Reply to HYPSM/Elite School Alums - What has been the downside of your degree?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]The downsides: (1) It is difficult to buck the trend of going into law, consulting, etc. I went to law school after graduating from an HYP and absolutely hated it. I wish I'd been more open to other career paths -- teaching high school, pursuing graphic arts, starting my own business, becoming a physician assistant -- but almost NO ONE does that from HYP (at least they didn't when I was there). You have to be brave to be yourself. I'd imagine you'd find a more diverse group of friends and more career pathways at a different kind of university. (2) I'd like to think that college is an opportunity to try some new things and learn some new skills. You want to be on the school newspaper? Well, everyone on the newspaper at Yale was the editor-in-chief of their high school newspaper and probably won national awards. Want to try theater? You'll be up against kids who already have their Actors Equity cards. My DD went to HYP (not the one I went to) and loved it, but she has more self-confidence in her little finger than I do in my entire body. So if you are supremely self-confident and self-assured, HYP might be for you. If not, you might have a better time being a bigger fish in a smaller pond. In retrospect, I think I would have enjoyed a more supportive environment much, much more, and I might have gotten further in my career as well, because I wouldn't have wasted a decade of my life in law school and practicing law.[/quote]

These are some great points...regarding (1) working at tech/start-ups is now a huge draw likely compared to when you attended college, as well as starting your own company which is kind of the holy grail...though there is still the pull of banking/consulting/private equity, etc., and (2) you hit the nail on the head...the network you can develop at these schools can be incredible, but you need the confidence to attack it.  Sure, some of the super-rich kids can be jerks, but many are not.  You just need to believe that you earned your seat at the table and you are going for it.[/quote]

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