How much does university name matter? (Ivy League, degrees, schools, accreditation)

[Boosane]

I'm a soon-to-be graduate looking for jobs, and I've been wondering just how much of an impact a school's name has in the job world. I feel like a hiring manager from a low ranked school will look at his fellow alumnus more favorably, than someone from an ivy league school.

[Wavelength]

Depends on the field.

For law and business, it matters a lot.

For tech/engineering, it matters a little bit.

For other fields, I don't think it matters that much.

For worthless degrees, it doesn't matter at all. Starbucks and unemployment office doesn't care where you got your degree.

[stradivarius]

Originally Posted by Boosane

I'm a soon-to-be graduate looking for jobs, and I've been wondering just how much of an impact a school's name has in the job world. I feel like a hiring manager from a low ranked school will look at his fellow alumnus more favorably, than someone from an ivy league school.

Interesting take. I think it all depends on the hiring manager. As one in a technical and quantitative field myself, a candidate's school does matter to a certain extent, but it all comes down to whether or not s/he is a good fit for the job and whether or not the job itself is a good fit for him/her. Also, as a hiring manager, I would want nothing more than very talented folks working for and with me because I don't know it all. But that doesn't necessarily mean that s/he needed a 3.9 GPA in Masters of Quantitative Finance from Princeton.

Also, this may be purely anecdotal, but after my wife decided to return to the workforce a year or so ago, upon updating her resume to highlight her Ivy League and Masters education, she started receiving many more callbacks.

[Pitt Chick]

Originally Posted by Boosane

I feel like a hiring manager from a low ranked school will look at his fellow alumnus more favorably, than someone from an ivy league school.

That is assuming that alums from that low ranking school make it to hiring manager...

[sjdemak]

Top 10 universities will make a difference, anything else is pretty much the same. For tech atleast.

[greenvillebuckeye]

Originally Posted by Wavelength

Depends on the field.

For law and business, it matters a lot.

For tech/engineering, it matters a little bit.

For other fields, I don't think it matters that much.

For worthless degrees, it doesn't matter at all. Starbucks and unemployment office doesn't care where you got your degree.

I would agree with law. If you're a new law school grad in SC you'll have a tough time getting a job if you didn't attend USC in columbia. If you go to the charleston school of law your chances are grossly diminished (aside from the fact that the school is on the brink of losing accreditation haha). Was talking with a young lady a year ago who was a CSL grad who graduated towards the very top of her class who said she was losing out to mid level USC grads because firms across the state are littered with and controlled by USC alums. Long story short if you want to practice law in SC go to USC haha.

[Scared to Life]

Originally Posted by greenvillebuckeye

I would agree with law. If you're a new law school grad in SC you'll have a tough time getting a job if you didn't attend USC in columbia. If you go to the charleston school of law your chances are grossly diminished (aside from the fact that the school is on the brink of losing accreditation haha). Was talking with a young lady a year ago who was a CSL grad who graduated towards the very top of her class who said she was losing out to mid level USC grads because firms across the state are littered with and controlled by USC alums. Long story short if you want to practice law in SC go to USC haha.

Same here in GA, if you did not go to UGA, getting a law job is not that easy. All of my lawyer teachers are UGA Alums. Georgia is lucky to have 3 decently ranked law schools though. Emory at #19, UGA at #29, and GSU at #64.

But back to the original question, I recently read an article that stated most hiring managers could care less where you went to school. I think the statistic for HMs that care was something like 12% who cared; the rest were looking for the most qualified candidate.

[dnvrsoul]

For law school, I agree with the above ...for business...just don't go to a for profit school and you are fine.

[aboveordinary]

Originally Posted by Wavelength

Depends on the field.

For law and business, it matters a lot.

For tech/engineering, it matters a little bit.

For other fields, I don't think it matters that much.

For worthless degrees, it doesn't matter at all. Starbucks and unemployment office doesn't care where you got your degree.

Wow you've got serious issues. Every one of your posts shows deep bitterness and insecurities.

[Wavelength]

Originally Posted by aboveordinary

Wow you've got serious issues. Every one of your posts shows deep bitterness and insecurities.

I'm sorry. Did I hurt your feelings?