Why top tier* is important:

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1. A lifetime of not having to prove how smart you are (especially important for women).

2. Many organizations only hire top tier* (especially in high-level finance, consulting and top law firms)

3. You never have to apologize for where you went, ex. "Why would you go to GWU and pay private tuition when a great state university would be cheaper?

4. Marriage market.

5. If you have to ask...

*top 15 US News

Where you go to college is important, but only while you're in college. Once you've graduated, the past is the past. What matters then is what kind of job you have, how much money you make, how well you provide for your family, etc. I mean, by the time you're 30, do you really think people will care what you did in your late teens/early twenties?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These differences are perceived by people who are attempting to rationalize joining the rat race at 13 years old (or earlier) and going to an "elite" school. The rest of us don't care much (AND I had fun in college).

It's only a rat race to interlopers that didn't groom their kids properly and are trying to play catch up in the 7th 8th 9th. I know many families that effortlessly condition their children to simply glide into an elite college. It's just a natural occurrence; organic.

No it's only a rats race for the poor and middle class. The true rich use collage as a finishing school. When the kids graduates they have a job at the family business...no worries about grades or what not. You a crazy if you think it is a meritocracy...it a plutocracy. You may get a few crumbs...be happy with that.

I am trying to picture this collage. Do they cut out pictures of their fancy cars and second/third/fourth homes to create them? I bet it's fun to surreptitiously slip a picture of the mistress into the collage somewhere.

[Anonymous]

As a graduate of a good state flagship U who has kid that landed in one of those "elite" universities, I will tell you that I never realized the extent of the differences between the two until seeing the experience of my DC. I loved my college experience and it got me eventually into the professional school and career I hoped for, but the comparison is like apples and oranges - the people, opportunities, the education, the confidence quietly instilled. I never understood it before. I almost wish I didn't understand it now. For 40 years I argued against any meaningful positive differences, but I just didn't know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: As a graduate of a good state flagship U who has kid that landed in one of those "elite" universities, I will tell you that I never realized the extent of the differences between the two until seeing the experience of my DC. I loved my college experience and it got me eventually into the professional school and career I hoped for, but the comparison is like apples and oranges - the people, opportunities, the education, the confidence quietly instilled. I never understood it before. I almost wish I didn't understand it now. For 40 years I argued against any meaningful positive differences, but I just didn't know.

Heh. I'm the opposite. I attended an elite school, and am sending my kid to a good state flagship U. If you have unlimited money, sure, elite schools are the way to go. For the rest of us mere mortals, the difference is not worth $180K.

[Anonymous]

I can't tell whether this is a serious thread or not, if it is, it is just sad, and I went to two elite schools, but if you spend the rest of your life emphasizing where you went to school, you will have a sad life indeed, so maybe this is a serious thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: As a graduate of a good state flagship U who has kid that landed in one of those "elite" universities, I will tell you that I never realized the extent of the differences between the two until seeing the experience of my DC. I loved my college experience and it got me eventually into the professional school and career I hoped for, but the comparison is like apples and oranges - the people, opportunities, the education, the confidence quietly instilled. I never understood it before. I almost wish I didn't understand it now. For 40 years I argued against any meaningful positive differences, but I just didn't know.

Nailed it. Merely a tour and info session of an elite during the school year will wake you up. It's night and day, and it's very obvious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: As a graduate of a good state flagship U who has kid that landed in one of those "elite" universities, I will tell you that I never realized the extent of the differences between the two until seeing the experience of my DC. I loved my college experience and it got me eventually into the professional school and career I hoped for, but the comparison is like apples and oranges - the people, opportunities, the education, the confidence quietly instilled. I never understood it before. I almost wish I didn't understand it now. For 40 years I argued against any meaningful positive differences, but I just didn't know.

Heh. I'm the opposite. I attended an elite school, and am sending my kid to a good state flagship U. If you have unlimited money, sure, elite schools are the way to go. For the rest of us mere mortals, the difference is not worth $180K.

I went to an elite school and DC is at a state flagship (but OOS so no savings). I really don't find the two that different. DC seems to have plenty of very well connected friends (which already got DC one summer internship), great education, ambitious students, and pretty much everything else my school had but with 100% more school spirit.

[Anonymous]

There are many ways to live a life, and in modern day America there are many paths to choose from -none are universally superior. OP, if you really believe what you posted I'm afraid your education, and knowledge, is severely lacking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: As a graduate of a good state flagship U who has kid that landed in one of those "elite" universities, I will tell you that I never realized the extent of the differences between the two until seeing the experience of my DC. I loved my college experience and it got me eventually into the professional school and career I hoped for, but the comparison is like apples and oranges - the people, opportunities, the education, the confidence quietly instilled. I never understood it before. I almost wish I didn't understand it now. For 40 years I argued against any meaningful positive differences, but I just didn't know.

Heh. I'm the opposite. I attended an elite school, and am sending my kid to a good state flagship U. If you have unlimited money, sure, elite schools are the way to go. For the rest of us mere mortals, the difference is not worth $180K.

It also may make a difference that your child has a parent that attended an "elite school." I am sure that is part of you, and indirectly part of your child even before getting to college. And some would say if you graduated an elite school you are less "mere mortal" than many others regardless of income. How many State U grads have been in our President's inner circle for the past 8 years?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1. A lifetime of not having to prove how smart you are (especially important for women).

2. Many organizations only hire top tier* (especially in high-level finance, consulting and top law firms)

3. You never have to apologize for where you went, ex. "Why would you go to GWU and pay private tuition when a great state university would be cheaper?

4. Marriage market.

5. If you have to ask...

*top 15 US News

Amy Chua, is that you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: As a graduate of a good state flagship U who has kid that landed in one of those "elite" universities, I will tell you that I never realized the extent of the differences between the two until seeing the experience of my DC. I loved my college experience and it got me eventually into the professional school and career I hoped for, but the comparison is like apples and oranges - the people, opportunities, the education, the confidence quietly instilled. I never understood it before. I almost wish I didn't understand it now. For 40 years I argued against any meaningful positive differences, but I just didn't know.

Nailed it. Merely a tour and info session of an elite during the school year will wake you up. It's night and day, and it's very obvious.

Yes, it is different, and I can even do the prep-school accent. However, it is in no way essential to buy this for your kids. The "confidence quietly instilled" is really code for incredible elitism and snobbism that blinds a person to a lot.

[Anonymous]

Some people appreciate a quality Burgundy, other people think the Two Buck Chuck is good enough and will argue till they're blue in the face the $100 bottle is a ripoff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Huh. I went to Binghamton. I'm happily married to someone who went to a state school in their state. I've NEVER apologized for where I went to school and never would. I've never had a hard time getting a job. I've never felt I have to PROVE how smart I am.

This seems like a load of crap.

All due respect, you have no idea what an elite college is like. As Rumsfeld would put it, the elite college experience is a known unknown to you.

All due respect, you have no idea what an state school is like. The state school experience (aka not being coddled) is an known unknown to you. (you actually have to earn an A)

[Anonymous]

I went to a top 40 undergrad and a top 15 grad. I taught undergrads in grad school, and I'll tell you this, the proportion of them who were a-holes was striking. Such entitled little nits. So, they've got that going for them.

[Anonymous]

Maybe you just couldn't understand them. You should have gone top 5.