4 answers
Sohalia
Student
Singapore
7
Questions
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Is it better to go to a well known university for an undergraduate degree or masters?
#university #college #degree #college-major
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4 answers
Mikayla Hall
Avant-Garde Learning Professional
3
Answers
California, California
Updated
Mikayla’s Answer
If your plan is to obtain a Master’s degree:
Unless you go to a top 30 university, where you got your BA/BS from is not important; your success, growth, opportunities, and the relationships you develop as an undergraduate is. As an alumna of a top-30, I think it’s better to minimize your loan debt for undergrad and go somewhere affordable. Do really well, engage in opportunities, and build strong relationships with peers and professors. Then apply to master’s programs with a phenomenal academic record and strong recommendations from faculty.
Unless you go to a top 30 university, where you got your BA/BS from is not important; your success, growth, opportunities, and the relationships you develop as an undergraduate is. As an alumna of a top-30, I think it’s better to minimize your loan debt for undergrad and go somewhere affordable. Do really well, engage in opportunities, and build strong relationships with peers and professors. Then apply to master’s programs with a phenomenal academic record and strong recommendations from faculty.
I agree with Mikayla. In addition to her answer sometimes graduate schools look for diversity of thought, so they consider where you went to undergraduate school when building their graduate and professional school classes. Meaning if you want to go to a specific graduate school it could be beneficial to go to a different undergraduate program.
Tara O'Connor
Jennifer Haden
Higher Education Consultant
123
Answers
Dallas, Texas
Updated
Jennifer’s Answer
Hi, Sohalia!
There are many different considerations when making educational choices, including but not limited to location, cost, and reputation. It makes sense to go to the best school that meets your educational wants and needs as well as aligns with your current situation.
With all things equal, however, as you mature and move through the higher educational system, you typically associate yourself with the last degree program and institution you attended. For example, you would associate with your undergraduate institution until you completed your masters degree, and your masters degree until you completed your doctorate. Of course, you may always be active in your alumni associations and with the many people that you meet and befriend along the way, but in general many consider their last alma mater as the one to which they most identify.
In keeping with this philosophy, it would make more sense to focus on a higher ranked, possibly more well-known, institution for your masters degree, if indeed you knew that you would be pursuing a masters upon completion of your undergrad. Your undergraduate institution and your experiences there, however, develop and shape your educational foundation for further education, so selecting the best overall school that meets your educational wants and needs as well as aligns with your current situation is the best bet.
I hope this helps! Wishing you the best in your educational endeavors --
There are many different considerations when making educational choices, including but not limited to location, cost, and reputation. It makes sense to go to the best school that meets your educational wants and needs as well as aligns with your current situation.
With all things equal, however, as you mature and move through the higher educational system, you typically associate yourself with the last degree program and institution you attended. For example, you would associate with your undergraduate institution until you completed your masters degree, and your masters degree until you completed your doctorate. Of course, you may always be active in your alumni associations and with the many people that you meet and befriend along the way, but in general many consider their last alma mater as the one to which they most identify.
In keeping with this philosophy, it would make more sense to focus on a higher ranked, possibly more well-known, institution for your masters degree, if indeed you knew that you would be pursuing a masters upon completion of your undergrad. Your undergraduate institution and your experiences there, however, develop and shape your educational foundation for further education, so selecting the best overall school that meets your educational wants and needs as well as aligns with your current situation is the best bet.
I hope this helps! Wishing you the best in your educational endeavors --
Shaff Said
Recruiter
1
Answer
Singapore
Updated
Shaff’s Answer
Hi Sohalia, my opinion and advice is more about how going into well-known university affects employment later on in the workplace. I personally don't think it matters which university/ institution you go to, and what you learn from those experiences in your university, but rather how you apply those learning into your future experiences.
I'm a recruiter and I have to assess students from different institutions all the time to bring forward to hiring managers. From my personal experiences, the way we learn and apply those learning goes out of the classroom. In fact, many students go through the same modules/ courses (even from different universities), even work on the same projects! However, what makes you stand out is what you gain from those projects/ modules/ courses. It may be different from your peers, depending on your life experiences, what you read, or your personal interactions with teammates during the projects. I also personally look at a student's non-academic activities they're involved in university, as it tells me a bit about their personality and passion.
So my advise is to look more at what the university/ institution can offer, depending on your interest, rather than whether they're well-known. Today, there's also multiple discussions on new ways of learning, not just in universities. There's multiple resources and certification you can take outside of university to help you upskill too. These are other areas recruiters look at when hiring too :)
I'm a recruiter and I have to assess students from different institutions all the time to bring forward to hiring managers. From my personal experiences, the way we learn and apply those learning goes out of the classroom. In fact, many students go through the same modules/ courses (even from different universities), even work on the same projects! However, what makes you stand out is what you gain from those projects/ modules/ courses. It may be different from your peers, depending on your life experiences, what you read, or your personal interactions with teammates during the projects. I also personally look at a student's non-academic activities they're involved in university, as it tells me a bit about their personality and passion.
So my advise is to look more at what the university/ institution can offer, depending on your interest, rather than whether they're well-known. Today, there's also multiple discussions on new ways of learning, not just in universities. There's multiple resources and certification you can take outside of university to help you upskill too. These are other areas recruiters look at when hiring too :)
Angela D. Blaver (Suissa), Ph.D.
Retired
110
Answers
Daytona Beach, Florida
Updated
Angela D.’s Answer
Hi Sohalia...good question! And great advice! I might add some other gentle suggestions, having to do with the major(s) that you are considering. Many colleges and universities (public and private) are well known for excellence in certain fields. and that bears research and thought. Location can be important, not only for in-state tuition, but also being closer to your support network of family, friends, and community. Wishing you the best in your endeavors, Dr. B