When you see someone who attended a low-tier college working in a highly coveted position, does that

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:make you think the person is extremely privileged? Especially if they’re white and/or male? I was surprised to hear that viewpoint from someone I know. I am especially IMPRESSED if I see someone who went to a low-tier college working in a really-hard-to-get job. It makes me think that person had to work especially hard to get that job. I see the college tier system as a frivolous “tax” that may have little to do with someone’s abilities.

I assume the organization is a meritocracy and that raw talent has been recognized and rewarded?

This is what I would assume. As a hiring manager, I can tell you that where someone went to college means literally nothing. Over time you see no correlation whatsoever on where someone went to their abilities. I would also add that the Ivy leaguers we have right now all have not the greatest personalities and only half are really sharp. Also, there is such a growing anti-elitism that someone from an elite background needs to make sure they are very careful how they come off in interviews and OTJ — they can’t rest on the laurels of their college and, if moderate competence is accompanied by even a whiff of condescending elitism, they are toast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I assume that person is a hard worker whose parents weren't rich and privileged. You have to work a lot harder to prove yourself if you don't have an elite college on your resume.

Or I assume they may have struggled in HS for some reason or that they were rich and privileged and didn't do well or care much in HS. I'm 35 and an Ivy grad and where someone went to college rarely registers one way or another for me. Why would I judge someone on how well they did in school and on a standardized test between the ages of 14-18? At this point, so many owe their college success to sports, legacy status, tutors, writing experts, etc. Why should they get credit for their parents' ability to throw money at getting them into college?

Just take people for who they are and what they can bring to the table. Open your mind!

[Anonymous]

I assume they are good at their job.

Do you really care where your colleague went to college? How old are you?

[Anonymous]

My last 3 CEOs went to crappy colleges. So what

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I assume that person is a hard worker whose parents weren't rich and privileged. You have to work a lot harder to prove yourself if you don't have an elite college on your resume.

Or I assume they may have struggled in HS for some reason or that they were rich and privileged and didn't do well or care much in HS. I'm 35 and an Ivy grad and where someone went to college rarely registers one way or another for me. Why would I judge someone on how well they did in school and on a standardized test between the ages of 14-18? At this point, so many owe their college success to sports, legacy status, tutors, writing experts, etc. Why should they get credit for their parents' ability to throw money at getting them into college?

Just take people for who they are and what they can bring to the table. Open your mind!

WTF. I know a ton of lower income people with sky high GPA and SAT and ACT scores. They pick colleges on who is paying the most.

My Widowed mom with Four kids has a net worth of zero and a 9k income and I picked school that paid the most. Only criteria. I would have picked Catholic University over Harvard of deal was right.

[Anonymous]

No but I have wondered the opposite. One of our secretaries went to UPenn. She's not incredibly smart either.

[Anonymous]

I went to a low rated state school many many years ago. I worked for a FAANG in their IT dept, not help desk. I was a high performer and got really great bonuses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No but I have wondered the opposite. One of our secretaries went to UPenn. She's not incredibly smart either.

legacy. I see this, too. Not that bright but went to a prestigious univ, and I have to wonder.. money? Legacy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:make you think the person is extremely privileged? Especially if they’re white and/or male? I was surprised to hear that viewpoint from someone I know. I am especially IMPRESSED if I see someone who went to a low-tier college working in a really-hard-to-get job. It makes me think that person had to work especially hard to get that job. I see the college tier system as a frivolous “tax” that may have little to do with someone’s abilities.

I assume the organization is a meritocracy and that raw talent has been recognized and rewarded?

This is what I would assume. As a hiring manager, I can tell you that where someone went to college means literally nothing. Over time you see no correlation whatsoever on where someone went to their abilities. I would also add that the Ivy leaguers we have right now all have not the greatest personalities and only half are really sharp. Also, there is such a growing anti-elitism that someone from an elite background needs to make sure they are very careful how they come off in interviews and OTJ — they can’t rest on the laurels of their college and, if moderate competence is accompanied by even a whiff of condescending elitism, they are toast.

I know someone in the science field who hires interns/resident types, and they said that the people from elite colleges are usually the most lazy and think they're too good to do the intern work, whereas those from lesser known colleges are harder working and really hungry to learn. Guess who gets invited to come back?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The most successful executive I personally know got an undergrad degree from University of Georgia. She ended up head of North America for one of the largest beverage brands in the world (you absolutely know the company). No MBA from a fancy school, she just spent 20+ years working her way up this company. Left that company to become CEO of another beverage brand and then took that company public. Big windfall.

I think the main advantage she had was that her parents were business leaders and modeled good professional behaviors.

Probably the wealthiest person I know is a guy who employee #25 at Google. He started working for them as a high school student, building out their server farms. He barely graduated high school, but was a self-taught hardware expert who cut his teeth hosting servers for multiplayer online games. No college degree, raised by a single mom. Owns homes in NYC, a penthouse in SF, ski house in Tahoe. Retired in his early 30s.

People get too hung up on the market signaling of a brand name degree which is, essentially, just a lottery ticket these days. Really what matters is taking advantage of the opportunities you are given and putting in an all-star performance. Grit and focus matters.

So getting a Harvard MBA doesn't help? I agree, hard work and luck plays a part, but I know a number of people who would not have their job without that school on their resume.

[Anonymous]

Look, by the time you're 30, you're pathetic if you're keeping track of where people went to college. It's irrelevant. There are partners at my firm from Yale and Harvard, but also from law schools that are third tier and I had never heard of. All the firm cares about is how much business they bring in. This obsession with colleges is ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

I would assume they are intelligent and a good worker, instead of an alumni networking hire.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:make you think the person is extremely privileged? Especially if they’re white and/or male? I was surprised to hear that viewpoint from someone I know. I am especially IMPRESSED if I see someone who went to a low-tier college working in a really-hard-to-get job. It makes me think that person had to work especially hard to get that job. I see the college tier system as a frivolous “tax” that may have little to do with someone’s abilities.

I assume the organization is a meritocracy and that raw talent has been recognized and rewarded?

Or that the person is connected enough that they got the job regardless or merit

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:make you think the person is extremely privileged? Especially if they’re white and/or male? I was surprised to hear that viewpoint from someone I know. I am especially IMPRESSED if I see someone who went to a low-tier college working in a really-hard-to-get job. It makes me think that person had to work especially hard to get that job. I see the college tier system as a frivolous “tax” that may have little to do with someone’s abilities.

I assume the organization is a meritocracy and that raw talent has been recognized and rewarded?

Or that the person is connected enough that they got the job regardless or merit

I assume that if you went to an elite univ you are a legacy or your parents bought your way in.

See how that works?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:make you think the person is extremely privileged? Especially if they’re white and/or male? I was surprised to hear that viewpoint from someone I know. I am especially IMPRESSED if I see someone who went to a low-tier college working in a really-hard-to-get job. It makes me think that person had to work especially hard to get that job. I see the college tier system as a frivolous “tax” that may have little to do with someone’s abilities.

How do you know where your colleagues/bosses/C-suites went to college? Have worked in private, public (fed and county), and not for profit, and have no idea where my colleagues or bosses went to college!