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Hannah
Student
Hendersonville, North Carolina
1
Question
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Does the college you attend and graduate from (whether grad or undergrad) determine your success for the future?
For my school's summer reading book this year, we read "Where You Go is Not Who You'll Be" by Frank Bruni. In small groups, we had a lot of discussion about how even though some people make it big in life coming from not as well known or prestigious schools, the majority come from well-known places. The argument wasn't as valid because even though Bruni did not go to an Ivy, he got into Yale and received the Morehead Scholarship for UNC-Chapel Hill. Chapel Hill alone is considered high up there to many people living in North Carolina, like me. And getting the Morehead scholarship is an even bigger honor.
Did you go to an unknown college or somewhere small and still make it big? Do you have any regrets about where you did/didn't end up? How do you define making it big yourself?
#whereyougoisnotwhoyoullbe #college #career-choice #college #career-path
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2 answers
Lindsey Manning-Djabbari
Entrepreneur & Community Builder
131
Answers
Irvine, California
Updated
Lindsey’s Answer
Great question Hannah. The short answer: yes and no. I think about this often because I'll hear people say things like "s/he is so smart, they went to Stanford", and I'll think, on the one hand it is difficult to get into schools like Stanford, but on the other I've met tons of people who have gone to more prestigious schools who aren't nearly as "smart" (for lack of a better word) than people I know who went to less prestigious schools. It's easy for people to put others into buckets based on where they went to school and that's what doesn't sit well with me.
This is probably why.. :)
I attended the University of Oregon, got in with a 3.2 GPA, did quite well and graduated in four years. I was one of those high school students who focused more on sports and a social life than I did on excelling with my school work so that I could go to a prestigious school. It didn't mean I wasn't as smart as my classmates who did excel in school and go to great universities, and it doesn't mean that those peers are more successful than I am today. Quite the opposite!
However cliche it sounds, you need to be the one who defines success or "making it big" as you say, for yourself. Everyone has their own definition of this, because most everyone has different aspirations in life. At nearly 30 years old, I'm exactly where I want to be. I love my job, I make good money, I married a great man, I have supportive friends and family.. and the list goes on! There are still things I want to achieve that I haven't yet, so in terms of "making it big".. I'm not quite there, but I'm still young and I am well on my way!!
It's also worth noting that I had a fantastic experience at the University of Oregon. I earned a degree in journalism and communications, learned a ton, and grew personally and professionally more than I ever thought I could or would. I attribute some of this to my alma mater, but I attribute most of it to myself. The university you attend is just the first step, the rest is up to you. You have to be the one to get out of bed on time and show up to your classes. You have to be the one to choose to go to the library to study instead of going out with friends. You have to be the one who finds jobs and internships and clubs to participate in... you get the idea. It really is up to you and the decisions you make in high school, college and beyond that will determine your success in life.
In short: When you have a prestigious school on your resume it sets you apart on paper, this is absolutely true. If you don't have a prestigious school on your resume you'll need to try that much harder to set yourself apart. I actually just answered another student's question about this.. take a look: https://www.careervillage.org/questions/31865/what-sets-us-apart-for-success-in-college-and-our-careers?page=1#77514.
The good news? More and more companies are becoming less hung up on where candidates went to school and focusing more on who the candidate is and how they present themselves. In fact, a couple years ago Google's Head of People Operations said this in an article about their hiring strategy: "When the company was small, Google cared a lot about getting kids from Harvard, Stanford, and MIT. But Bock said it was the "wrong" hiring strategy. Experience has taught him there are exceptional kids at many other places, from state schools in California to New York. 'What we find is the best people from places like that are just as good if not better as anybody you can get from any Ivy League school,' said Bock, who just authored a book titled "Work Rules!"
This is probably why.. :)
I attended the University of Oregon, got in with a 3.2 GPA, did quite well and graduated in four years. I was one of those high school students who focused more on sports and a social life than I did on excelling with my school work so that I could go to a prestigious school. It didn't mean I wasn't as smart as my classmates who did excel in school and go to great universities, and it doesn't mean that those peers are more successful than I am today. Quite the opposite!
However cliche it sounds, you need to be the one who defines success or "making it big" as you say, for yourself. Everyone has their own definition of this, because most everyone has different aspirations in life. At nearly 30 years old, I'm exactly where I want to be. I love my job, I make good money, I married a great man, I have supportive friends and family.. and the list goes on! There are still things I want to achieve that I haven't yet, so in terms of "making it big".. I'm not quite there, but I'm still young and I am well on my way!!
It's also worth noting that I had a fantastic experience at the University of Oregon. I earned a degree in journalism and communications, learned a ton, and grew personally and professionally more than I ever thought I could or would. I attribute some of this to my alma mater, but I attribute most of it to myself. The university you attend is just the first step, the rest is up to you. You have to be the one to get out of bed on time and show up to your classes. You have to be the one to choose to go to the library to study instead of going out with friends. You have to be the one who finds jobs and internships and clubs to participate in... you get the idea. It really is up to you and the decisions you make in high school, college and beyond that will determine your success in life.
In short: When you have a prestigious school on your resume it sets you apart on paper, this is absolutely true. If you don't have a prestigious school on your resume you'll need to try that much harder to set yourself apart. I actually just answered another student's question about this.. take a look: https://www.careervillage.org/questions/31865/what-sets-us-apart-for-success-in-college-and-our-careers?page=1#77514.
