It Does Not Matter Where You Go to College

[Anonymous]

I went to an Ivy and I think your pint is well taken - obviously within reason. I don’t think going to Harvard is equivalent to going to Radford although the Radford grad can certainly be successful this board likes to slice and dice rankings and it’s kind of crazy.

Personally, I’m not that much of a fan of the Ivies and think smaller schools that focus on undergrad education are preferable. That seems to not be the prevailing sentiment on this board but for the $$$ I’m paying that’s my preference. My oldest just started at a smaller school (although not even as small as I would like) and my next one may not take my advice on this but I didn’t think the education I got at an Ivy was all that great. It was good but the professors were by and large not focused on undergrads as much as grad students.

I also think the network thing is overrated. I’m not someone who is overly calculating so I wasn’t trying to angle my way into the groups of the wealthy and connected at the school. My friends are basically regular smart people I could have met at a lot of other schools. Everyone is doing well at middle age in a mix of careers but so are a lot of other friends who went to a range of schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not this again.

Yes, it actually does matter where you go to college, unless your claim is that all institutions of higher ed are exactly the same with the same people and in the same location and the same lineup of professors and curriculum.

No one would be stupid enough to claim that

Also, are you 91 years old? because your sentiments sounds as if you might be a great grandpapa

No this is true. A similar class at Princeton is not the same as at GWU and is not the same at UMD and is not the same at Towson. The rigor is less, the course material is not the same, and the students are not the same which is a big deal. So yes this is all true.

Still can rule the world from Towson if you have it in you. Just not as likely.

Ding ding ding! It matters

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to an Ivy and I think your pint is well taken - obviously within reason. I don’t think going to Harvard is equivalent to going to Radford although the Radford grad can certainly be successful this board likes to slice and dice rankings and it’s kind of crazy.

Personally, I’m not that much of a fan of the Ivies and think smaller schools that focus on undergrad education are preferable. That seems to not be the prevailing sentiment on this board but for the $$$ I’m paying that’s my preference. My oldest just started at a smaller school (although not even as small as I would like) and my next one may not take my advice on this but I didn’t think the education I got at an Ivy was all that great. It was good but the professors were by and large not focused on undergrads as much as grad students.

I also think the network thing is overrated. I’m not someone who is overly calculating so I wasn’t trying to angle my way into the groups of the wealthy and connected at the school. My friends are basically regular smart people I could have met at a lot of other schools. Everyone is doing well at middle age in a mix of careers but so are a lot of other friends who went to a range of schools.

How is the network thing overrated if you didn’t even try to network?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No this is true. A similar class at Princeton is not the same as at GWU and is not the same at UMD and is not the same at Towson. The rigor is less, the course material is not the same, and the students are not the same which is a big deal. So yes this is all true.

Still can rule the world from Towson if you have it in you. Just not as likely.

Ding ding ding! It matters

Didn't Joe Biden attend U. of Delaware and Kamala Harris attend Howard?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Only the top third of a school tend to do well.

I know a lot of under-performing Ivy grads….

No. At the very top, the bottom 1/3 still have a reasonable chance at great careers: i know many who graduated from phD stem programs after shifting away from premed because they were bottom 1/4 yet are doing phD at t25s. Others doing T30 but not T14 law from near the bottom of the ivy. Others doing regional IB from the bottom 1/4–same job as the top 1% at SMU.
There is more gpa ivy inflation now which helps even more: the head of premed advising tells all sophomores the goal is 100% of them get into med school. It was 82% when I graduated and it is 90% this past cycle

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to an Ivy and I think your pint is well taken - obviously within reason. I don’t think going to Harvard is equivalent to going to Radford although the Radford grad can certainly be successful this board likes to slice and dice rankings and it’s kind of crazy.

Personally, I’m not that much of a fan of the Ivies and think smaller schools that focus on undergrad education are preferable. That seems to not be the prevailing sentiment on this board but for the $$$ I’m paying that’s my preference. My oldest just started at a smaller school (although not even as small as I would like) and my next one may not take my advice on this but I didn’t think the education I got at an Ivy was all that great. It was good but the professors were by and large not focused on undergrads as much as grad students.

