[Prot]

Maybe this belongs in the college section but I think it would better fit this section since it is a question posed towards those who have graduated college (which generally would be the 20+ population). I have always felt that the name of the undergraduate college did not matter. I only believe it will help you get your first job in the private industry and that is about it. I never understood why people would get all hyped up about applying to 5 Ivy leagues all in hopes of ending up in one of them.

What is the hype all about? As far as I recall, many CEOs aren't even from Ivy leagues. And when applying to a job, the first job would most likely ask for your GPA and college but after that, the promotions, other jobs, all are based off experience aren't they?

In addition, many Ivy leagues are expensive and have horrible financial aid. My friend shares the same sentiments as he applied to NYU Stern and got in, only to turn it down when he saw the cost after financial aid and decided to stay in the business program of our SUNY (State University of New York).

What are your opinions? I can say that I am still currently finishing my bachelors so I wouldn't really know until I finish.

[suki_*]

well some names are recognized internationally depending on their programs of course. but for general undergraduates it doesn't really matter.

i just know Canada gets hella stingy over the fact that someone is in University and somone from College would be looked down upon. horrible stigma but i am hoping that people won't be so narrow-minded in a few years to come.

[xkrndreamer]

eh, not too much
still a university though
great baseball school

[Tamago86]

And when applying to a job, the first job would most likely ask for your GPA and college but after that, the promotions, other jobs, all are based off experience aren't they?

Something like 80% of jobs are never advertised..So often connections are even more important than where you graduate from. Experience and connections > name of school

[Wayves]

I only believe it will help you get your first job in the private industry and that is about it.

I agree. A school name can help you out a lot early in your career. Later on, your experience is much more important.

[seoulmusic]

In my honest, honest opinion where you go to undergrad doesn't really mean much at all. The only thing it might help with is getting into a better graduate/law/medical school but even that is only to a certain point. As long as you have a great GPA/test scores/ect. you can get into a good grad school. Grad/law/med school on the other hand actually makes a difference because it helps determine your first job. And there are a lot more recruiters from top law firms at say, Yale Law, than at Hastings. Or if your in med school you can get a better residency. And on and on.

The exception is for certain schools where going to undergrad helps you get into their grad program. I think it is easier to get into USC business school if you went to USC for undergrad, for example. On the other hand, some schools like UCLA seem to NOT accept their own undergrad's into their med program. But that could just be a coincidence?

Main point: As long as you do well in undergrad, where you went doesn't mean anything. Except to your asian parents who like to brag about HARVARD and YALE to their friends. Seriously.

[little mixed girl]

if you like your university, does it matter?
the name might matter in some areas...ie X university is well known and well regarded for it's X program.

i always wanted to go to my university, and i was happy that i got in and graduated.

[watcher]

dunno bout you guys, but im always linked into wuts going on around the SC community. sometimes people will start up ventures and ask if anyone might be interested to put in a hand in exchange for part of the company. it's something that's much more accessible in southern cal than most other places in the world, but just being part of the SC network seems to keep it's alumni in the loop of opportunities every now and then. especially as you gain more experience in the industry, they want to hire SC alumn as senior managers, engineers, etc. they feel better hiring fellow alma mater and believe it'll work out due to nostalgic feelings of going to school with fellow classmates. i still get offers once in a while, but i hold back, as i've found some nice opportunities already. im glad those options are there though. u never know what might come about.

[709394]

depends what field.
but generally for big companies, a big name school is a pre-req in itself.

[Shinobu]

The name of the college doesn't matter much. How much money you make base on what field you'll be studying. It only help with the bragging but nothing else really.

[namesareuseful]

Something like 80% of jobs are never advertised..So often connections are even more important than where you graduate from. Experience and connections > name of school

I think, some of your better connections can come from 'big name schools' since the 'big name professors' will be teaching there.

On another note, I know personally that where I'm getting my education degree will be looked more favorably upon since my school forces all secondary ed majors to major in the subject they plan to teach. Some schools will let you be a "Math Ed" major (instead of a 'real' math major) which means that when you compare me with those students, I (should) know my stuff better. But then again, they may only look at that stuff if I'm tied with another applicant for the job...

