When there comes a time to pick a school to continue your education I am more than sure that you start imagining yourself being a student of Harvard or Yale University. These are the schools that everybody knows. Everyone dreams to get into it and then for sure your life will turn into a dream and money will fall from the sky
This is the most common picture that a person might imagine when being asked about these schools. Is it really so? And what about those who are not "the ones" to enter an elite private club? Are they doomed for the rest of their life?
Just several years ago i strongly believed that the Ivy League is the best option possible on the planet Earth. And i was really shocked to learn that there are people (many people) who are against getting a degree in a top school. Why this might ever happen and what are the reasons?
First, and the most important issue is money. State school can cost you $6,000 whereas Ivy League is $40,000 per year. Before getting into such a debt you need to make sure you will be able to pay it off eventually.
It is believed that the more expensive the school the better education it gives you. It's pretty much true but not always. Of course there are more Nobel prize winners in expensive schools but it doesn't mean that the faculty in other schools is a bunch of unskilled and unprofessional losers. It is totally wrong. It has been noticed that in Ivy League schools Professors are too busy with their researches and other activities so it is hard to get their attention and students mostly have to deal with their assistants. Whereas in State schools it is easier to get an appointment with a Professor and get to talk to him/her personally about your work or seek for an advise. In State schools student are less left alone than in Ivy League schools. But at the same time if you happen to get an appointment with an Ivy League Professor and if he happens to like you then you can be sure you just got a very useful person for your network.
When it comes to companies and their hiring strategies the statistics have shown that the Ivy League graduates are not on the first position here. Hiring managers prefer hiring from top state universities and explain it by saying that top state universities graduates fit their company culture better and show good and steady results. And as compared to Ivy League students they don't accomplish work any worse but at the same time they don't demand as high salary as Ivy League students usually do.
Ivy League schools are well known for its network opportunities since you happen to meet many bright talented students who can be very useful in the future. But it doesn't mean that State schools don't have bright students as well. Ivy League schools can't accept all the smart students and have to refuse to most of them. So students chose other schools which are more than happy to accept them.
It is also important regardless of whatever school you attend what are your other activities, hobbies or projects that you participate into. I don't think that a Harvard student is a better job candidate if there is a State school graduate compared to him who is a School Football team player or has participated in Conferences and Projects to improve the life on Earth. This is the most personal part of your resume that helps you distinguish yourself from others and reveal the true you.
Apart from a school name and your activities there are also many Certificates, Professional Unions and other possibilities to distinguish yourself. Especially when in Internet Era it has become easier than ever to get an access to books, online courses, lectures and what not it is really silly not to use it all. So the school name for employers has become less important whereas your degree and your outstanding achievements play a much greater role.
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