside kids from other schools.

The biggest downside I’ve witnessed is people making certain assumptions about the kid because of the school. Lets be honest, when someone comes from Princeton, people think, yes, he must be smart but also that he is likely an entitled and spoiled little brat. Nobody hears Princeton and thinks smart, hard working LMC kid.

State and lower ranked school grads don’t have to overcome that bias. People tend to assume that they will be more humble and willing to do the grunt work. People make these assumptions purely based on the school name without knowing anything about the kid. The reality could very well be that the kid from Princeton is LMC and humble and the state school kid is a brat.

You need to get acquainted with the real world.

Everyone I know thinks Princeton students & graduates are smart, hardworking, and from various economic backgrounds.

I think that of Princeton kids but I don’t think most people do.

I think most people think that those attending HYPS are mainly legacy, full pay/rich, athlete, child of donor or staff.

.

The people who are hiring at desirable employers do not think this. Silicon Valley, Wall Street, consulting, law firms, F100, academia, research hospitals etc. it's irrelevant if some total randos have this impression. That's not a "downside" of the degree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn’t go to an hypms but one potential downside is you are expected to continue that trajectory or people will wonder if your undergrad admission was a fluke or there is something wrong with you or that you didn’t live up to your potential. It’s a lot of pressure.

I think ppl do wonder if someone for example goes to Boston university law school after Harvard or doesn’t make partner at big law after 8 years.

On the other hand, I always think someone who went to a state school and then a top grad school or rose high in their profession is incredible.

Echoing the “trajectory” concept mentioned above, I was an undergrad at Boston College when John Kerry was attending BC Law. I had no clue he had attended anywhere other than Yale until fairly recently, AFTER he ran for president. He seemed to have downplayed his BC connection, perhaps because the Yale—>BC trajectory didn’t fit the image he was trying to project.

I never knew that! And a lot of BC alum in the family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
If asked - say where you went to school.

I do. But honestly it's often a d*mned if you do or don't scenario. While I never bring it up (Harvard grad), if asked, I'm honest. Last week the response was a (cue sarcastic voice...)"oooooh, SMARTY PANTS, aren't you? Whoooooaaaaa. You don't act like you went to Harvard." blah blah blah for a full two minutes. Cringeworthy, super uncomfortable.

This happens more often than you might expect. Which is why it's tempting to say I "went to school in Boston."

That’s the glory of Stanford. I just say I “went to school on the West Coast.” No one ever asks where.

I get the same reaction when I’m at a dinner party in the Hamptons & mention I went to school in Mississippi. That’s the glory of Mississippi State.

Love you

I went to VA Tech, but I’m surrounded by Ivy grads at work, in the neighborhood, etc.

I smile to myself when anyone is pompous to me about my “state school”. I make the same $ and live in the same neighborhood.

How you like them apples ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
If asked - say where you went to school.

I do. But honestly it's often a d*mned if you do or don't scenario. While I never bring it up (Harvard grad), if asked, I'm honest. Last week the response was a (cue sarcastic voice...)"oooooh, SMARTY PANTS, aren't you? Whoooooaaaaa. You don't act like you went to Harvard." blah blah blah for a full two minutes. Cringeworthy, super uncomfortable.

This happens more often than you might expect. Which is why it's tempting to say I "went to school in Boston."

Stanford grad here. Got the sarcastic smarty pants comment etc too. Almost down to same words.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:potential downsides or costs of attending such a school.

I am reluctant to post here, because of hate from envious disbelievers. But I attended Frostburg State, and did a masters degree at Old Dominion. It is awkward socially, because it intimidates people. Some people even pretend they don't know where these universities are located.

Women are particularly nonplussed. The proud career-climbing feminists are just dumbfounded that a man has two degrees they cannot match, and refuse to date me.

But the worst ones are the phony people who congratulate me with an obsequious smile. I can tell they they insincere, and are really dying inside.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:potential downsides or costs of attending such a school.

I am reluctant to post here, because of hate from envious disbelievers. But I attended Frostburg State, and did a masters degree at Old Dominion. It is awkward socially, because it intimidates people. Some people even pretend they don't know where these universities are located.

Women are particularly nonplussed. The proud career-climbing feminists are just dumbfounded that a man has two degrees they cannot match, and refuse to date me.

But the worst ones are the phony people who congratulate me with an obsequious smile. I can tell they they insincere, and are really dying inside.

I hope you’re not the sort of lizard who uses your degrees to sweep starstruck women into bed while they are still getting accustomed to being in your presence.
It’s just not cool to use your education unfairly like that.