Reply to St. Albans School - how big a deal?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]If we set aside connections for a moment, can anyone tell me what I gain by hiring a STA alum, assuming all other things are equal?

So, let's say I have two applications in front of me.  Both attended well-regarded graduate programs in public policy.  Both have 3 years of experience living overseas.

Is there any reason to choose the STA alum?  Basically, is there any reason to assume that someone who got into St. Alban's did so because they are de facto a cut above?  Is it a meritocracy?  [/quote]

You may or may not get connections, but you are perhaps more likely to hire someone with family and roots in dc, who knows dc, and who would be more likely to stay in dc.  If your business is such that you invest a lot in training and integration the first few years, in hopes that the best employees will stay long term, this can be very valuable and may tip the scales all else being equal. [b] I went to a relatively unknown local high school and listed it for my first job out of law school[/b] (well, for the summer job at a firm I then went to after clerking).  Multiple interviewers asked me about the school, whether we knew people in common, etc., and [b]I received offers at all my top choice firms (though I do t think whether I listed my high school had much to do with it)[/b].  Sure, some people may put it to imply they have connection useful to an employer, which does seem a bit much.  I just put it to emphasize that I was coming home to dc and planned to stay.  My parents had since moved so I couldn't use their old address, and an adult using their parents' house as an address has it's own issues in perception I would guess.

I'm guessing different businesses work differently.  At my firm, no way would HR have a cut in hiring/ranking attorney applicants.  And, we care if people are dedicated to DC because aren't a as added with offices everywhere.

If I were applying to Google, as others have mentioned, I'd take a different perspective. But I wasn't, so I didn't.  [/quote]

You're right -- it didn't.  It merely gave the interviewers something to talk about.  And you listed a "relatively unknown local high school," not St Albans, so interviewers were less likely to be turned off.

Your anecdote doesn't add much to the discussion.    [/quote]

I'm so sorry you are unable to extrapolate.  Perhaps STA grads may be in the same situation I was, and also wanting to emphasize local ties.  After three years work experience inured in the hypo, it seems late to include any school.  I just think including you local high school can be helpful in getting your first professional job in your home town, whether your school is well known or not.  I'm so sorry for eating you time sharing my "anecdote " while you are sharing your omniscient wisdom.  For clarity, I'm one if the earlier posters who has also been doing associate hiring at a high-regarded law firm since the 1990s.   Because I was addressing why people may include local schools, I examined my own thinking.  Is that clear enough for you?[/quote]

God, you lawyers are sensitive and combative! Yeesh![/quote]

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