After a year or two on the job, where you went to college makes absolutely no difference. I guess it impresses people. It's the person--not the status that makes you.

I don't know why anyone thinks that "state school" = bad. Like so many other things in life, it depends a lot on a person's personality and preferences. Believe it or not, there are A LOT of different kinds of people in the world. Some thrive in a large state-school-like environment, and others do better at a SLAC. Shocking, I'm sure.

Anonymous wrote:I went to a state school in the NE for undergrad and have worked at 2 of the big investment banks. My ex from same state school went to Harvard for law school, worked for a firm for a few years, then 3 of the big investment banks. I think it's what you make of your time while in undergrad and the types of experiences you seek out.

+1

What about the difference in going to a smaller state school vs. a larger state school for undergrad?

Is it possible to get the same level of education with a smaller environment?

FWIW, I went to big-impersonal-State U for undergrad and then went on to a well known/respected public U for higher degree. Seems to me that a bachelor's degree is what a HS degree used to be, and that grad school is pretty much expected (at least for my kids).

In that case, would it be wise to go to a smaller state college/U (to alleviate the impersonal nature of the big state U) and then go to the most prestigious grad school you can get into?

I went to a state school in the NE for undergrad and have worked at 2 of the big investment banks. My ex from same state school went to Harvard for law school, worked for a firm for a few years, then 3 of the big investment banks. I think it's what you make of your time while in undergrad and the types of experiences you seek out.

I did both. I spent my first 2 years at a second tier SLAC. During those 2 years I spent 6 months in another country studying in the small college's program there. Then I transferred to the huge flagship (UW-Madison) and spent 2 years there.

Of all of the experiences I had during those 4 years, it was the 6 months spent in another country that stands out head and shoulders above any "small or big college experiences".
I was out in a rural area doing field work with no other students around me . . . just my host family and community. I was really forced to grow up and think a lot about who I was during that time. It was pivotal for me. When I got back and went to UW-Madison, I honestly felt more mature than many of the "kids" around me. I had fun there, but I also had my head on straight about studying. The UW is great, but you have to know what you want. I saw many people flounder there (who may have done better starting at a smaller school).

Anonymous wrote:I think, what you study and how you study, may weigh more than where you study, for the majority of students.

Agree 100%.

I think, what you study and how you study, may weigh more than where you study, for the majority of students.

Anonymous wrote:I went to a big SEC state school with a great football team and academics. Best 4 years of my life and I've never looked back. People's memories of their small, private schools just sound boring to me. I don't ever voice that thought though.

This was my experience as well. Also, because I stayed in that state after graduating, lots of employment doors were open for me. I had a great job within two weeks of graduation, even in the midst of a recession. Put me on a fast path in my career.

And I had minimal debt (10 grand) that was easily paid off, and I got the full college experience of Greek life, kick-ass football and other sports, endless quality academic choices and fascinating electives, lifelong friends, great internships, etc.

Contrast that with my DH, who went to one of the most exclusive schools in the U.S. who was miserable because of the small-time politics at the school and the lack of a diverse, qualified teaching staff.

Love the Virginia system. Love love love.

I went to Arizona State and lived at home. I sought out the right profs who gave me directed reading, and I wasn't at all "behind" when I went to Chicago for grad school.

YMMV.

I went to a state school with a great business program. I am now successful in the finance field. As long as you work hard it doesn't matter where you go to school.

I went to UVa and it was fine with me.

I went to a large east coast flagship - my other three siblings went to top 5 lac's.

I felt like I got a walmart/target experience and they got a nice boutique experience.

state schools are mass production factories - not a great experience.

My friends who went to Cornell & Penn (two of the larger elites feel similarly and push their kids towards way smaller elites).

I knew kids in the Honors Program at Indiana University. They wrote their tickets to graduate school. They also liked having the resources of a large university around them. Just depends what you want.