Why is better to go to a ivy league if we all get the same jobs at the end?

Answer 1

Sometimes the difference is in who you meet at the Ivy League university, and what you make of the experience. Let me relate a story.

Over 30 years ago I was studying for my bachelor's degree in economics at an Ivy League university. I went to a special math department lecture, where I met a distinguished older gentleman who was sitting next to me.

He asked what my specialty would be. I had just started a course in econometrics (statistics applied to economics) that semester, and so, even though I did not yet know the subject well, I said "econometrics".

He was intrigued. He asked me "have you heard of the Durbin-Watson statistic?". Now, I was later to find out that the Durbin Watson statistic is critcal when you are trying to find relationships among time series data in business. It is a big deal. But I did not know that then ...

"No" , I said.

I could immediately tell that he was in a bit of a huff over my ignorance. He said "Well, you will hear about the Durbin-Watson statistic. And I'm Watson!"


The moral of the story is that at an Ivy League school you can go to a casual lecture and meet people like Watson. Now, an Ivy League university is certainly not the only place that can happen, but it cannot happen everywhere, and it really can happen at an Ivy. What you do with those experiences may make all the difference in the world to you in the end.

Answer 2

You're right. And to the person who replied about the rest of us getting entry-level jobs, you know what, most people don't have ivy-league degrees, that doesn't mean we all end up working for you. Just to give a couple examples, I have one friend who works at microsoft and another one is being paid by google to fly her out for an interview, and they went to a state school. The main thing to an employer is that you can do your job, not what school is on your resume.

And to the person who made the ridiculous comparison of Ivy league to community college. That doesn't even make sense. There's a big difference between having an associate's from a cc than a bachelor's from a non-ivy league.

Answer 3

Bottom line ... you don't get the same jobs in the end!

Like it or not, Ivy League school graduates are more likely to be hired by Ivy League populated businesses. Ivy League populated businesses tend to be well recognized corporate America. It's sometimes referred to as "The Old Boy' network or 'Old Tie Network'. If you can afford the Ivy League education, then you're our 'type' of people ... of course we'll want you here. You will also find yourself moving up the ladder a lot easier than any of the non-Ivy clutter. I'm not saying it's fair ... I'm just telling you that's the way it is.

Know what they call a medical graduate with the lowest mark in his graduating class? Doctor ... and if he's from an Ivy League school, he/she will probably be working at Johns-Hopkins or a Mount Sianai not at a St. Elswhere!

Answer 4

It is not. First of all, you are so right. As long as you have a degree you will be fine. When employers look at applications, it is not the school that will get you the job, but what you did in the school(any school that you go to). People go to ivy league schools for dumb reasons such as the name of a school. The difference between someone that attended and ivy league school and someone going to any average public university, is that the person with the ivy league degree may have 100,000+ in debt and the person that went to the public university may have anywhere from 20,000 to 30,000 in debt. In reality, we all do get the same jobs and get paid the same amount no matter where we went to school. In my opinion ivy league schools sometimes convey bad messages to students such as the fact that if you go to an ivy league school you will get better jobs as in better paying. That is not true. On the other hand, if you are very smart and your parents are willing to help you pay for an ivy league school, then go for it, or if the school has offered you a scholarship, go for it. If you desire to attend an ivy league school, go to one. If you really do not want to attend an ivy league school then do not go, do not be pressured into going somewhere you do not want to go just because someone said that you would get a better job or more money if you went to the school. Good luck, and go to a school where you will be comfortable and you will do fine!!!!

Answer 5

I feel like there isn't a huge difference as far as education goes. I mean, every college has qualified professors, many of them with some of the highest degrees in their field. It makes a difference because the kids who go to Harvard are likely more motivated/ambitious than the kids who go to community college. They work the hardest, and they don't plan on slowing down at any point. The difference between an ivy and a really great private school, though, is just prestige. In my opinion, kids who get into incredible private schools (ie NYU, Vassar, Amherst College, Bowdoin, etc) are just as qualified to go to an ivy.

Answer 6

It depends on where you want to work.

If you want to work on Wall Street, I don't recommend state colleges. Just getting the interview for a Fortune 100 company is harder from second tier schools.

The real differences between ivy league schools and state universities are: cost, who your classmates are, and what companies think. Every other difference is illusionary.

Answer 7

Ask any manager it does not matter after so many years what college or university you went to, in some areas. What matters is smart smart smart, street smart, like the Days of our Lives! Some companies only replace computers every 8 years, consumer cars every 10 years? Government Buildings, get rebuilt?
Look you will find a BA in History working as a Sales Manager after 8 months, even a BA in Nurse working as a Receptionist (but still in a hospital) instead of a AA in Business Administration.

Answer 8

Look at this from an employer's point of view. Would you rather hire a Harvrad graduate, or a community college graduate?

Answer 9

we don't all get the same jobs. We may get the job you end up with at the entry-level.