College bound kids -- it's the Indian, not the Arrow

I think one of the biggest advantages to attending a high-academic, "big-name" university,
is upon graduation, when you are seeking placement in that first job.
Access to the Alumni networks from these schools can be a big advantage in getting your career going, right off the bat.

DS is a HS senior, and has made his choice.
He applied to 7 schools: 4 of which were top-10 engineering programs, 1 a top-25, and 2 top-50.
He was wait-listed at one of the top-10 schools, and offered admissions to the top-25 and 2 top-50s.
Even though his "stats" were stellar, we all learned the lesson that a 99th-percentile score on the SAT isn't a golden ticket.
(he scored 740-720 on his Math I and Math II subject tests, and we think that not "aceing" these tests hurt him, some... for Engineering School admissions)
He will be very happy and will thrive at his selected school, but it wasn't where he thought he would land when he started this process.
If the wait-listed top-10 school offers him admission in June (longshot, I think) he will have a tough choice to make.

But getting back to the idea that "the only school that matters is the last one you attended",
another option is to transfer into one of these top programs after logging a successful year or two at a very reputable university.
That is an option he may consider, although if he bonds with his first school like I think he will, that may not even be necessary.

think one of the biggest advantages to attending a high-academic, "big-name" university,
is upon graduation, when you are seeking placement in that first job.
Access to the Alumni networks from these schools can be a big advantage in getting your career going, right off the bat.

Click to expand...

Depending upon the school, it can be advantageous well after your first job.

.............................

............................................

Depends on the kid whether or not going to an elite school will be advantageous in terms of actual success and learning. If the kid is self-motivated they won't need other type A, motivated kids (e.g. what you see in a lot of the elite schools) around them to push them to succeed. On the other hand, here at OU (in Engineering at least) I have seen a lot of very bright kid's "play down to the competition" and not push themselves to succeed. OU has a lot of National merit scholars because of the financial benefits OU gives them and many times, unless somebody tells me a kid is a National Merit scholar I wouldn't be able to tell the difference as they tend to blend in with their classmates. Social dynamics at that age is a very powerful influence.

........................................