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Does where you went to college really matter?
Does where you went to college really make that big of a difference in the long run? Say 5 years or even 20 years from now? Do you think not choosing a more well known school over a smaller local public college has hurt in any way?
I transfered into a large research university this fall, only to find out I absolutely hated it. Classes were overcrowded, TAs were unapproachable, and the faculty was teaching outside of their specialty area. I was being stretched thin with an almost 2 hour commute and I grew to realize that at the undergrad level the school really isn't anything special. They admit a lot of dumb jocks that make for really painful and uninteresting class discussions. The school definitely prides itself on its athletic record. I guess it just wasn't my style. I only picked this school because it was the best value for a well known school. I put in a leave of absence and here I sit.
I really think the smaller, liberal arts colleges are more for me. I looked into other schools around me and I have a few options. One is a public college thats extremely inexpensive and actually has the two majors I'm interested in. The problem is, well no ones ever heard of it. The other is attending my dream liberal arts college. It would take me almost another 2 years of community college work to make up for the science transfer requirements I'm missing (one year of bio, chem and physics each plus a semester of prep classes) and to wait for the admissions cycle. Its also hella expensive.
I'm sure any of these three schools would allow me to get into a doctor of physical therapy program which is my ultimate goal.I'm not sure I want to spend another 2 years trying to get into the dream liberal arts school but I'm not sure if I'm going to regret not going to a fancy college. I worked my ass off in high school to ensure I could get into a "good" school but now I don't think it really matters that much. I just don't want to regret it in 10 years.
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Re: Does where you went to college really matter?
Yeah... it does... I'll elaborate later.
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Re: Does where you went to college really matter?
If you're going on to graduate school, then no, it doesn't matter where you got your bachelor's as long as it wasn't the University of Phoenix or Jim-Bob's Mail Order Academy. Go where you're happy and where there's a program you like.
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Re: Does where you went to college really matter?
It depends on what you want to do.
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Re: Does where you went to college really matter?
I don't think it really matters if you're at least going to a decent actually-attend-in-person kind of school.
Of course that didn't stop me from applying to the prestigious university here as opposed to the other one.
I'd like to point out that my 65m dollar a year investment business ex went to the shitty school. So really... does it matter?
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Re: Does where you went to college really matter?
There is a pretty big gap in first year earnings of graduates who come from small state schools compared to well known juggernauts.
Ivy-Leaguers get insane astronomical salaries, connections, and affiliations.
But this isn't the point of your post.
I know -nothing- about your intended field. So I'll preface my advice with that...
I think you should go with the smaller, inexpensive school that specializes in your area of study. They are clearly creating a niche to attract folks like you who want to study it. They are specializing.... this is GOOD! I am certain that when you go to work... people in that field will know it. If they don't you can give it a great reputation.... be a pioneer of sorts.
You will be valued, your classes will go smoothly, you won't have to worry about loans and debts, and you will... in the long run be happier.
So yes, where you go to college matters.
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Re: Does where you went to college really matter?
Yeah it can make a huge difference. I will never regret going juggernaut on this one. Intellectually or walletwise.
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Re: Does where you went to college really matter?
It seems to matter a lot in the US. As Yek pointed out, if you're going to grad school, it matters less (except perhaps in the process of actually getting accepted to grad school).
I switched out of the best uni in my area for similar reasons, and am now happily doing my degree via distance ed from a small comprehensive uni. At first it was tough, but since I've proven myself, I've received recognition for taking a more 'out-of-the-box' route.
Despite the fact that my diploma will not feature the name of a top-rated uni, but a small, newish one in a small town...I couldn't be happier with my decision.
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Re: Does where you went to college really matter?
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Originally Posted by
OdysseusNJ
Yeah it can make a huge difference. I will never regret going juggernaut on this one. Intellectually or walletwise.
Now I'm nosy, where did you go and what did you study?
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Re: Does where you went to college really matter?
I have found that it matters a great deal.
However, many of my friends who went to grad school found it didn't matter as much, that it really affects getting that first job.
I'm going through that now. I went to a small, private school, that is very well-respected, but only known locally. For jobs that I've applied to in my state, it's been fine, but when I interviewed just one state over, they had never heard of it. and judged me harshly for it. Interviewers are far more likely to go with a candidate that went to an established, renowned school, than someone who went to a school they have never heard of.
