Perspective From Current and Former Grad Admissions Officers

While graduate schools do consider the quality of a candidate's college when they evaluate his or her college transcripts, the primary objective is identifying and recruiting talented and motivated individuals who would thrive in a grad program, admissions officers say. Grad schools are usually less concerned about what college a candidate attended....

"An applicant doesn't have to have attended the most prestigious institution," says Kelly Wilson, the executive director of masters admissions with Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business. "They need to demonstrate academic success relative to the institution they're attending. ... In our program, we have a variety of undergraduate institutions represented."

Wilson says she prefers to admit prospective students who distinguished themselves at whatever undergraduate institutions they attended and who had a meaningful positive impact on those institutions. Another aspect Wilson looks for in someone's academic background is a history of completing rigorous courses, she says. While she evaluates the college grades of grad school candidates who attended colleges that are known to have high academic standards and tough grading systems, she will account for this when she judges their academic performance, she adds.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This board is actually knocking VT as a women's soccer program now...

Amazed with the consolidation of thought on this board...

How many would turn down VT if they came knocking for your DD?

No scholarship to UVA or W&M vs. offer from VT? UVA or W&M.

A crap degree from the top schools in the country is nothing more than a $200,000 piece of paper that will leave you in debt with no real means to repay.

A kid with an engineering degree from VT will find a better job than a kid with a sports science degree from William and Mary.

A kid with a STEMS degree from James Madison will be more successful than a kid with a performing arts degree from Harvard.

A "big time" school is only important if its matched with a "big time" degree. If not, save your money.

Yeah, and let me tell you that if you think they are on a level playing field for grad school, which is pretty much required to get a good job over the long haul, you are out of your mind. You obviously know nothing about W&M. Extremely highly regarded for grad school admissions. And I would bet on a performing arts degree from Harvard edging out most others for a tough-to-get spot in grad school. Almost nobody at top schools is going into the job market out of college, including your STEM grad from VA Tech, who will be an excellent candidate for programs elsewhere. Anything else?

From somebody who hires interviews and hires people out of professional schools on a regular basis.

Graduate school is a complete waste of time and money for the vast majority of students. If you are targeting graduate students to hire it’s because you are looking for a specific demographic of kids who need a masters or higher to fill a specific vacancy.

So, as I said, a STEMS degree from a less “prestigious” school is more valuable than a soft degree from a prestigious university.

Facts - no matter how much you say it’s not. Good luck hiring your “professional students.”

Much more interesting than more blather about FCV da which has been discussed at least 1M times on this board.

Anonymous wrote:It helps with the initial job. After that, it's all about experience and networking. I bet none of you knows what med school his doctor went to.

Not true. For professional hiring (and networking), people pay too much attention to where you go. They shouldn't. Nobody cares where you go undergrad if you have a graduate or professional degree. Once you get established, all of that matters a lot less. And yes, I know where my doctors went (they usually bring it up) and I know plenty of colleagues who would select physicians and lawyers on that basis - certainly if they are picking surgeons or oncologists. Stupid, I know. Proficiency and achievement (and then reputation) are what takes you to higher levels after initial establishment.

It helps with the initial job. After that, it's all about experience and networking. I bet none of you knows what med school his doctor went to.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This board is actually knocking VT as a women's soccer program now...

Amazed with the consolidation of thought on this board...

How many would turn down VT if they came knocking for your DD?

No scholarship to UVA or W&M vs. offer from VT? UVA or W&M.

A crap degree from the top schools in the country is nothing more than a $200,000 piece of paper that will leave you in debt with no real means to repay.

A kid with an engineering degree from VT will find a better job than a kid with a sports science degree from William and Mary.

A kid with a STEMS degree from James Madison will be more successful than a kid with a performing arts degree from Harvard.

A "big time" school is only important if its matched with a "big time" degree. If not, save your money.

Yeah, and let me tell you that if you think they are on a level playing field for grad school, which is pretty much required to get a good job over the long haul, you are out of your mind. You obviously know nothing about W&M. Extremely highly regarded for grad school admissions. And I would bet on a performing arts degree from Harvard edging out most others for a tough-to-get spot in grad school. Almost nobody at top schools is going into the job market out of college, including your STEM grad from VA Tech, who will be an excellent candidate for programs elsewhere. Anything else?

From somebody who hires interviews and hires people out of professional schools on a regular basis.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of younger parents are not paying attention to reality. The older parents understand. Just take this into consideration

Virginia RESIDENCE

Most expensive:
Washington and Lee (54,000)
Richmond (54,000)
UVA (50,000)
Hampden Sydney (46,000)
William and Mary (46,000)
VMI (45,000)
Roanoke (45,000)

Best colleges for your return on investment (affordability combined with alumni success measured mostly by salary over a given period)

1. UVA
2. William and Mary
3. Washington and Lee
4. VMI
5. James Madison
6. Richmond
7. VT
8. Mason
9. Mary Washington
10. Chris Newport

Average women´s soccer scholarship:

Total of 336 womens D1 soccer teams
Total of 9,464 D1 women soccer players
Average roster: 28 players
Average scholarships: 14
Average Athletic scholarship: $18,631

Now, go back up and compare to the true cost of going to college.

