It Does Not Matter Where You Go to College

[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?

My point is that most people (I think) aren’t that cynical and calculating. There were some kids of well known and very wealthy people at my school when I went there. I suppose I could have plotted to get myself into the “right” clubs and social circles to rub elbows with them but for most people you make friends with the people you meet that you like in the normal course of things. My friends do interesting things - doctors, lawyers, ceo of a nonprofit, education policy, scientist etc…but I know plenty of people that went to non Ivy type schools with similar jobs and successes.

[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?

My point is that most people (I think) aren’t that cynical and calculating. There were some kids of well known and very wealthy people at my school when I went there. I suppose I could have plotted to get myself into the “right” clubs and social circles to rub elbows with them but for most people you make friends with the people you meet that you like in the normal course of things. My friends do interesting things - doctors, lawyers, ceo of a nonprofit, education policy, scientist etc…but I know plenty of people that went to non Ivy type schools with similar jobs and successes.

Why is that people that want to meet other people are cynical and calculating, and for some reason the fact that you didn't try makes you a saint?

I don't know where you went to school, but did you try to join a frat/eating club/final club, etc.?

Ivy schools are like 14%-20% from the top 1%....sure, some may be a**holes, but plenty aren't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

My point is that most people (I think) aren’t that cynical and calculating. There were some kids of well known and very wealthy people at my school when I went there. I suppose I could have plotted to get myself into the “right” clubs and social circles to rub elbows with them but for most people you make friends with the people you meet that you like in the normal course of things. My friends do interesting things - doctors, lawyers, ceo of a nonprofit, education policy, scientist etc…but I know plenty of people that went to non Ivy type schools with similar jobs and successes.

Why is that people that want to meet other people are cynical and calculating, and for some reason the fact that you didn't try makes you a saint?

I don't know where you went to school, but did you try to join a frat/eating club/final club, etc.?

Ivy schools are like 14%-20% from the top 1%....sure, some may be a**holes, but plenty aren't.

DP. 1% kids are not there to network. In fact, Gen Z kids have a very different approach to work and work life balance. In other words, they’re not career obsessed like parents

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

and many schools do not have frats or societies. And at other places (looking at you Berkeley), it is down right miserable to try to get into a frat.
My point is that most people (I think) aren’t that cynical and calculating. There were some kids of well known and very wealthy people at my school when I went there. I suppose I could have plotted to get myself into the “right” clubs and social circles to rub elbows with them but for most people you make friends with the people you meet that you like in the normal course of things. My friends do interesting things - doctors, lawyers, ceo of a nonprofit, education policy, scientist etc…but I know plenty of people that went to non Ivy type schools with similar jobs and successes.

Why is that people that want to meet other people are cynical and calculating, and for some reason the fact that you didn't try makes you a saint?

I don't know where you went to school, but did you try to join a frat/eating club/final club, etc.?

Ivy schools are like 14%-20% from the top 1%....sure, some may be a**holes, but plenty aren't.

DP. 1% kids are not there to network. In fact, Gen Z kids have a very different approach to work and work life balance. In other words, they’re not career obsessed like parents

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

My point is that most people (I think) aren’t that cynical and calculating. There were some kids of well known and very wealthy people at my school when I went there. I suppose I could have plotted to get myself into the “right” clubs and social circles to rub elbows with them but for most people you make friends with the people you meet that you like in the normal course of things. My friends do interesting things - doctors, lawyers, ceo of a nonprofit, education policy, scientist etc…but I know plenty of people that went to non Ivy type schools with similar jobs and successes.

Why is that people that want to meet other people are cynical and calculating, and for some reason the fact that you didn't try makes you a saint?

I don't know where you went to school, but did you try to join a frat/eating club/final club, etc.?

Ivy schools are like 14%-20% from the top 1%....sure, some may be a**holes, but plenty aren't.

DP. 1% kids are not there to network. In fact, Gen Z kids have a very different approach to work and work life balance. In other words, they’re not career obsessed like parents

and many schools do not have frats or societies. And at other places (looking at you Berkeley), it is down right miserable to try to get into a frat.

[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.

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?

One Amherst, one Yale, one Cambridge: spanish, history, chemistry. Private Hs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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?

One Amherst, one Yale, one Cambridge: spanish, history, chemistry. Private Hs.

Private HS (even moreso boarding HS) are the top of the high school teaching world as far as benefits, salary, job satisfaction surveys….and proving the point they have over-representation of elite schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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?

One Amherst, one Yale, one Cambridge: spanish, history, chemistry. Private Hs.

And now they are making 50k teaching a bunch of private school kids. Is that something people want as an outcome for their kids when they send them to these schools? Is it worth seriously impacting finances if money is an issue?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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?

One Amherst, one Yale, one Cambridge: spanish, history, chemistry. Private Hs.

Not Harvard or Princeton?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With Senior year for HS'ers kicking off, I just want get this spiel off my chest and hopefully ease the stress of a lot of parents (and their DS/DDs). In terms of your future career prospects it matters very little where you go to college. You might say, "But the Ivy Leaguers [or equivalent prestige] get the best jobs, make the most money, advance the most quickly" and so on. There's a lot of truth to this. HOWEVER, it is not because these kids went to Ivy League colleges. It's because they were smart and driven enough to get into them (and graduate from them) in the first place.

Now don't get me wrong, it is definitely important, as far as career prospects go, to GO to college and to work hard and do well there. But other than working as a first-year analyst at an investment bank (which would be terrible for most people) there are few jobs where a going to an Ivy League is going to be a prerequisite.

What I think is much more important - and what no one gives enough thought to - is what their major is going to be. That actually has a much bigger determinant on career prospects than where one attends college. I.e., vastly different outcomes for engineering/economics/social work/English

Like many on DCUM, I'm a lawyer. I changed my major 8 times in undergrad, and at the end of it all, none of it mattered. You can get into law school with any major.

Precisely this and mine is an English major going into consulting and their friends are English and History majors who are premeds going to top tier med and law.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's funny that someone early on the thread used Towson as an example of a place that was not as rigorous.

My child wants to go there and do their special education major. It may not be as rigorous as other schools but for a kid who wants to or needs to be close to home and has a defined career path it seems ideal. And yes, you can become a special education teacher after attending an Ivy but would it really be better? I think there's no one right answer to that.

As usual, "success" is narrowly defined by many DCUM'ers.

how is it funny when you're agreeing with them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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?

One Amherst, one Yale, one Cambridge: spanish, history, chemistry. Private Hs.

And now they are making 50k teaching a bunch of private school kids. Is that something people want as an outcome for their kids when they send them to these schools? Is it worth seriously impacting finances if money is an issue?

Ask this poster: https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/60/1224904.page#28236616

There's nothing wrong with becoming a teacher and making a meaningful difference in student lives. If all you care about is money, the rest of the thread is enough on its own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Copium

+1 million. Let them think school doesn’t matter why argue?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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?

One Amherst, one Yale, one Cambridge: spanish, history, chemistry. Private Hs.

Not Harvard or Princeton?

Those weren’t his favorite teachers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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?

One Amherst, one Yale, one Cambridge: spanish, history, chemistry. Private Hs.

And now they are making 50k teaching a bunch of private school kids. Is that something people want as an outcome for their kids when they send them to these schools? Is it worth seriously impacting finances if money is an issue?

I would be very happy if my one of my three ivy/plus kids goes into teaching. More happy than if they sell out to banking! Run of the mill IB is a backup plan for many ivy kids, but even for the top quant jobs and the real top of IB, a teacher would be amazing and make us very proud. They have to have masters or phD at all the good High Schools, and they pay them a lot more than 50k!