Does the college you attend affect the value of your degree?? Please answer?

Question

the question above and.. even if you a degree, will someone from a better school get a job over me? and have a better education than me?

Answer 1

There are so many factors that go into the value of a degree and then looking for employment.

Agree that certain colleges/universities garner top quality students and teaching staff. That is, many strive to get in to these places that are well known for high standards. Naturally there will be limits as to how many students are accepted each year at a post secondary school. Thus, these institutions will want to take the best or cream of the crop. These colleges have built a reputation over many years and are better recognised. Same goes with faculty/teaching staff -- they want to teach in the best places, be where they can get funds to do their research, work with top individuals in their fields, etc. Students can gain a lot from who teaches them. Does this add value to their degree? Yes, it does. If your college is known for its strength in the sciences, but you obtain a business degree, then you can perhaps see how this degree might not be as strong as if you had taken a science degree.

In the end, out in the workforce, an employer will tend to lean towards hiring those who have degrees from these reputable institutions. With all things being equal, the name of the institution can be a deciding factor (BUT not a definite factor). Eg) If I am looking for a lawyer to hire, I would pick one who graduated from Harvard Law School, rather than the University of Timbuktu Law School. Certain colleges/universities are easier to get into because they are not as strict in their selection. If not enough people apply to their institution, they cannot set too high of a requirement. Thus, lowering the standard of their institution.
But at the end of the day, a graduate from a top Ivy League school may only be book smart but is a horrible worker in real life.
Therefore, experience also plays a huge role. Some employers want people with experience moreso than education. Your resume is also important. If all you have is education on it (even graduating with honours), it may pale in comparision to someone with a general degree but with lots of experience. It is dependent on what the employer is looking for.

Answer 2

Yes and no. Yes that someone from a better school will have a better chance of getting a better job. No that does not mean that they have a better education.

You determine what kind of education you get. A poor student in a good school will still be a poor student. However, a good student in a poor school can still get a good education if they apply themselves and get as much as they can from the schooling. (ie. A D or C student at a good school is not always as well educated as an A student from a poor school)

People will always look for known indicators of education when making a decision to hire, and a known college/university will look more important than an unknown school, simply because we are attracted to the known quality. But this will not be the only deciding factor in a hiring practice. A good school may open doors for you, but WON'T get you the job.

Answer 3

Yes , the same degree can vary greatly between colleges. You need to look at the core strength areas of a particular college. All colleges are better in some areas than others.
It MAY affect what job you can get, but most employers don't care about the name of the college as long as you have the right skills. There's people who graduate top of the class, and people who graduate average, some graduate from a good college, and some from not so good, but at the end of the day the job they will be working in is the same job.

Answer 4

For one I think it depends on the company and their values. And for two I think it depends on how well you sell yourself at the interview. A Harvard degree isn't nothing without a person who can't do the tasks at hand. Networking seems to be the most important thing. It doesn't matter what degree you have or where it is from if you know someone within the company. So I would suggest forget the degree worries and start making some friends in high places.

Answer 5

Absolutely! There a reason these Ivy league schools cost $30,000+ a year! The degree looks better.

And plus depending on the major, some schools have much better programs, and that is well known within the field.
For instance i went to Alfred University. Their Ceramic Engineering program is one of the best in the world. That degree is more valuable than from another school.

Answer 6

I think it does. If it were a recognized university vs. a community college, the person with the degree from the university may have an advantage with a job. Other factors may affect employment though. However, it certainly doesn't mean that person has a higher quality education.

Answer 7

Only in rare circumstances. Obviously an Ivy League degree looks best (Although it's not worth the extra money in most cases). Master's degrees also count more than bachelor's degrees. And it depends on what field you go into. But 85%, what college gave you the degree matters not at all.

Answer 8

It depends on the field you're in. If you're looking for a job in a competitive market then yes. If two candidates are a close tie, the one with the better school may win out. However, there's a lot riding on your interview and the way you present yourself. People want to hire people who they feel they can work with, people who they want to have around them. So, if you can go to a really good school, I'd say do it, but you are a unique individual. If you can't, then remember to present yourself well, and you have as good a shot as anyone.

Answer 9

Your experiences matter the most. However, if you are similar to another person (including how you came off in a job interview, experiences, grades, etc), then yes, the prestige of your college will come into play.

Depending on what two schools you're comparing, the name of the school can even compensate for other areas.

Answer 10

Work experience counts for a lot as well, but, yeah, "name" schools are seen as better, partially because the idea is that they have better facilities and faculty and therefore offer a better education. How true this is remains to be seen...One of my department's new hires has his PhD from a name school and is dumber than a bag of bricks, while another came from a second tier school and is brilliant.