As posted by others, the graduate school is far more important than the undergrad school. Playing softball for 4 years won't be a factor as long as they can get into a strong graduate program and do some related internships in the offseason. With graduate school being key for many majors/careers, you shouldn't overspend on the undergrad.
Are too many making a mistake to play college softball?
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- Feb 7, 2013
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You can make the analogy that being at a top college is similar to playing for a top travel ball program. Your peers (fellow college students or fellow travel ball players) are going to push you to be a better student / player. The professors / coaches are generally going to be better teachers / instructors. The education you are getting will stay with you for the rest of your life.
I know in my profession, accounting, the Big 4 accounting firms only recruit from the top colleges in the area and will give out coveted summer internships from which 95% of the interns will get full time offers the following summer when they graduate from college. Contrary to some opinions here, that first job is critical to the careers of these students. That kid who went to Long Beach State University won't get a "seat at the table" even though she might have been MVP of her conference.
What college to attend is a complex question but don't discount the importance of getting a quality education that will help carry you throughout your life.
I know in my profession, accounting, the Big 4 accounting firms only recruit from the top colleges in the area and will give out coveted summer internships from which 95% of the interns will get full time offers the following summer when they graduate from college. Contrary to some opinions here, that first job is critical to the careers of these students. That kid who went to Long Beach State University won't get a "seat at the table" even though she might have been MVP of her conference.
What college to attend is a complex question but don't discount the importance of getting a quality education that will help carry you throughout your life.
Interesting. Had a former Senior Partner with PWC who was then the CFO of Kellogg's tell me he really did not care where they went to school. It was about the grades and especially the face to face.
- May 27, 2013
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C's in an undergrad program will not gain a candidate acceptance into any reputable grad school program. Most undergrad program majors that guarantee good-paying jobs after undergrad (nursing for example) do not accept grades of C or less in the major-focused courses. Those students get kicked out of the program. Most grad schools require, at bare minimum, a 3.0 to even apply to them. While some don't think the undergraduate academic experience matters that much to get you a good paying job, think again. Yes, grad school reputation matters more, but one can not get into a credible grad school without the grades.
Also for certain professions (medical, investment banking, engineering, etc.), the top employers in the country will absolutely take where a candidate went to school over whether they were a student-athlete. Think about how many applications recruiters for prominent employers sift through on a daily basis - you really think they will overlook the Ivy League student versus the student who has played collegiate softball at no-name school listed on their application?? It takes getting your foot even in the door before these places will even consider a face-to-face with a candidate. It is unfortunate, but it happens quite frequently.
Also for certain professions (medical, investment banking, engineering, etc.), the top employers in the country will absolutely take where a candidate went to school over whether they were a student-athlete. Think about how many applications recruiters for prominent employers sift through on a daily basis - you really think they will overlook the Ivy League student versus the student who has played collegiate softball at no-name school listed on their application?? It takes getting your foot even in the door before these places will even consider a face-to-face with a candidate. It is unfortunate, but it happens quite frequently.
Ivy League education: No longer worth it? - Sep. 14, 2010
"Graduates from elite schools may argue that they're more likely to earn higher incomes upon graduation, but historical research proves that's not the case. In a study featured at the National Bureau of Economic Research by economists Alan B. Krueger and Stacy Berg Dale, selectivity of schools generally had little effect on incomes once other factors, such as SAT scores, were taken into account. In other words, students with the same test score would earn roughly the same income, regardless of the school they attended."
"Graduates from elite schools may argue that they're more likely to earn higher incomes upon graduation, but historical research proves that's not the case. In a study featured at the National Bureau of Economic Research by economists Alan B. Krueger and Stacy Berg Dale, selectivity of schools generally had little effect on incomes once other factors, such as SAT scores, were taken into account. In other words, students with the same test score would earn roughly the same income, regardless of the school they attended."
I am sure this is true if your job search strategy is to send out hundreds of resumes and hope for the best. That is akin to the recruiting strategy of going to every showcase and hoping to get noticed. Neither is very productive. If you do the right things and make the right connections by the time you graduate you will already have the first job lined up and someone paying for grad school. If all you have is a diploma from a "great school" you may have a tough time. The idea that grade grades and going to a "great school" is a sure ticket to success is a myth. You better have more going for you than that.
But the discussion is not about the value of good grades. It's about the value of one school vs. another. And comparing an Ivy League school to a no-name school is on the extreme end of this discussion. It's more about going to Clemson or Winthrop, Georgia or Georgia Southern, etc., not Yale and Acorn State.
- May 27, 2013
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I'm referring to those who stated that at the end of the day, a med student who earns a C will still be called doctor. It's simply not true - they won't make it through the program.
- May 27, 2013
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And going to a great academic program tends to open those doors and establish those connections for a lot of people seeking internships or co-ops as undergrads. Same can be said for going to a great high school with regard to having a better edge at getting into an elite college. Unfortunately not all academic programs are viewed the same. It's actually sad to admit that's how the world works but it absolutely does.
Often the greatest emphasis of attendance at an Ivy is the same as going "Big D1" in softball - bragging rights for the parents back home. It looks great on a bumper sticker. For many it is a self-validation of successful parenting, although all too often it is all about the hopes and dreams of the parents not the kids.
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