2 answers
Laela
Student
Alexandria, Virginia
2
Questions
Updated
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Do prestigious universities have better employment prospects for graduates or do employers only care that you got a diploma?
I want to study at the University of Cardiff which is a top school in the UK but its expensive so I want to make sure it will be worth the investment.
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2 answers
Joseph Neilson
Radiation Detection Physicist
265
Answers
Oxford, England, United Kingdom
Updated
Joseph’s Answer
It depends quite a lot. For some things, employers can really value a qualification from a high quality institution. For other things and other employers, a degree is just a tick in the box, and what they're really looking for is other forms of experience and a certain mindset.
Some questions that factor into that:
What subject?
What's your plans after graduating?
What else do you want to get out of the university experience?
Are you a top student to match a top university?
It's particularly a subject-specific thing - some fields of employment need specialist knowledge and skills and the quality of education in that subject and thus the institution really matters, whilst others a degree pretty much from anywhere and sometimes in almost any subject is just seen as a checkmark that you're intellectually capable for the role, and then they're looking at other things - what you did extracurricularly, what internships and other work you've done, how you fit into a team - things that are less to do with the university itself.
One thing to note is that perceptions of university quality are not the same in all places. If you're thinking about staying in the UK on a graduate visa, the local perception of degrees from certain universities can be different to the international perception. In the UK, university reputation stands on a subject-by-subject basis, and it's more a question of whether it's a good university *for your degree choice*. Cardiff is a strong university, and is considered one of the top few in the UK for certain degrees, especially medical topics and some others like civil engineering and architecture. It's also considered a respectable choice for many other programmes, but might not necessarily be considered quite as highly as other universities for certain degree subjects.
If however you're wanting to return to Virginia (or go elsewhere) after graduation, people are less likely to be familiar with Cardiff. Some will perhaps be aware of Cardiff only as the capital of Wales and assume a capital city university must be good. Others might look it up, but perhaps only go as far as overall rankings rather than breaking it down to subject rankings. Others may value "study abroad" as a strong indication of motivation and independence without caring too much for exactly which institution.
Some questions that factor into that:
What subject?
What's your plans after graduating?
What else do you want to get out of the university experience?
Are you a top student to match a top university?
It's particularly a subject-specific thing - some fields of employment need specialist knowledge and skills and the quality of education in that subject and thus the institution really matters, whilst others a degree pretty much from anywhere and sometimes in almost any subject is just seen as a checkmark that you're intellectually capable for the role, and then they're looking at other things - what you did extracurricularly, what internships and other work you've done, how you fit into a team - things that are less to do with the university itself.
One thing to note is that perceptions of university quality are not the same in all places. If you're thinking about staying in the UK on a graduate visa, the local perception of degrees from certain universities can be different to the international perception. In the UK, university reputation stands on a subject-by-subject basis, and it's more a question of whether it's a good university *for your degree choice*. Cardiff is a strong university, and is considered one of the top few in the UK for certain degrees, especially medical topics and some others like civil engineering and architecture. It's also considered a respectable choice for many other programmes, but might not necessarily be considered quite as highly as other universities for certain degree subjects.
If however you're wanting to return to Virginia (or go elsewhere) after graduation, people are less likely to be familiar with Cardiff. Some will perhaps be aware of Cardiff only as the capital of Wales and assume a capital city university must be good. Others might look it up, but perhaps only go as far as overall rankings rather than breaking it down to subject rankings. Others may value "study abroad" as a strong indication of motivation and independence without caring too much for exactly which institution.
Nathalye Lopez
40
Answers
Updated
Nathalye’s Answer
Hi Laela,
I've seen both sides of this. I'm at the University of Southern California (USC), and the network here is huge. I've heard of students getting interviews because alumni were looking specifically for USC grads. Coming from a medical background, I feel there's a strong demand for this specialty. However, some jobs focus only on your skills, like whether you can place sutures. Going to a prestigious school is worth it, but you need to be proactive. Attend health fairs, networking dinners, and all the events your school offers. It will pay off!
I've seen both sides of this. I'm at the University of Southern California (USC), and the network here is huge. I've heard of students getting interviews because alumni were looking specifically for USC grads. Coming from a medical background, I feel there's a strong demand for this specialty. However, some jobs focus only on your skills, like whether you can place sutures. Going to a prestigious school is worth it, but you need to be proactive. Attend health fairs, networking dinners, and all the events your school offers. It will pay off!