Does the name of your university matter?

[Drako]

Yes,

Usually if I see someone with Stanford or USC on their resume, I pretty much know they are going to be an azzhat .

 

[ghostman]

I have no clue how companies decide what schools are in what tiers. USNews has some rankings, but I generally consider their rankings to be junk:
http://colleges.usnews.ranking...ef/t1natudoc_brief.php
http://colleges.usnews.ranking...ef/t3natudoc_brief.php

I know two people who went to RPI for IS (or MIS... I don't know what they call it). One was recruited by Deloitte and the other was recruited by Citi. But also remember, it's not just your school that matters. You have to be above average with many firms having certain GPA minimums to even be considered for many positions (I've seen 3.2 and 3.5 cutoffs). It also helps significantly if you work or intern at a relevant position.

 

[roguerower]

I can't say anything about the job force since I'm still an undergrad, but from my perspective, my program has carried a lot of weight.

I'm in the school of construction here at VT and so far it seems that it is really well known. The program holds two *construction only* career fairs a year, one in the fall and one in the spring, and they are always sold out, not to mention some companies will just pay to get the resumes of the students. Granted engineers will also come to try their hands but it's mainly construction oriented.

The school has a good curriculum and being in the College of Architecture doesn't hurt (it's currently ranked #1 undergrad in the nation...LINK). I would tend to lean towards the fact that the program helps more than the name if it isn't an ivy.

 

[Parasitic]

Originally posted by: narreth
What "tier" is a school like RPI or Purdue at?

For undergrad engineering? Maybe lower first, upper second.

 

[narreth]

I'm sorry I didn't specify program/etc. I'm interested in compsci/comp engineering/chemical engineering/material engineering. I'm still in HS as well. I'm looking at colleges now. Do any of you guys know anything about University of Waterloo.

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: narreth
When applying for a job/graduate school, how much does it matter which school you went to? (eg. MIT vs. Purdue vs. RPI and so on)

Job... absolutely. High-end job are very pick about where you want for undergrad. Grad school s take it under consideration (aka got average GPA at community college vs MIT)

 

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: Drako
Yes,

Usually if I see someone with Stanford or USC on their resume, I pretty much know they are going to be an azzhat .

 

[dr150]

Originally posted by: Hyperlite
I would worry less about the school and more about the respective program. Find out how the program is viewed from the respective field.

^^^

An engineer from a no name state school will make far more than a liberal arts major from an "Ivy" level school.

Life is too short, so sacrifice and get yourself an engineering or science degree at a well respected program that's light on the wallet.

 

[IEC]

Originally posted by: Mo0o
but i interpreted as admissions committees giving Duke applicants a GPA boost since we're known to have a tough pre-med series that doesn't do grad inflation.

You're right on. Duke likes its bell curves, and when you have a bunch of smart people and geniuses all together you can work very hard and still be average.

 

[Drako]

Originally posted by: Ns1

Originally posted by: Drako
Yes,

Usually if I see someone with Stanford or USC on their resume, I pretty much know they are going to be an azzhat .

Granted my experiance is anecdotal, but of the 8 or so people I have worked with from those esteemed institutions, all would qualify as stated above.

 

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: Drako

Originally posted by: Ns1

Originally posted by: Drako
Yes,

Usually if I see someone with Stanford or USC on their resume, I pretty much know they are going to be an azzhat .

Granted my experiance is anecdotal, but of the 8 or so people I have worked with from those esteemed institutions, all would qualify as stated above.

Well we haven't worked together so I guess I reserve judgement =P

 

[Drako]

Originally posted by: Ns1

Originally posted by: Drako

Originally posted by: Ns1

Originally posted by: Drako
Yes,

Usually if I see someone with Stanford or USC on their resume, I pretty much know they are going to be an azzhat .

Granted my experiance is anecdotal, but of the 8 or so people I have worked with from those esteemed institutions, all would qualify as stated above.

Well we haven't worked together so I guess I reserve judgement =P

Indeed!

It is pretty strange looking back at all the people I've worked with over the years here in the SF bay area, San Jose State people have been the best people to work with. Stanford, Berkekley, USC, not so much. I'm not sure why that is.

