Any way to draw attention away from the University you attended for undergrad?

Question

I got my undergraduate degree from a not well known and not very good university (Ohio Northern - I am sure you have never heard of it). Although I could have gone to several very very good schools for very little cost, my parents made me go there because they went there. I felt that the presence of it's name on my resume was worse than not including it, but is there anyway around that for application to a consulting firm? I am including a masters/phd from UCLA.

I guess I meant not Harvard by not a good undergrad...

Answer 1

It would look weird to not have it on your resume. They'll think you are trying to hide something (which you are) and it will reflect poorly on you.

Let's face it--people can name probably 10 colleges off the top of their head, like Harvard and Yale and local/state schools in their area. There are hundreds of other undergraduate schools out there! People from those schools still get jobs, right?

And you are correct, I've never heard of Ohio Northern, BUT I wouldn't have known it was a "bad" school until you said so! : ) I am assuming that since you went to UCLA for a masters/PhD that you did well in your "bad" undergraduate school. Really, I think that is all that matters.

Chances are the employer will not know that the school is "bad" and will not take the time to look at their "rankings" or whatever--they have other things to do! So I wouldn't worry about it. As long as you performed well in that crappy undergrad, who cares? After all, you do have UCLA on your resume. *jealous, want to go there for law school* Good luck.

Answer 2

I have heard of Ohio Northern, it is a nice small school. My favorite kind! And if you have not checked out the website lately, I just did and they are ranked #2 by US News and World Report for Midwest schools. Personally I think the rankings are pointless, but it proves that you didn't attend a "no-name" school.

Assuming UCLA has a reputable masters/PhD program in your field, your undergrad must have been good enough to get you in there so it can't be a "bad" school entirely. Somebody thought it was good enough to prepare you to do grad school work, and since you got the degree apparently they were right.

An employer is looking for someone who can fit into their organization and presumably improve it in some way. That depends entirely on your personality, skills and knowledge. They can train you to use their system, but they can't train you to think, write, and communicate. That is what college is supposed to do.

You are worrying way too much. Just like grad school didn't care about your high school grades, employers don't care about your undergrad. Many don't even ask for your grad school grades, just proof that you finished.

Answer 3

Highlight anything that would increase one's knowledge of the school. E.g. "Among the top 100 private four-year colleges and small universities in Peterson’s Competitive College Guide (2006)". Look to how the school promotes itself for ideas.

Highlight your performance there. Especially anything that puts you at the top.

Put the education experience at the end of the resume.

Do not NOT list it. It would look like you're hiding something.

While there certainly is a bias toward certain schools during the interview process, smart recruiters / HR folks know that there is more to a person's resume that just one specific school. If there's any question in their mind, they will look to your strengths in other areas of the resume.

Trying to talk about what schools you could have gone to would be a mistake as it would invariably come out as defensive.

Answer 4

Wow... I actually have heard of it and know a lot about it. Someone once told me it was almost an Ivy League school it was so good. Haha I guess not! To answer your question though, I wish I could help but i'm really not sure! Good luck though!

Answer 5

Your graduate work will be given more attention because you have gone beyond a baccalaureate degree and due to the fact that you earned a masters and phd from UCLA. Congratulations on your accomplishments thus far!

Best wishes to you!