Moreover, big name schools tend to have wider networks, so getting a job after graduation, finding references, etc, can be much easier through alumni and career center networking. An dyou'll find a lot more people who are willing to help graduates of their alma mater get a leg up.
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Re: Does where you went to college really matter?
I guess the logical idea would be for me to go talk to actual physical therapists and find out where they suggest going to school. I'm trying to get a position as a PT aide right now so hopefully I'll butter someone up :)
I think I'm very much in the same boat as Scarlett. I was a little worried about losing the connections that the more prestigious school has but I think the more "out of the box" approach I take to everything usually wins. I got into the prestigious school in the first place by homeschooling myself my last two years of high school and then doing well on my SATs and a few community college classes I took concurrently. I like doing things the hard way or at least the unconventional way so to speak. I tend to follow what I'm interested in, sometimes too much, more than whats easy or whats going to make me money.
I guess it might take me some time to catch up in salary but if I can distinguish myself in another way hopefully it will help. Jobs for physical therapists are sooo plentiful that I'm not really worried about the networking aspect.
I might as well name names. I'm transferring out of UCLA. The schools I'm looking at are Cal Poly Pomona (the inexpensive local school) or my dream liberal arts college is one in the Claremont Consortium (Scripps, Pomona, Pitzer, Harvey Mudd, Claremont McKenna).
I'm starting to wonder if maybe I'm just burned out and not in the mood to put up with large universities. I want a hippie, intellectual community. Maybe I should just reapply to Berkeley. I can't believe I turned it down last year. Doh.
*Off to find PhysicalTherapistWeb*
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Re: Does where you went to college really matter?
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Originally Posted by
Sophia_Starina
Now I'm nosy, where did you go and what did you study?
Stanford, music (with a technical slant) and computer science. Academically, I couldn't have made a better choice in the states. God that rocked for my brain.
EDIT sorry if that came off assholish, I'm tipsy. It really did rock for the brain.
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Re: Does where you went to college really matter?
I go to one of the best universities in Australia and we are constantly being told by our lecturers that the job prospects are so much better with a degree from this uni as opposed to other universities offering similar degrees.
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Re: Does where you went to college really matter?
It's true. ^^^
Our little capitalist system has created a world where the name brand of your degree far exceeds what you may (or may not) know.
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Re: Does where you went to college really matter?
Yeah it is really true, interviews are a breeze with that god damned name at the top of the resume especially if you aren't applying for google or something.
Although I think cronyism has helped me more than the big juggernaut name.
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Re: Does where you went to college really matter?
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Originally Posted by
OdysseusNJ
Although I think cronyism has helped me more than the big juggernaut name.
It's true. Columbia kids are crazy. I was chilling with the dude who's dad is the CEO Pfizer. He was cute. I kinda wanted to fuck him... just to get a discount on prescriptions...
I mean... if you play hacky-sack with a few CEOs' kids, the daughter of some dignitaries, the children of ambassadors, etc. you can rest assured that you'll do well in life.
I truly believe this system was designed to be prohibitively expensive to keep the riff-raff away from the rich folk's chillunz. God forbid they mingle with the likes of me....
::)
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Re: Does where you went to college really matter?
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Originally Posted by
Sophia_Starina
It's true. Columbia kids are crazy. I was chilling with the dude who's dad is the CEO Pfizer. He was cute. I kinda wanted to fuck him... just to get a discount on prescriptions...
I mean... if you play hacky-sack with a few CEOs' kids, the daughter of some dignitaries, the children of ambassadors, etc. you can rest assured that you'll do well in life.
I truly believe this system was designed to be prohibitively expensive to keep the riff-raff away from the rich folk's chillunz. God forbid they mingle with the likes of me....
::)
That's totally not true. I was completely broke the whole time I went to Stanford and so was my family.
Those kind of places are actually *easier* to attend if you are poor than mid level privates b/c they can adhere to the federal expected ontribution to the letter, usually with mostly grants, whereas mid levels don't have the funding to always do that.
That said - yeah there were a ton of rich kids.
Sorry to bristle but I had years of people assuming I was silver spoons and it got old really fast.
/recieved over $90K in grants from Stanford
//still worked at least two jobs at all times
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Re: Does where you went to college really matter?
I'm familiar with all the colleges you mentioned. The Claremont Colleges are great, but if you are going to have to go to grad school I personally wouldn't want all that debt. You will save some money transferring, but that's still what, 30,000 per year.
