Does the prestige for a university really matter for a degree?

Question

Does the reputation and prestige of a university really affect your BA/MA/etc degree or is it just a phony rumor? Is it really going to affect your future which university you go to?

Answer 1

assuming you live in the USA the answer is NO. there was a article on MSN Money about this a month or so ago and the author interviewed some head hanchos in some of the biggest companies like HP and what not, almost all of them said it did not matter while a small percentage said it did, but good news for you and me and everyone else that is less fortunate 95% of employers do not really care what college you got your degree from, what is important though is that you have solid refrences and a good internship or two, you have to also demonstrate that you are qualified for the job (thats where the internship would come on handy) so my advice is do not waste your money, save it for food and other stuff that would need, good luck

Answer 2

When it comes to job hunting, it can be a factor. For example, when I first moved out West, employers were generally impressed with my East Coast degree, even though it wasn't from an ivy league school. Seems just their opinion of the East was that schools are good.

And if you walk in with a degree from say Harvard, and I have one from University of Kansas, which one stands out more? Harvard!

Now that does NOT mean you necessarily get a better education simply because the school is more prestigious, but rather it has the name recognition. In reality, any legitimate and reputable school can give you a solid education that adequately prepares you for life after graduation.

But going to a named school does carry some weight in people's minds. And if I have a choice between two candidates, with one being from what I perceive as a more prestigious school, then I might lean towards that person.

So the institution's name recognition and status / prestige can be a factor, but it's usually not the only factor for success.

Answer 3

I do not know what country you live in, but in my opinion college is not important in the USA. If you are not going to be a doctor or engineer college is completely unnecessary.