The good news? More and more companies are becoming less hung up on where candidates went to school and focusing more on who the candidate is and how they present themselves. In fact, a couple years ago Google's Head of People Operations said this in an article about their hiring strategy: "When the company was small, Google cared a lot about getting kids from Harvard, Stanford, and MIT. But Bock said it was the "wrong" hiring strategy. Experience has taught him there are exceptional kids at many other places, from state schools in California to New York. 'What we find is the best people from places like that are just as good if not better as anybody you can get from any Ivy League school,' said Bock, who just authored a book titled "Work Rules!"
Ken W. Lewis Jr.
Army Corps of Engineers
2
Answers
Updated
Ken W.’s Answer
Hello - I noticed your question and would like to share my experience. Please take a moment to read, and if possible, please tell me what you mean by 'making it big'.
I graduated high school in 1994. I was, by 17 years old, an accomplished saxophone performer and drummer, artist and self-proclaimed explorer, a truth seeker.
I had then, and still do, far too many interests to commit myself to just one school, one path, one goal.
So I decided to balance a combination of work (job), to gain real life experience, school (2 classes per semester), and most important to me; to travel to as many places of different cultures that my savings from my job could afford me.
Jump forward 5 years...during the time I was 17 to age 22, I completed core classes at local Philadelphia Community College, joined the Army (tuition reimbursement AND FREE TRAVEL), received scholarship to Princeton University and MIT, and I chose MIT to study geology, natural sciences, advanced mathematics, engineering and architecture.
(The exact reason I chose MIT for engineering and architecture was heavily influenced during a 3 day trip I took to Egypt; to the Giza plateau; and explored the Great Pyramid) - that's another story for another day. wow
I have but one regret, however.
Your question, How do you define making it big yourself?
I believe by right living, right actions, being absolutely truthful with YOURSELF, and always be truthful to others..even if you let them down. Everyone has a right to the truth; and regardless of disbelief, lack of understanding, or ignorance...truth will always be truth.
So do I believe I 'made it big'? Yes and No. By yes, I have attained a level of personal growth that I did not expect to reach. I can be still..and listen. I've made it big financially and have acquired and managed investments so I do not have to 'work' to live, but so I can live now and work if I chose. Please don't take that as a boast..the mistakes I made along the way are seemingly countless; failure is most often the best teacher.
Just one last thought.
Attending a so-called prestigious college or university does not guarantee a prosperous career-path.
Yes, earning a degree from a 'top-tier' university will help you on the way to building a career, but more often than not, the price to travel this road is paid for in units of your happiness, peace, and true self-fulfillment and self unfolding.
Education is a privilege and not a right. Some folks just do not have the means to afford an education, yet blaze their own path to success anyway. This is done NOT BY PUSHING your way through obstacles, but allowing your passions to PULL you through these uncertain and inevitable challenges. This mindset is critical. This approach will keep you centered, calm, and you will always have an abundance of energy; personally, I find this energy particularly useful for CRITICAL thinking.
Someone who truly understands that we are all here, only to grow, will always find a way to do so.
The key to mastery, regardless of what profession you chose, is to know YOURSELF; Nosce Te Ipsum
I graduated high school in 1994. I was, by 17 years old, an accomplished saxophone performer and drummer, artist and self-proclaimed explorer, a truth seeker.
I had then, and still do, far too many interests to commit myself to just one school, one path, one goal.
So I decided to balance a combination of work (job), to gain real life experience, school (2 classes per semester), and most important to me; to travel to as many places of different cultures that my savings from my job could afford me.
Jump forward 5 years...during the time I was 17 to age 22, I completed core classes at local Philadelphia Community College, joined the Army (tuition reimbursement AND FREE TRAVEL), received scholarship to Princeton University and MIT, and I chose MIT to study geology, natural sciences, advanced mathematics, engineering and architecture.
(The exact reason I chose MIT for engineering and architecture was heavily influenced during a 3 day trip I took to Egypt; to the Giza plateau; and explored the Great Pyramid) - that's another story for another day. wow
I have but one regret, however.
Your question, How do you define making it big yourself?
I believe by right living, right actions, being absolutely truthful with YOURSELF, and always be truthful to others..even if you let them down. Everyone has a right to the truth; and regardless of disbelief, lack of understanding, or ignorance...truth will always be truth.
So do I believe I 'made it big'? Yes and No. By yes, I have attained a level of personal growth that I did not expect to reach. I can be still..and listen. I've made it big financially and have acquired and managed investments so I do not have to 'work' to live, but so I can live now and work if I chose. Please don't take that as a boast..the mistakes I made along the way are seemingly countless; failure is most often the best teacher.
Just one last thought.
Attending a so-called prestigious college or university does not guarantee a prosperous career-path.
Yes, earning a degree from a 'top-tier' university will help you on the way to building a career, but more often than not, the price to travel this road is paid for in units of your happiness, peace, and true self-fulfillment and self unfolding.
Education is a privilege and not a right. Some folks just do not have the means to afford an education, yet blaze their own path to success anyway. This is done NOT BY PUSHING your way through obstacles, but allowing your passions to PULL you through these uncertain and inevitable challenges. This mindset is critical. This approach will keep you centered, calm, and you will always have an abundance of energy; personally, I find this energy particularly useful for CRITICAL thinking.
Someone who truly understands that we are all here, only to grow, will always find a way to do so.
The key to mastery, regardless of what profession you chose, is to know YOURSELF; Nosce Te Ipsum