2 answers
Frankie
Student
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Questions
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How do I get into a prestigious university
I take AP classes and volunteering. I hope I do sports in the future. #university
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2 answers
Michael Stidham
Loan Closer
24
Answers
Phoenix, Arizona
Updated
Michael’s Answer
Hi Frankie, some hard truth here that some may not like. To get into a "prestigious" university involves a bit of academics but is heavily based on your skin color (https://www.heritage.org/education/report/race-preference-college-admissions) (Affirmative action), your parents income whether they give hugely to the school or are too poor to eat are both good to admissions boards, and whether they like your personality.
What Michael said above is 100% correct, my wife took on $100k debt with a grant that paid for half of it to go to one of these schools while I went to community college then two years at ASU. College is about two things, getting experience in terms of an internship in the field you want and if you want to be honest on your resume, being able to put your degree will get you an interview maybe.
I work with hiring managers and I've never met a one that has said they prefer a Yale boy over anyone else as long as they have the degree and experience. Although there is an interesting study that found individuals with perfect GPA's perform worse in the job space than individuals with 3-3.5 GPA's. Save yourself the headache and get into a cheaper school with great student reviews and good programs.
What Michael said above is 100% correct, my wife took on $100k debt with a grant that paid for half of it to go to one of these schools while I went to community college then two years at ASU. College is about two things, getting experience in terms of an internship in the field you want and if you want to be honest on your resume, being able to put your degree will get you an interview maybe.
I work with hiring managers and I've never met a one that has said they prefer a Yale boy over anyone else as long as they have the degree and experience. Although there is an interesting study that found individuals with perfect GPA's perform worse in the job space than individuals with 3-3.5 GPA's. Save yourself the headache and get into a cheaper school with great student reviews and good programs.
David Lee
Actuary
53
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
David’s Answer
Nowadays the top schools want not just the high GPA and SAT, but distinguishing yourself in some way--not just volunteering, but LEADING or FOUNDING a volunteer effort with $X raised, X big thing achieved, etc. Not just sports, but STATE RANKED or CHAMPIONS. Not just good grades, but some COMPETITION winner...
That said, does going to a top school really matter down the road? It may make getting the first job a bit easier, but from there on, what matters is how you do on the job--what school you went to won't matter within a few years unless you want to be an academic.
Agree with others--think about return on investment, i.e. the cost of the prestigious school and its career payoff, COMPARED TO cost and career payoff of any other college.
The bigger differentiator is what you decide to study, and doing well in it. Then get that first job and do well in that!
That said, does going to a top school really matter down the road? It may make getting the first job a bit easier, but from there on, what matters is how you do on the job--what school you went to won't matter within a few years unless you want to be an academic.
Agree with others--think about return on investment, i.e. the cost of the prestigious school and its career payoff, COMPARED TO cost and career payoff of any other college.
The bigger differentiator is what you decide to study, and doing well in it. Then get that first job and do well in that!