Does going to a big name school like Harvard or Johns Hopkins really help?

Question

A coworker told me that going to a big name school helps a lot when it comes to getting jobs. I am thinking of going to the Johns Hopkins University, Tulane or staying at Univ. of South Carolina to get my Masters degree in public health. However, tuition would be really expensive at Johns Hopkins so I was wondering whether it is really worth it to go to a big name school?

Answer 1

It totally depends. Obviously, in some fields, such as business and investment banking, it matters a huge deal. In others, no one could care less.

Another big factor is location. Say you're interviewing in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Many employers there are probably UNC Chapel Hill graduates, and are probably more eager to hire a fellow UNC grad as well. They might even hire a UNC grad over an Ivy grad for this reason. Of course, it works the other way around as well.

Answer 2

I agree with the person above me, it depends on your career path, for example, if u wanna be a nurse, NO ONE CARES where u went to school because the demand is so high because there is a shortage of nurses. On the other hand, in a field like Advertising, there is so much competition, your school name could help u land a job.

Answer 3

It can make a HUGE difference. When I go to conferences, since I currently work at a mid-sized regional university, people look at my nametag and walk right past me. When one of my former classmates introduces me to the same person and mentions that we were classmates at Big Name School together, all of a sudden they treat me like a human being. It's hypocritical (I'm the same person I was a minute earlier when I was ignored) and extremely annoying, but it is a fact.

Answer 4

Depends on what you want to do. Some companies only allow or prefer brand name degrees. You might be able to have better networking opportunities at those schools. Ultimately, it depends on what your career path is.

Answer 5

It does help. People are impressed, whether they should be or not. And you can make connections with other students and alumni that can also help you advance. But only you can decide if it's worth it.