I also think the network thing is overrated. I’m not someone who is overly calculating so I wasn’t trying to angle my way into the groups of the wealthy and connected at the school. My friends are basically regular smart people I could have met at a lot of other schools. Everyone is doing well at middle age in a mix of careers but so are a lot of other friends who went to a range of schools.

How is the network thing overrated if you didn’t even try to network?

I think "networking" is much better at Congressional Country Club than at Harvard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not this again.

Yes, it actually does matter where you go to college, unless your claim is that all institutions of higher ed are exactly the same with the same people and in the same location and the same lineup of professors and curriculum.

No one would be stupid enough to claim that

Also, are you 91 years old? because your sentiments sounds as if you might be a great grandpapa

No this is true. A similar class at Princeton is not the same as at GWU and is not the same at UMD and is not the same at Towson. The rigor is less, the course material is not the same, and the students are not the same which is a big deal. So yes this is all true.

Still can rule the world from Towson if you have it in you. Just not as likely.

This made me chuckle. I attended Princeton; spouse attended GW. We're in our late-40s now and spouse's friend group from undergrad is at least as accomplished/successful as mine, probably more so. (And I was no slouch--either in college or afterwards.)

You can never win an anecdote contest when the actual most successful people went to top schools vs all the unnamed successful people on DCUM.

Who said you get to decide who the “actual” most successful people are?

Well, use whatever metric you want…highest net worth, politics, nonprofit leaders, Nobel prize winners, etc.

You know…actual, verified successful people.

In every metric, the ivies and about 10 other schools are far overrepresented at the top.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to an Ivy and I think your pint is well taken - obviously within reason. I don’t think going to Harvard is equivalent to going to Radford although the Radford grad can certainly be successful this board likes to slice and dice rankings and it’s kind of crazy.

Personally, I’m not that much of a fan of the Ivies and think smaller schools that focus on undergrad education are preferable. That seems to not be the prevailing sentiment on this board but for the $$$ I’m paying that’s my preference. My oldest just started at a smaller school (although not even as small as I would like) and my next one may not take my advice on this but I didn’t think the education I got at an Ivy was all that great. It was good but the professors were by and large not focused on undergrads as much as grad students.

I also think the network thing is overrated. I’m not someone who is overly calculating so I wasn’t trying to angle my way into the groups of the wealthy and connected at the school. My friends are basically regular smart people I could have met at a lot of other schools. Everyone is doing well at middle age in a mix of careers but so are a lot of other friends who went to a range of schools.

How is the network thing overrated if you didn’t even try to network?

I think "networking" is much better at Congressional Country Club than at Harvard.

Could be…but you still actually have to network (ie talk to other people et al).

However, that’s like saying the networking is much better at an exclusive Final Club vs generally at Harvard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not this again.

Yes, it actually does matter where you go to college, unless your claim is that all institutions of higher ed are exactly the same with the same people and in the same location and the same lineup of professors and curriculum.

No one would be stupid enough to claim that

Also, are you 91 years old? because your sentiments sounds as if you might be a great grandpapa

No this is true. A similar class at Princeton is not the same as at GWU and is not the same at UMD and is not the same at Towson. The rigor is less, the course material is not the same, and the students are not the same which is a big deal. So yes this is all true.

Still can rule the world from Towson if you have it in you. Just not as likely.

This made me chuckle. I attended Princeton; spouse attended GW. We're in our late-40s now and spouse's friend group from undergrad is at least as accomplished/successful as mine, probably more so. (And I was no slouch--either in college or afterwards.)

You can never win an anecdote contest when the actual most successful people went to top schools vs all the unnamed successful people on DCUM.

Who said you get to decide who the “actual” most successful people are?

Well, use whatever metric you want…highest net worth, politics, nonprofit leaders, Nobel prize winners, etc.

You know…actual, verified successful people.

How about leaders in the local community? The people that teach your kids or firefighters? Civil rights leaders?

I doubt the person comparing their success from Princeton vs the success of husband from GW was using this metric.

But…does founding Teach for America count in your book? Also, not sure how to count Civil Rights leaders from 60 years ago in this scenario.

Not sure how to interpret this.....unless you are suggesting that there is no civil rights work being done in the world today?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not this again.

Yes, it actually does matter where you go to college, unless your claim is that all institutions of higher ed are exactly the same with the same people and in the same location and the same lineup of professors and curriculum.