If you are really unhappy at UCLA, I can't imagine you liking Cal much more. UCLA is a great school, but I don't think it will open many more doors than Cal Poly.
It's tough commuting to a school like UCLA. Living in the dorms or nearby apartments really makes a difference in the "college experience."
Good Luck with whatever you decide.
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Re: Does where you went to college really matter?
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Originally Posted by
AmazingKat
I think I'm very much in the same boat as Scarlett. I was a little worried about losing the connections that the more prestigious school has but I think the more "out of the box" approach I take to everything usually wins. I got into the prestigious school in the first place by homeschooling myself my last two years of high school and then doing well on my SATs and a few community college classes I took concurrently. I like doing things the hard way or at least the unconventional way so to speak. I tend to follow what I'm interested in, sometimes too much, more than whats easy or whats going to make me money.
Note also that you get more 'big fish' stuff when you go to a smaller school...everyone in the science dept at my school either knows me or knows of me, and some are pretty decently high-ranked people in my field. I've been abe to build friendships with people in the field that would not have been possible at a larger school, and I also get to represent my school at pretty much anything science-related ;). It all adds up to a good academic experience.
PS, I homeschooled myself for grades 11 and 12 too!I have an academic doppelganger :D
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Re: Does where you went to college really matter?
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Originally Posted by
Samba
I'm familiar with all the colleges you mentioned. The Claremont Colleges are great, but if you are going to have to go to grad school I personally wouldn't want all that debt. You will save some money transferring, but that's still what, 30,000 per year.
If you are really unhappy at UCLA, I can't imagine you liking Cal much more. UCLA is a great school, but I don't think it will open many more doors than Cal Poly.
It's tough commuting to a school like UCLA. Living in the dorms or nearby apartments really makes a difference in the "college experience."
Good Luck with whatever you decide.
Good point. Claremonts are ridiculous. I'm going to be 100K in debt for grad school I might as well avoid the 60k from undergrad as best I can. I think sticking with a state school for my undergrad and then going for a decent name for grad school will help. I do know USC is the top PT program and I'm just hoping Cal Poly is a ritzy enough name to get in there. But thats a question for admissions when I go tour campus.
I ended up communting because UCLAs dorms and nearby apts are still far far out of my price range.
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Re: Does where you went to college really matter?
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Originally Posted by
scarlett_vancouver
Note also that you get more 'big fish' stuff when you go to a smaller school...everyone in the science dept at my school either knows me or knows of me, and some are pretty decently high-ranked people in my field. I've been abe to build friendships with people in the field that would not have been possible at a larger school, and I also get to represent my school at pretty much anything science-related ;). It all adds up to a good academic experience.
PS, I homeschooled myself for grades 11 and 12 too!I have an academic doppelganger :D
And hopefully smaller school/ better friendships = outstanding recommendations. I'm so excited distance learning classes are taking off as well. I swear the classes I took over the internet (at the same school) prepared me just as well as attending in class. I still read the same materials and went in for the same tests, it just enabled me to work full time and go to school full time.
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Re: Does where you went to college really matter?
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Originally Posted by
OdysseusNJ
Sorry to bristle but I had years of people assuming I was silver spoons and it got old really fast.
Meh... never assumed you were a silver spooner. I was just bitching about the whole situation in general.
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Re: Does where you went to college really matter?
Westwood from the 15 is a nightmare commute! I'd be miserable making that drive. If you go back for any reason, have some diddy riese for me.
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Re: Does where you went to college really matter?
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Originally Posted by
AmazingKat
Good point. Claremonts are ridiculous. I'm going to be 100K in debt for grad school I might as well avoid the 60k from undergrad as best I can. I think sticking with a state school for my undergrad and then going for a decent name for grad school will help. I do know USC is the top PT program and I'm just hoping Cal Poly is a ritzy enough name to get in there. But thats a question for admissions when I go tour campus.
I ended up communting because UCLAs dorms and nearby apts are still far far out of my price range.
That is what you need to aim for, Grad School. If you go to Po Dunk Community College for your undergraduate, and then go to Harvard for graduate. The latter is all anyone is ever going to care about.
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Re: Does where you went to college really matter?
Oh I live right off the 605 and 60. I travel up the interstate 15 to work at clubs in Nevada and Montana.
In morning rush hour (to make 10am classes) its still a two and a half hour drive from here.
I have never been to Diddy but I'm going back this week to let the academic counselors know what I'm doing and wrap up things. I'm majorly PMSing so I might have to make a stop