 

[dr150]

Drako,
Maybe you're the azzhat who has an inferiority complex.

I'm a grad from one of those N. Cali schools and I have good friends from the others you mentioned--all hard working.

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: Drako
It is pretty strange looking back at all the people I've worked with over the years here in the SF bay area, San Jose State people have been the best people to work with. Stanford, Berkekley, USC, not so much. I'm not sure why that is.

Because all three > UCLA

w00t!

 

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: Drako
It is pretty strange looking back at all the people I've worked with over the years here in the SF bay area, San Jose State people have been the best people to work with. Stanford, Berkekley, USC, not so much. I'm not sure why that is.

Because all three > UCLA

w00t!

I'm gonna daresay it's because all 3 think they're hot shit and want to run everything. Thus they will probably end up butting heads cuz they are over confident and think they know everything.

If that's the case, then yeah I'd probably agree with your assessment.

 

[CanOWorms]

For engineering, where you get your degree doesn't matter that much. Most people don't even know what the rankings are like and what school is good beyond MIT and Harvard.

 

[SludgeFactory]

In engineering, undergrad curricula are fairly standard whether you're going to a top ten school or small state U. In that respect, if you're aspiring to go to grad school one day, I think engineering is a little more "forgiving" about name than some other fields of study. High GPA/GRE/kickass recommendations from the smaller state school will make you a competitive applicant to get into big time engineering grad schools. (You do want to step up to a bigger name grad school if at all possible.)

Big name school:
Name may give you an edge in competing nationally for jobs.
Big, respected companies target your school and come recruit you.
Tons of research $$$$ = better facilities, equipment, computers, software, research opportunities, etc. (sounds great but undergrad degree is focused on classroom and basic stuff, whether you benefit a lot from these resources depends on how much initiative and time you're willing to invest as an undergrad)

Small state school:
Most likely cheaper.
May offer better classroom instruction due to smaller classes and (possibly) not having piss-poor TA's teaching major classes.
Campus recruiting will be restricted mostly to local/regional companies. If you want to get in with a major company 2000 miles away, you're going to have to do some legwork and possibly overcome some biases.

Wherever you decide to go, do internships as an engineering undergrad. IMO they should probably be required at all schools. You will be far more competitive as a job candidate with that experience, and you will likely do better in interviews.

 

[BrownTown]

Originally posted by: dr150
An engineer from a no name state school will make far more than a liberal arts major from an "Ivy" level school.

is my sarcasm meter broken or what? You can't be serious?

 

[Imdmn04]

The name itself may not matter too much, but the amount of networking u make in an ivy-league college will benefit you a lifetime.

Most affluent families goto ivy league schools even though their kids may not be that smart, for example George Bush. However, if you had frat bros like George Bush, it can easily pave your future.

 

[KingGheedora]

A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME WOULD SMELL AS SWEET.

 

[Special K]

Originally posted by: CanOWorms
For engineering, where you get your degree doesn't matter that much. Most people don't even know what the rankings are like and what school is good beyond MIT and Harvard.

Harvard isn't even ranked in the top 20 for engineering.

I guess you just proved your own point

However, I will say that your statement is wrong in the sense that I know several well-known EE companies that only recruit from the top 10 or so schools.

 

[jman19]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: JS80
Easier to get your foot in the door
Easier to network
Doesn't mean crap once you're in.

QFT.

Doesn't mean much past your first job.

Yeah, but your first job matters for your second

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: SludgeFactory
In engineering, undergrad curricula are fairly standard whether you're going to a top ten school or small state U. In that respect, if you're aspiring to go to grad school one day, I think engineering is a little more "forgiving" about name than some other fields of study. High GPA/GRE/kickass recommendations from the smaller state school will make you a competitive applicant to get into big time engineering grad schools. (You do want to step up to a bigger name grad school if at all possible.)