No one would be stupid enough to claim that

Also, are you 91 years old? because your sentiments sounds as if you might be a great grandpapa

No this is true. A similar class at Princeton is not the same as at GWU and is not the same at UMD and is not the same at Towson. The rigor is less, the course material is not the same, and the students are not the same which is a big deal. So yes this is all true.

Still can rule the world from Towson if you have it in you. Just not as likely.

This made me chuckle. I attended Princeton; spouse attended GW. We're in our late-40s now and spouse's friend group from undergrad is at least as accomplished/successful as mine, probably more so. (And I was no slouch--either in college or afterwards.)

You can never win an anecdote contest when the actual most successful people went to top schools vs all the unnamed successful people on DCUM.

Who said you get to decide who the “actual” most successful people are?

Well, use whatever metric you want…highest net worth, politics, nonprofit leaders, Nobel prize winners, etc.

You know…actual, verified successful people.

In every metric, the ivies and about 10 other schools are far overrepresented at the top.

I think you are missing the fundamental definitional question regarding "success" and "the top."

There are those who think that success looks like making decent money at a job that contributes to society while focusing on relationships and other aspects of life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lock, this website is full of strivers and insecure wannabes, many of whom went to fancy colleges themselves. They’re hardly going to be advocating a different path for their children. That would be admitting that they themselves aren’t that special.

+1000

[Anonymous]

I'll be honest. Due to finances and the fact that we didn't push our kids like crazy and prioritized them being well-rounded, wanted them to enjoy hs and not be stressed out (dh and I were sad, perfect students with no lives) they are not going to get into any remotely impressive schools. Being a non-shiny A kid who is good at sports and well-adjusted but not top anything is not what colleges seem to care about at all. It'll likely be a regional university for them due to our flagship being hard to get into, and limited merit options elsewhere. I love my kids, and I know they will be fine wherever they go. I also agree with your statement fully. I know people from all college backgrounds who are doing very well! Yet I feel ashamed talking about my kids' college future with people and actively avoid irl college talk. I know people absolutely judge and it makes me feel terrible. I wish I truly did not care.

[Anonymous]

A top school may afford one more opportunities early in one's career but there is a point of diminishing returns. I manage a team of 30 at a major tech company. Anyone hired on this team is based on experience and skillsets and not where they went to school an undergrad. It is always a red flag if an interviewee spends too time talking about where they went to college. I might have one employee who went to an Ivy League school and another 1 or 2 who went to a top 20 school. Ultimately, no one cares.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not this again.

Yes, it actually does matter where you go to college, unless your claim is that all institutions of higher ed are exactly the same with the same people and in the same location and the same lineup of professors and curriculum.

No one would be stupid enough to claim that

Also, are you 91 years old? because your sentiments sounds as if you might be a great grandpapa

No this is true. A similar class at Princeton is not the same as at GWU and is not the same at UMD and is not the same at Towson. The rigor is less, the course material is not the same, and the students are not the same which is a big deal. So yes this is all true.

Still can rule the world from Towson if you have it in you. Just not as likely.

This made me chuckle. I attended Princeton; spouse attended GW. We're in our late-40s now and spouse's friend group from undergrad is at least as accomplished/successful as mine, probably more so. (And I was no slouch--either in college or afterwards.)

You can never win an anecdote contest when the actual most successful people went to top schools vs all the unnamed successful people on DCUM.

Who said you get to decide who the “actual” most successful people are?

Well, use whatever metric you want…highest net worth, politics, nonprofit leaders, Nobel prize winners, etc.

You know…actual, verified successful people.

In every metric, the ivies and about 10 other schools are far overrepresented at the top.

You don’t get it. Where did your kid’s favorite teacher go to college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A top school may afford one more opportunities early in one's career but there is a point of diminishing returns. I manage a team of 30 at a major tech company. Anyone hired on this team is based on experience and skillsets and not where they went to school an undergrad. It is always a red flag if an interviewee spends too time talking about where they went to college. I might have one employee who went to an Ivy League school and another 1 or 2 who went to a top 20 school. Ultimately, no one cares.

Especially if they have been out of school for more than 5 years

Point of diminishing returns is spot on

Even grad school names don't matter if you have been out of school for a long time