get over name brand / prestige obsession

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, you’re 100% correct, but no one believes it until they see it. It’s something that people just have to experience to understand, and even then, some never do, which is how you end up with some people who wrap their entire identity around the ranking of their undergrad school and literally can’t shut up about it, even though they’re working alongside and under others who went everywhere else.

Exactly. DH works in the tech field and some of the most successful employees studied in foreign universities in cities that most of us wouldn't be able to place on a map.

[Anonymous]

What it all comes down to is one word: money. People are obsessed with money, not just prestige, as evident by the posts that are harping on "salaries." These people's lives are completely controlled by money and that's all they know. That's their only defense. They hope to make "connections" for no other reason than to get more "money" somehow from these valuable "connections." Their life is defined by how much money they make and their purpose is to amass the most amount of money as possible. The "name brand" helps with that, generally, not always. While you think there's more important things in life, maybe they don't think that way...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What it all comes down to is one word: money. People are obsessed with money, not just prestige, as evident by the posts that are harping on "salaries." These people's lives are completely controlled by money and that's all they know. That's their only defense. They hope to make "connections" for no other reason than to get more "money" somehow from these valuable "connections." Their life is defined by how much money they make and their purpose is to amass the most amount of money as possible. The "name brand" helps with that, generally, not always. While you think there's more important things in life, maybe they don't think that way...

Again, “there’s no nobility in poverty”

[Anonymous]

Unless you are trying to get into Goldman Sachs, everyplace I have worked had people from Ivy League to the University of South Podunk. There is no way you could tell who went to which so was the prestige that important except for bragging rights?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you’re 100% correct, but no one believes it until they see it. It’s something that people just have to experience to understand, and even then, some never do, which is how you end up with some people who wrap their entire identity around the ranking of their undergrad school and literally can’t shut up about it, even though they’re working alongside and under others who went everywhere else.

Exactly. DH works in the tech field and some of the most successful employees studied in foreign universities in cities that most of us wouldn't be able to place on a map.

And it might be possible that those universities are the most prestigious universities in those countries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is the same people who think they "need" a tesla, or prada bag or mcmansion.

They are insecure or have really warped takes on what is important in life, just playing out now around the children's college decision.

Luckily we have people like you who are so pure of heart and soul that can look on down on everyone who doesn't fit your personal values.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unless you are trying to get into Goldman Sachs, everyplace I have worked had people from Ivy League to the University of South Podunk. There is no way you could tell who went to which so was the prestige that important except for bragging rights?

does your employer recruit straight from podunk? The fist job is where the prestigious schools help the most. After that, you build your own resume. Getting that fist job in your field is the hard part though

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What it all comes down to is one word: money. People are obsessed with money, not just prestige, as evident by the posts that are harping on "salaries." These people's lives are completely controlled by money and that's all they know. That's their only defense. They hope to make "connections" for no other reason than to get more "money" somehow from these valuable "connections." Their life is defined by how much money they make and their purpose is to amass the most amount of money as possible. The "name brand" helps with that, generally, not always. While you think there's more important things in life, maybe they don't think that way...

Again, “there’s no nobility in poverty”

Again, there are more than just two options in this world (constantly striving for more money vs. “poverty”).

[Anonymous]

Wow, 15:37/:39/:40/:42 REALLY has a lot vested in what other people think of their kid’s school… I’m sure they’ll convince someone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, 15:37/:39/:40/:42 REALLY has a lot vested in what other people think of their kid’s school… I’m sure they’ll convince someone else.

I don't care what you think about things. But I'm perfectly entitled to value what I value. You're the one who has a problem with that and needs to spend pages pushing your worldview.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looking back, one of my biggest regrets/missteps as a parent was putting way too much pressure on my kids to excel in school with the goal of getting into top colleges. The pressure worked, and they did do well and go "name brand," but fast forward a few years and it really didn't make much of a difference. They're all happy and successful, but so are their friends who didn't do as well as they did and didn't end up at top schools. Time is proving to be the great equalizer.

Just something for parents to keep in mind when they're still in the midst of things. I realize I'm probably preaching to the wrong crowd.

I agree 100%.

We did the same with the same outcome.

And to PP point about top vs tippy top schools that the forum talks about all the time, nope no difference. We had kids attend both and ended up same spots.

What is more important is that they understand and education is a huge gift and no one ever can take it away. More than that motivation and drive are key.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What it all comes down to is one word: money. People are obsessed with money, not just prestige, as evident by the posts that are harping on "salaries." These people's lives are completely controlled by money and that's all they know. That's their only defense. They hope to make "connections" for no other reason than to get more "money" somehow from these valuable "connections." Their life is defined by how much money they make and their purpose is to amass the most amount of money as possible. The "name brand" helps with that, generally, not always. While you think there's more important things in life, maybe they don't think that way...

Again, “there’s no nobility in poverty”

Do you really think the only options are working at the Carlyle group or being poor?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would add say T1-T15 one tier, T16-T25 slight boost, T26-T70 ( and some lower but with better reputations like Marquette) GPA internships and coursework more important than where you attended. My kid only applied to schools T30-T100 got into them all and chose the one closest to home that provided IS tuition. Don’t think 10 years from now my kid is going to do worse than a kid who attended a higher ranked school or better than a lower ranked one.

It’s like a car- they’ll all get you where you want to go but some will have smoother rides. It’s what you to along the way that makes the biggest difference.

I think the "some will have smooth rides" really captures it. Great metaphor.

Agree! Perfect metaphor

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it makes a difference if you go to a tippy top school. Other than that, the next T50 don’t matter as much. The difference between a school like Tufts or Vanderbilt, say, is negligible even though Vandy is higher ranked. They are both great schools.

I there is another difference once you start past the T100 school. You may have more opportunities graduating from Emory than Appalachian, for instance.

But if you are talking T15-T50, it makes no difference.

You didn't understand my post at all. How old are your kids?

What are you talking about? The pp is spot on.

+1

[Anonymous]

Wait... what happened to the flex discussion about sweatshirts and note taking swag?!