Big name school:
Name may give you an edge in competing nationally for jobs.
Big, respected companies target your school and come recruit you.
Tons of research $$$$ = better facilities, equipment, computers, software, research opportunities, etc. (sounds great but undergrad degree is focused on classroom and basic stuff, whether you benefit a lot from these resources depends on how much initiative and time you're willing to invest as an undergrad)

Small state school:
Most likely cheaper.
May offer better classroom instruction due to smaller classes and (possibly) not having piss-poor TA's teaching major classes.
Campus recruiting will be restricted mostly to local/regional companies. If you want to get in with a major company 2000 miles away, you're going to have to do some legwork and possibly overcome some biases.

Wherever you decide to go, do internships as an engineering undergrad. IMO they should probably be required at all schools. You will be far more competitive as a job candidate with that experience, and you will likely do better in interviews.

Quick question - have you ever hired somebody based on their gpa or where they went to post-highschool?

It really doesn't matter. Get your degree and go from there, but it doesn't matter where your degree came from. it's just a piece of paper and after a few years all that comparing schools and programs and gpa will mean nothing in the "real world".

 

[KKR]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: SludgeFactory
In engineering, undergrad curricula are fairly standard whether you're going to a top ten school or small state U. In that respect, if you're aspiring to go to grad school one day, I think engineering is a little more "forgiving" about name than some other fields of study. High GPA/GRE/kickass recommendations from the smaller state school will make you a competitive applicant to get into big time engineering grad schools. (You do want to step up to a bigger name grad school if at all possible.)

Big name school:
Name may give you an edge in competing nationally for jobs.
Big, respected companies target your school and come recruit you.
Tons of research $$$$ = better facilities, equipment, computers, software, research opportunities, etc. (sounds great but undergrad degree is focused on classroom and basic stuff, whether you benefit a lot from these resources depends on how much initiative and time you're willing to invest as an undergrad)

Small state school:
Most likely cheaper.
May offer better classroom instruction due to smaller classes and (possibly) not having piss-poor TA's teaching major classes.
Campus recruiting will be restricted mostly to local/regional companies. If you want to get in with a major company 2000 miles away, you're going to have to do some legwork and possibly overcome some biases.

Wherever you decide to go, do internships as an engineering undergrad. IMO they should probably be required at all schools. You will be far more competitive as a job candidate with that experience, and you will likely do better in interviews.

Quick question - have you ever hired somebody based on their gpa or where they went to post-highschool?

It really doesn't matter. Get your degree and go from there, but it doesn't matter where your degree came from. it's just a piece of paper and after a few years all that comparing schools and programs and gpa will mean nothing in the "real world".

Yes and yes.

Lucrative jobs often screen candidates first by recruiting exclusively at ultra-selective schools and then by selecting interviewees based on GPA (3.5 is a common cutoff). GPA is an excellent indication of work ethic, while SAT's are used to evaluate raw intelligence. The summer McKinsey class in New York last year was comprised of 20 students, 12 of whom were from Harvard, and all of whom had GPA's >3.8 and >1550 SAT's.

A degree is not just a piece of paper. Your post high school (particularly undergraduate) institution will follow you the rest of your life and will be something people instantly judge you by.

 

[CanOWorms]

Originally posted by: Special K

Originally posted by: CanOWorms
For engineering, where you get your degree doesn't matter that much. Most people don't even know what the rankings are like and what school is good beyond MIT and Harvard.

Harvard isn't even ranked in the top 20 for engineering.

I guess you just proved your own point

However, I will say that your statement is wrong in the sense that I know several well-known EE companies that only recruit from the top 10 or so schools.

Actually, I didn't mean to mention Harvard for its engineering ranking, just its general name factor. However, it used to be a top 20 engineering school and it is still very well regarded for engineering. Personally, I would be more impressed from an MS/PhD from Harvard than Texas A&M or some other school like that, but that's just my opinion. Rankings aren't everything.

I live & work in Silicon Valley where most well-known EE companies have offices. They recruit from all over the place, even local schools like San Jose State. Chances are that if you give me a name from your list of well-known EE companies, they hire at places outside of the top 10 (top 10 what? top 10 engineering schools? top 10 overall?).

Obviously some schools are farmed for talent though. I myself went to a top-ranked school, but I feel like it didn't help too much. It was well-regarded by my interviewers, but I don't think that it gave a monumental boost. The individual matters much more than the school.

That's just engineering though. There are many other professions where it is a huge thing.