If I go to a 4th tier College but do really well there, can it be just as good as going to 1st/2nd tier?

Question

I am going to a 4th tier school since it is good commute, is close, and the campus is gorgeous. However, I checked out its rankings and it is 4th tier. If I get on the Dean's list, stay active, stay involved, get into student governance organizations, join a fraternity, make all A's, be in honors college, and even join some Reserve branch of the military, could I have a just as good a chance and record after graduation as a graduate of a 1st/2nd tier school?

Answer 1

Yes and no.

It may well be possible to get a great education there. But since most of the students there do not get a great education, doors won't open for you the way they will for someone who went to a "better" school. You will have to push those doors open and prove that you are as good as they are. Once you prove yourself to them -- it won't matter where you went.

The only problem is that some companies may not give you the chance to prove yourself.

The other problem for you is that if you want to go to graduate school -- it will be harder for you to get into a top school. You can do it -- but you need to make sure everything else is perfect.