Does your college really matter?

[sluggers]

I suspect a degree in engineering from random state school is still more likely to get you a job than say a degree in say French Literature (if that is even a degree?) from Harvard.

Harvard? No. U of Michigan? Yes.

People don't do an undergrad at Harvard to "get a job". That isn't the point...it is a potential springboard into something big.

I have a friend who graduated from U of Toronto in a highly specialized major. She has a PhD from Berkley with postgrad work at Cambridge. She doesn't submit resumes or apply for jobs. She does do interviews--she interviews colleges to see if she wants to do research, they don't interview her. It is is a different mindset.

 

[riseball]

Harvard? No. U of Michigan? Yes.

People don't do an undergrad at Harvard to "get a job". That isn't the point...it is a potential springboard into something big.

I have a friend who graduated from U of Toronto in a highly specialized major. She has a PhD from Berkley with postgrad work at Cambridge. She doesn't submit resumes or apply for jobs. She does do interviews--she interviews colleges to see if she wants to do research, they don't interview her. It is is a different mindset.

Isn't it kind of a moot point for the 99.99% living in the real world? From what I have seen some of the folks going to iIies would be much better served at a school studying something where they will acquire some skills.

 

[Greenmonsters]

Isn't it kind of a moot point for the 99.99% living in the real world? From what I have seen some of the folks going to iIies would be much better served at a school studying something where they will acquire some skills.

If they didn't get something out of their Ivy education, what makes you think that they'd get anything more out of going somewhere else? There are asshats in all walks of life, but I don't believe there is a dire need to take up a collection for all the unfortunate Ivy League graduates!

 

[Rocketech1]

No one applies to Harvard, gets accepted, and chooses to go to "no name" state school instead. Harvard has a $35 billion academic endowment and will provide need based financial aid to anyone who needs it. Cost should never be a consideration for not attending Harvard.

 

[JAD]

One thing I like to tell parents to ask during a recruiting visit is for the majors of the current players. Then compare those majors to the football teams. If there is a common denominator there is a good chance the coaching staff is pushing players towards an easy major to keep them eligible. Some would argue that as long as they get a degree that is all that matters, while others would question what type of job that degree will get them...

 

[Coach JV]

Just to chime in one more time on the Harvard aspect of this thread.
Sluggers is on point- these are elite institutions in a league of their own.

Sometimes it seems that ignorance to these schools builds envy/jealousy etc.
I happen to know a IVY grad (SB player) who was offered a great opportunity in marketing for
a major brand. This company also offered funding for grad school. This gal is the whole package-smart, articulate,
self driven and an all-around great person. The opportunity to go to IVYs is a generational game changer for her.

There are some comments within this thread that stereotype these schools. When you become familiar with
a kid lucky enough to attend one of these schools, your opinions will change drastically.

 

[chinamigarden]

But if you had a limited amount of money to spend on your education (let's assume no scholarship money), wouldn't it make more sense to attend your state school and excel as an undergrad and then attend Law School at Harvard (or Stanford or wherever)?

I think Harvard is in a class by itself. The endowments they have and how they grant money based on income. It can be less
Expensive then the crappy private college in your state (any state) that is offering a partial scholly

 

[riseball]

Just to chime in one more time on the Harvard aspect of this thread.
Sluggers is on point- these are elite institutions in a league of their own.

Sometimes it seems that ignorance to these schools builds envy/jealousy etc.
I happen to know a IVY grad (SB player) who was offered a great opportunity in marketing for
a major brand. This company also offered funding for grad school. This gal is the whole package-smart, articulate,
self driven and an all-around great person. The opportunity to go to IVYs is a generational game changer for her.

There are some comments within this thread that stereotype these schools. When you become familiar with
a kid lucky enough to attend one of these schools, your opinions will change drastically.

It is a mixed bag. One of my pitchers is currently at Yale and I have nothing but respect for her. Some family members and acquaintances have kids at Ivies that are preoccupied with being SJW's, and pursuing a useless major. Others have their act together and are destined for success.

 

[obbay]

This gal is the whole package-smart, articulate, self driven and an all-around great person. The opportunity to go to IVYs is a generational game changer for her.

The Ivy didn't make her "the whole package-smart, articulate, self driven and an all-around great person". because she was that type of person, the Ivy was able to be a vehicle for opportunity. my point which wasn't clear is that being accepted/attending an Ivy isn't a guarantee of anything. it is great if you are operating at a higher level than everyone else, but it is not necessarily right for everyone. I tell parents, Don't chose a school where you think they can survive, choose a school where they will thrive!
sorry for being a broken record. I'll stop now.
(I am working at Harvard as I type this, so I definitely have more prejudices than the average American)

 

[Strike2]

Major matters a lot too.

I suspect a degree in engineering from random state school is still more likely to get you a job than say a degree in say French Literature (if that is even a degree?) from Harvard.

Excellent point. I went to a big name private university, but graduated with a BA. My wife went to a state university (albeit a well-known one), but was an engineering major. We both did pretty well, but guess who had the higher paying jobs?

As long as you can pass the professional licensing exam after going to the random state school, that engineering, accounting, medical, or law degree will typically do well. At the very least, it will provide the opportunity to do well.

However, if you're going to major in French Literature, or something similar, going to Harvard will still provide some decent job opportunity upon graduation. The cachet that schools like that carry is significant regardless of major. That said, the poisonous ideology present at many "Ivy League" schools make me wonder whether the prestige of the degree letterhead is worth the BS that must be tolerated.