You see, the true goal is to go to a school for a lot lower price.

The second goal is to get a degree that you can actually do something with.

Can you provide a citation for your ROI numbers? The very first link on google shows VT as the top Virginia school, which stands in marked contrast to your listing.

https://www.bestcolleges.com/features/best-roi-colleges/

The Georgetown study also shows VT above UVA (but below W&L and VMI) https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/collegeroi/

At the very least, it seems you were being just a touch selective in the ROI results you selected to post.

College ROI is a slippery thing. Males make more than females for some reason, so colleges with higher male to female ratios (e.g. VMI but also VT) tend to have higher average lifetime earnings. However, if you did that comparison apples to apples (average male to average male), the story might be different. Likewise, choice of major makes a significant impact on earnings, particularly in the short run. So schools with a higher percentage of engineering graduates (e.g. VT) may seem to have higher earnings than another school. But if you did that comparison controlling for major only comparing graduates of the same major, the story again could be quite different.

Yes...and this should be a separate thread altogether since it's all very interesting, but gets lost in the FCV DA comments on here

Yep. I lost the overall thread context when reading the prior comment.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of younger parents are not paying attention to reality. The older parents understand. Just take this into consideration

Virginia RESIDENCE

Most expensive:
Washington and Lee (54,000)
Richmond (54,000)
UVA (50,000)
Hampden Sydney (46,000)
William and Mary (46,000)
VMI (45,000)
Roanoke (45,000)

Best colleges for your return on investment (affordability combined with alumni success measured mostly by salary over a given period)

1. UVA
2. William and Mary
3. Washington and Lee
4. VMI
5. James Madison
6. Richmond
7. VT
8. Mason
9. Mary Washington
10. Chris Newport

Average women´s soccer scholarship:

Total of 336 womens D1 soccer teams
Total of 9,464 D1 women soccer players
Average roster: 28 players
Average scholarships: 14
Average Athletic scholarship: $18,631

Now, go back up and compare to the true cost of going to college.

You see, the true goal is to go to a school for a lot lower price.

The second goal is to get a degree that you can actually do something with.

Can you provide a citation for your ROI numbers? The very first link on google shows VT as the top Virginia school, which stands in marked contrast to your listing.

https://www.bestcolleges.com/features/best-roi-colleges/

The Georgetown study also shows VT above UVA (but below W&L and VMI) https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/collegeroi/

At the very least, it seems you were being just a touch selective in the ROI results you selected to post.

College ROI is a slippery thing. Males make more than females for some reason, so colleges with higher male to female ratios (e.g. VMI but also VT) tend to have higher average lifetime earnings. However, if you did that comparison apples to apples (average male to average male), the story might be different. Likewise, choice of major makes a significant impact on earnings, particularly in the short run. So schools with a higher percentage of engineering graduates (e.g. VT) may seem to have higher earnings than another school. But if you did that comparison controlling for major only comparing graduates of the same major, the story again could be quite different.

Yes...and this should be a separate thread altogether since it's all very interesting, but gets lost in the FCV DA comments on here

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of younger parents are not paying attention to reality. The older parents understand. Just take this into consideration

Virginia RESIDENCE

Most expensive:
Washington and Lee (54,000)
Richmond (54,000)
UVA (50,000)
Hampden Sydney (46,000)
William and Mary (46,000)
VMI (45,000)
Roanoke (45,000)

Best colleges for your return on investment (affordability combined with alumni success measured mostly by salary over a given period)

1. UVA
2. William and Mary
3. Washington and Lee
4. VMI
5. James Madison
6. Richmond
7. VT
8. Mason
9. Mary Washington
10. Chris Newport

Average women´s soccer scholarship:

Total of 336 womens D1 soccer teams
Total of 9,464 D1 women soccer players
Average roster: 28 players
Average scholarships: 14
Average Athletic scholarship: $18,631

Now, go back up and compare to the true cost of going to college.

You see, the true goal is to go to a school for a lot lower price.

The second goal is to get a degree that you can actually do something with.

Can you provide a citation for your ROI numbers? The very first link on google shows VT as the top Virginia school, which stands in marked contrast to your listing.

https://www.bestcolleges.com/features/best-roi-colleges/

The Georgetown study also shows VT above UVA (but below W&L and VMI) https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/collegeroi/

At the very least, it seems you were being just a touch selective in the ROI results you selected to post.

College ROI is a slippery thing. Males make more than females for some reason, so colleges with higher male to female ratios (e.g. VMI but also VT) tend to have higher average lifetime earnings. However, if you did that comparison apples to apples (average male to average male), the story might be different. Likewise, choice of major makes a significant impact on earnings, particularly in the short run. So schools with a higher percentage of engineering graduates (e.g. VT) may seem to have higher earnings than another school. But if you did that comparison controlling for major only comparing graduates of the same major, the story again could be quite different.