Maybe providing more specifics will help people give you more specific advice ^^;;;

[Drusilla]

It's a big advantage early in your career, not least because of the networking potential of a well-known university (you know, people who've already passed out/are in the year ahead of you can very easily hand down contacts, introduce you to people, and so on). If you like your college then of course that's cool, but it'd be daft to pretend that recruiters never pay attention to the name of a potential hiree's undergraduate college. (of course, it's also an advantage if you have a graduate degree from a well-known place, it's really the most recent degree they look at- which for most people is the undergrad degree).

[suki_*]

depends what field.
but generally for big companies, a big name school is a pre-req in itself.

i agree.
unless if you know someone from the inside, it's all about the school you come from and then the grades that you get. Assuming that the grades are already pretty damn high if you are able to graduate from that school.

e.g. The Big 5 Accounting Firms.

[jbigdog123]

I agree with depending on what field it is.

But generally, it plays a part when getting your foot in the door but after that, it is all about you and your ability.

[Pogichinoy]

For the old boys in the gentlemen's club, yes it can mean something to them. I myself didn't rely on my university's name, they only cared that I graduated from an university, then straight up it was the experience.

[milk-o]

Being a top-level manager myself, I'll admit I'm sometimes guilty to what you are saying.

But here are my reasons:

1) Top-level schools have long standing traditions of fine graduates and without the threat of diminishing standards; in fact, these schools are assumed to be well-updated with their curriculum in line with the demand in the corporate world.

2) As it was previously mentioned, top-level universities have greater connections with who's who in the private business sector. I won't need to elaborate, but we can't simply be too optimistic with regards to the corporate world. The reality of things is that if one wants to claw their way inside the biggest offices around, one must have a strong foundation to do so, meaning the name and the reputation of the school.

3) Yes, experience and performance are good factors to be promoted. But here's the thing (call it cocky or what): I could always fire them anyway and hire a replacement if they don't perform in line with the standards they have purportedly bragged in their resume. After all, they were the ones that made me assume that they are fit for the job, right? So they shouldn't be surprised if the standards and stakes are a bit higher than those that presented themselves honestly and without reference to the school.

[Voltage]

I think a lot of people choose to ignore how obsessive companies are about prestige. I can honestly tell you that a person trying to get into my firm will have a huge advantage if he has a strong school to backup the resume. It's really fine to knock on top 10 schools, but the recruiting experience is drastically different. Btw nyu stern isn't ivy. Most ivy caliber schools provide the best financial aid... Part of the reason people go to those schools is that they are just more competitive than your average student. Sure there are plenty of smart people in the world who didn't go to ivies. But every single professor I had went to harvard, stanford, MIT or berkeley... Maybe schools are just as snobby

[mikomi]

A name brand college will certainly make it easier for you, but in the end it only gets you through the first step faster. In my experience, of all the interviews I've been to my most successful attributes had nothing to do with my school. If I graduated, it was a 'YAY!' for the interviewer and moved on.
Where I currently work, multi-million dollar, privately owned engineering corporation, the general manager and I were chatting after our official interview and here is the list of things we talked about (he talks alot):

family
work ethics
last vacation spot
school activities-besides classes
my last job and what I hated the most about it-what I thought could be improved
and strangely, childhood.

Long story short, the point is that it is YOU as a whole, a person, that makes the job. Not the name of your school.

[slimjim]

My employer recruits fresh graduates for exempt roles from 2 types of schools
1) local universities
2) top 10 universities

While fresh graduates from other schools may get hired, they pretty much need referrals.

[Viktri]

well some names are recognized internationally depending on their programs of course. but for general undergraduates it doesn't really matter.

i just know Canada gets hella stingy over the fact that someone is in University and somone from College would be looked down upon. horrible stigma but i am hoping that people won't be so narrow-minded in a few years to come.

That's because it used to be the case that Universities gave out DEGREEs and Colleges gave out DIPOLMAs - they are different - which is not the same elsewhere! There is a big difference in Canada, but not internationally.