Does your college really matter?

I have replied to other threads on my thoughts - not going to write it all again. But I do have a new data point from among the 100's of people I have hired over 30 years.

Of the non-football college athletes I have hired, ALL of them have been good-great hires. Not saying I am hiring all of them, but it is a big green flag and I rarely pass by a resume with college athletics on it without giving it a close read (which is a big first step into getting hired)

Football for whatever reason it has been closer to 50-50 in my earlier years of hiring. Now it is closer to all my 'football athletes' being good hires, but I am way more careful in hiring them and have turned quite a few down in comparison to other college athletes. But then one of my very best hires was a college lineman from a Big Ten school.

In most fields, college degree gets you your first 'real' job, After 3-5 years of experience, it becomes more of a check box. Some specialist fields obviously are the exception.

marriard said:

I have replied to other threads on my thoughts - not going to write it all again. But I do have a new data point from among the 100's of people I have hired over 30 years.

Of the non-football college athletes I have hired, ALL of them have been good-great hires. Not saying I am hiring all of them, but it is a big green flag and I rarely pass by a resume with college athletics on it without giving it a close read (which is a big first step into getting hired)

Football for whatever reason it has been closer to 50-50 in my earlier years of hiring. Now it is closer to all my 'football athletes' being good hires, but I am way more careful in hiring them and have turned quite a few down in comparison to other college athletes. But then one of my very best hires was a college lineman from a Big Ten school.

In most fields, college degree gets you your first 'real' job, After 3-5 years of experience, it becomes more of a check box. Some specialist fields obviously are the exception.

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That's very interesting. I have a different impression of football players (on average) than athletes in other sports (on average). Just from football players I've know IRL (including in my family), and the ones you hear the most about. Like Michael Vick. I don't make assumptions that they're bad people...but it's not a positive thing automatically to me, either.

grcsftbll said:

There is also the fact that this isn't everyone's goal. I'm a child of the 80s so I wanted the high paying corporate job. Ya know, like in the movies when it's all exciting. Yeah, it's not exciting. At least not for me. I was miserable. Someone majoring in these types of fields may have priorities other than a huge income. Maybe they don't mind living modestly if it means doing something they really care about. I won't say I regret the path I took, but I wouldn't do it again. That's why there's no right answer here, IMO. College, technical schools, apprenticeships...there are a lot of paths to gainful employment, and even a modest salary can be adequate if a person is wise with their income and spending.

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This is true, but when someone has that combination of a degree in a non career field and $75,000 in debt, and complains that her/his college education is worthless. Because they only can find work as a barista, which happens far to often, thats a lack of planning and/or foresight.

the best college in which you can get into and also thrive.

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This is HUGE! I feel that DD#1 hurt herself by not going to a state school. I am hoping that she has learned something that will make her a "good hire" down the road.

Also, someone had mentioned Harvard, etc. may make a difference when hiring an Architect. To me its a red flag. I think it only matters to Alumni (which is valid) and wannabe's

when someone has that combination of a degree in a non career field and $75,000 in debt

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thus the reason colleges have a financial aid/cost calculator on their sites.
I will not allow my kids to apply to schools that will saddle them with this
type of debt.

Also, someone had mentioned Harvard, etc. may make a difference when hiring an Architect. To me its a red flag. I think it only matters to Alumni (which is valid) and wannabe's

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Interesting viewpoint. I happen to have an opposing view. The Ivy League and other top tier institutions have world renowned professors who
allow them to tout their respective University's world class education. It is more difficult to get a great GPA at the Harvards-Princetons-Cal tech-Stanfords and MITs
than it is at 'Beer Can Community college. As an employer, I am more interested in these grads who have had academics pressed on them than
the grad who proudly is an alum of a top 5 party school. Look at Business week insider University rankings as well as US News/World report.
You will find Harvard in the top 5 in most concentrations.

Yes, I agree that it matters to Alumni who definitely have a reputation for hiring from his/her alma mater- not for the prestige, but more so
because Alum understand the grind of getting a degree from these schools. These degrees are more difficult to attain when the student is
a Varsity Athlete as well.

obbay said:

Also, someone had mentioned Harvard, etc. may make a difference when hiring an Architect.

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for architecture, Yale, Penn, Columbia are actually the more renowned programs...

Harvard = Law

So, don't blow the bank on going to Harvard undergrad. Go to a solid state school and excel.

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If you had named another great school (Michigan, UV, e.g.), I might agree with you. But, ou named Harvard: Wrong, wrong wrong.

There are a dozen or so schools around the world that are in a different league than every other school...Oxford, Harvard, Berkley, U of Toronto, etc...that are world renowned. They are instantly recognizable. A degree from those schools is priceless...it puts a graduate into an entirely different category. The networking opportunities alone are invaluable.

sluggers said:

If you had named another great school (Michigan, UV, e.g.), I might agree with you. But, ou named Harvard: Wrong, wrong wrong.

There are a dozen or so schools around the world that are in a different league than every other school...Oxford, Harvard, Berkley, U of Toronto, etc...that are world renowned. They are instantly recognizable. A degree from those schools is priceless...it puts a graduate into an entirely different category. The networking opportunities alone are invaluable.

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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)?

Don't get me wrong- I know Harvard is a great institution. I know some Alumni and they are wonderful people!
I used to have a romanticized, American Dream view of the school, but I have seen it up close and know better now. do your research and find the right school for the student. don't just go to a school because it has a big name and you were able to get in.

sluggers said:

If you had named another great school (Michigan, UV, e.g.), I might agree with you. But, ou named Harvard: Wrong, wrong wrong.

There are a dozen or so schools around the world that are in a different league than every other school...Oxford, Harvard, Berkley, U of Toronto, etc...that are world renowned. They are instantly recognizable. A degree from those schools is priceless...it puts a graduate into an entirely different category. The networking opportunities alone are invaluable.

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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.