Anonymous wrote:After looking at pages and pages of comments NOT related to FCV DA - just how difficult is it to make a team with ALL of the new competition between DA and now local ECNL teams? Are they now just watered-down leagues as well? Would love to hear from parents with actual kids playing on DA...

This.

Anonymous wrote:A lot of younger parents are not paying attention to reality. The older parents understand. Just take this into consideration

Virginia RESIDENCE

Most expensive:
Washington and Lee (54,000)
Richmond (54,000)
UVA (50,000)
Hampden Sydney (46,000)
William and Mary (46,000)
VMI (45,000)
Roanoke (45,000)

Best colleges for your return on investment (affordability combined with alumni success measured mostly by salary over a given period)

1. UVA
2. William and Mary
3. Washington and Lee
4. VMI
5. James Madison
6. Richmond
7. VT
8. Mason
9. Mary Washington
10. Chris Newport

Average women´s soccer scholarship:

Total of 336 womens D1 soccer teams
Total of 9,464 D1 women soccer players
Average roster: 28 players
Average scholarships: 14
Average Athletic scholarship: $18,631

Now, go back up and compare to the true cost of going to college.

You see, the true goal is to go to a school for a lot lower price.

The second goal is to get a degree that you can actually do something with.

Can you provide a citation for your ROI numbers? The very first link on google shows VT as the top Virginia school, which stands in marked contrast to your listing.

https://www.bestcolleges.com/features/best-roi-colleges/

The Georgetown study also shows VT above UVA (but below W&L and VMI) https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/collegeroi/

At the very least, it seems you were being just a touch selective in the ROI results you selected to post.

After looking at pages and pages of comments NOT related to FCV DA - just how difficult is it to make a team with ALL of the new competition between DA and now local ECNL teams? Are they now just watered-down leagues as well? Would love to hear from parents with actual kids playing on DA...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You guys are truly missing the point.

Stop hyper focusing on the strength of the soccer program and start focusing on the strength of the school and the strength on the degree in the real market.

This in not the 80's when a degree was enough to separate you. Take a look around! We are bringing people in from other countries to take six figure jobs because our kids are getting liberal arts degrees and living at home.

The next four years can help set up the remainder of their life and your worried about a soccer program? Tell me this, what was the roster and record of the 1982 UVA women's soccer team? Anyone know?

EXACTLY

I get your point. It's important, but did UVA even have a women's soccer program in 1982? Not sure they did.

That just makes that previous poster's point more emphatically. Not only do most not know if they were good, most don't know if they even existed.

Maybe. It's so hard to compare because it was such a different world back then.

However, whether it does or doesn't support his point, I do agree with his point.

I think they had announced a varsity team at that point, but had not yet started play.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of younger parents are not paying attention to reality. The older parents understand. Just take this into consideration

Virginia RESIDENCE

Most expensive:
Washington and Lee (54,000)
Richmond (54,000)
UVA (50,000)
Hampden Sydney (46,000)
William and Mary (46,000)
VMI (45,000)
Roanoke (45,000)

Best colleges for your return on investment (affordability combined with alumni success measured mostly by salary over a given period)

1. UVA
2. William and Mary
3. Washington and Lee
4. VMI
5. James Madison
6. Richmond
7. VT
8. Mason
9. Mary Washington
10. Chris Newport

Average women´s soccer scholarship:

Total of 336 womens D1 soccer teams
Total of 9,464 D1 women soccer players
Average roster: 28 players
Average scholarships: 14
Average Athletic scholarship: $18,631

Now, go back up and compare to the true cost of going to college.

You see, the true goal is to go to a school for a lot lower price.

The second goal is to get a degree that you can actually do something with.

Oops. You posted the out of state tuition for the VA schools above.

Washington and Lee is close to the top of all the return on investment studies. VMI is often quite high as well, but it is a unique school and you would have to take into consideration it is mostly men, and like it or not, male college graduates have higher earnings on average than female graduates.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You guys are truly missing the point.

Stop hyper focusing on the strength of the soccer program and start focusing on the strength of the school and the strength on the degree in the real market.

This in not the 80's when a degree was enough to separate you. Take a look around! We are bringing people in from other countries to take six figure jobs because our kids are getting liberal arts degrees and living at home.

The next four years can help set up the remainder of their life and your worried about a soccer program? Tell me this, what was the roster and record of the 1982 UVA women's soccer team? Anyone know?

EXACTLY

I get your point. It's important, but did UVA even have a women's soccer program in 1982? Not sure they did.

That just makes that previous poster's point more emphatically. Not only do most not know if they were good, most don't know if they even existed.

Maybe. It's so hard to compare because it was such a different world back then.

However, whether it does or doesn't support his point, I do agree with his point.