how important is a prestigious college when aplying for a job?

Question

I am thirteen years old. Like almost everyone I know, I also want to make it to a UC college. However, if I don't make it to a UC or even a CSU, then would it keep me away from a decent job with a decent salary?

Answer 1

No, an education from an accredited college will get you a decent job with a decent salary. In the USA people with B.A.'s earn one million dollars more than those students with a high school diploma over their career span. When you are interviewed they want to know that you graduated and, yes, more prestigeous universities get you a job sooner. Remember that what you put into education is what you get out of it. By the way, if you're looking into top schools, how about Stanford, Harvard, maybe?

Answer 2

This very much depends on what you want to do. A prestigious university will give you more options, but some people know what they want to do and don't really need a lot of options. For example, if it is your goal to be a police officer or an elementary school teacher, you really don't need to go to UC Berkeley and would do just as well to go to a CSU campus. On the other hand, if you are trying to get into medical school, or if you want to work on Wall Street, or to work as a management consultant, you either have to go to a very prestigious school or greatly improve your career chances if you do so.

Answer 3

I dont quite agree with Shadow. From personal experience I am telling you that it is better to be at the bottom of the class of a top notch college than to top a tier2 college. This is because after a few yrs. in the job nobody exactly cares whether you were first or twenty first in the class as long as you satisfy the minimum eligibility criteria.

You can pick up any business magazine / newspaper to check the difference in pay packages and positions offered to graduates from colleges having different rankings.

So i would suggest you to give it your best shot and try to get in the most elite institute possible. All the best

Answer 4

The name of a prestigious university always looks good on your CV for later life.

Having said that, not all successful people in life are Harvard or Princeton graduates.Nevertheless, somebody from Harvard or Princeton is not likely to ''fail'' in his career because he would have been bright to be admitted in the first place.

Answer 5

Getting good grades (straight As would be best) is more important than going to a prestigious college. You can make more money if you get good grades at a calstate college than if you fail at Stanford.

Answer 6

Going to a "prestigious" college could turn out to be the worst move you could ever make. So why not do what is right for you ?

Answer 7

It really depends on what the job is, and what your major is, just going to Stanford or Wheaton will not get you any job you want.

Answer 8

i think it is better to be the top of the class in a slightly less prestigous university than at the bottom of the class or mid-level at a more prestigous one.