Comments on: Keeping Perspective on Selective College Admissions http://greatcollegeadvice.com/keeping-perspective-on-selective-college-admissions/ Expert Advice on College Admission Tue, 15 May 2012 22:50:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Mark http://greatcollegeadvice.com/keeping-perspective-on-selective-college-admissions/comment-page-1/#comment-2579 Mark Thu, 26 Mar 2009 01:09:07 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=2018#comment-2579 Hi Jessica. Thanks for your comments. The idea that a prestigious university guarantees a "successful career" is overblown. I think it true that most Ivy League grads are given a second look early in their careers by employers, based on the assumption that the candidate has been reviewed and vetted somehow by their Alma Mater. However, after a few years, the patina of the diploma wears off, an people are judged by what they <strong>do</strong>, what they <strong>accomplish</strong>. At the same time, there are plenty of folks (millions and millions) who do not attend highly selective colleges who enjoy highly successful and lucrative (and satisfying!) careers. That said, there is perhaps one profession in which the name on the diploma means something more: academia. You are absolutely correct that where one does one's doctorate will have a strong bearing on your career path--if you choose to pursue a career is a professor and scholar. Yet even in this rarefied world, the institution makes less and less impact as time goes on. The name on your diploma means less when you apply for your sixth job after graduation than it did when the ink was still damp. Hi Jessica. Thanks for your comments. The idea that a prestigious university guarantees a “successful career” is overblown. I think it true that most Ivy League grads are given a second look early in their careers by employers, based on the assumption that the candidate has been reviewed and vetted somehow by their Alma Mater. However, after a few years, the patina of the diploma wears off, an people are judged by what they do, what they accomplish. At the same time, there are plenty of folks (millions and millions) who do not attend highly selective colleges who enjoy highly successful and lucrative (and satisfying!) careers.

That said, there is perhaps one profession in which the name on the diploma means something more: academia. You are absolutely correct that where one does one’s doctorate will have a strong bearing on your career path–if you choose to pursue a career is a professor and scholar. Yet even in this rarefied world, the institution makes less and less impact as time goes on. The name on your diploma means less when you apply for your sixth job after graduation than it did when the ink was still damp.

]]> By: Jessica Kunkel http://greatcollegeadvice.com/keeping-perspective-on-selective-college-admissions/comment-page-1/#comment-2570 Jessica Kunkel Wed, 25 Mar 2009 14:16:14 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=2018#comment-2570 This article is really interesting, and I agree with most of the points - especially that the quality of an education is not necessarily directly determined by a school's prestige. However, if a person is pursuing a college education in order to have a successful career, isn't there some truth to the idea that a degree from, say, Yale, would carry more influence in the job market? I certainly discovered this was so when I thought I wanted my PhD in history. The academic job market is over-saturated with history PhDs, and as such, you're more likely to get a tenure-track position somewhere if you've got a degree from an Ivy-League school This article is really interesting, and I agree with most of the points – especially that the quality of an education is not necessarily directly determined by a school’s prestige. However, if a person is pursuing a college education in order to have a successful career, isn’t there some truth to the idea that a degree from, say, Yale, would carry more influence in the job market? I certainly discovered this was so when I thought I wanted my PhD in history. The academic job market is over-saturated with history PhDs, and as such, you’re more likely to get a tenure-track position somewhere if you’ve got a degree from an Ivy-League school

]]> By: Mark Truman http://greatcollegeadvice.com/keeping-perspective-on-selective-college-admissions/comment-page-1/#comment-2553 Mark Truman Tue, 24 Mar 2009 23:34:03 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=2018#comment-2553 I love that article! I include it with every list of schools I build for students. I love that article! I include it with every list of schools I build for students.

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