Graduating from a famous school like Princeton is not a guarantee of success, but it does carry some clout. The reputation of an institution can give you a competitive edge as employers may assume you’re an extraordinary individual to have been admitted over multitudes of others applying to that school. For instance, Harvard accepted fewer than 6 percent of the 33,351 applicants in 2012, as reported by Time. Further, employers appreciate that quality schools produce high-caliber graduates who meet workforce needs for in-demand skills.
A degree from a highly respected school indicates you have high standards, a strong work ethic and extensive knowledge of your field. Such schools prepare students to acquire high-level professional positions by exposing them to real-world experiences as part of their training. Professors at top-tier institutions often invite students to join them in conducting research that could lead to ground-breaking discoveries. On campuses like Dartmouth, students have an opportunity to be paired with faculty mentors who provide one-on-one tutelage on interesting research projects.
Graduates of exclusive colleges typically enjoy an expansive social network of influential people who can provide mentoring, career advice, letters of recommendation and inside information about job openings. Personal connections are especially important during sluggish economic times when competition for some types of entry-level jobs is fierce. In addition, attending an elite college can increase lifetime earnings and the probability of being accepted into graduate school, as reported by The New York Times in 2010.
Graduates of distinguished universities may be better able to express themselves as the result of taking smaller classes where students exchange ideas, work in small groups and communicate frequently with professors. For example, most classes at Stanford University enroll fewer than 20 students. By contrast, students at large, public universities often take classes in large lecture halls that seat 200 students or more, which limits opportunities for student engagement. Communication skills are essential for making a good impression in a job interview and functioning as a team member or leader in the workplace.
Your intended field of study also is an important factor in selecting a college. For example, if you’re a high school student interested in engineering, consider applying to engineering programs ranked highly by U.S. News & World Report such as Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Harvey Mudd College and the U.S. Military Academy. Employers know which programs produce graduates with the preferred skills for their openings. The prestige of the school you attend may be less important to your long-term career success than your major and the reputation of faculty in that academic department.