Does it really matter where you receive your degree from?
- Thread starter SIR_GRAM
- Start date
Don't listen to that person who told you this ever again.
cat daddy
Active Member
Because the person that told you that is full of schitt. There are thousands of successful HBCU grads. Many people have tried to downplay the quality of education at HBCU's, but time and time again, we prove them wrong.
SIR_GRAM
Legend
No you dont, because I ran into a lot of people who said theyll be able to get a better job than me because they have a degree from a PWC, or my degree will be less than there's because I have a degree from a HBCU? Or you have to show that you are versitile and go to a black college and a PWC to be really respected by employers and peers.
dacontinent
Preacher
Hogwash. What you have to do is to PRODUCE.
The reputation of a university is made through what it's graduates do in their jobs. The job that the alumna do pave the way for future grads.
Every university has its strong programs and programs that are not so strong. It would be wise to choose the university based on this understanding.
Normal1875
A&M #1
if you have the knowledge,skill,and drive that the profession desires you will go far irregardless of what school you attended....
JR
Well-Known Member
Hey Frat. HBCUs have very successful grads out there doing their thing. The only thing I advise folks is to pick the right school for their major. Whether it is a HBCU or PWC. Some schools whether they are a HBCU or PWC have great reputations in certain areas. Like SU is known for its Engineering and Physics program. So is PV. FAMU had the great Pharmacy Program along with Xavier. Every school has their weakness and strengths when it comes to the different majors and programs. As a hiring manager I look at the body of work somebody has done and not necessarily what schools they have gone too. Of course the Harvards, Yales, MITs and such have reputations of being great......but just think of it like this, not everybody goes to those schools and that does not necessarily make you successful. So whoever told you they make more money coming out of a PWC vs a HBCU is selling you some junk. Now don't get me wrong. I have seen some grads from the bigger schools get more entry level money even over other PWC grads. Like here in Minnesota, of course these white folks are going to cater to U of M grads and maybe Wisconsin-Madison grads over say Minnesota State or some other smaller PWC. Hey that is just life. But let me remind you of this. Most companies know that HBCUs educate more minorities than the PWCs and when they look to get top minority grads, most companies will look for that HBCU grad. Most of the black folk here in the Twin Cities that are moving and shaking are HBCU grads. FAMU, SU, NC A&T, UAPB, Morehouse, Spelman, Alcorn and Grambling are well represented up here. So despite some of our problems and funding, we are still revelant.
As far as grad school, I was always told it was good to go somewhere other than your undergrad regardless if it is a PWC or HBCU. You need to pick your grad school wisely. Maybe even more so than undergrad. I do know employers pay attention to what grad schools are considered top notch. It can change what you are offered salary wise. I have seen that happened. Especially when it comes to MBAs.
pbla
Focus
Well I know someone who works at an investment firm here in Little Rock and he works with this White guy who recruited for Merrill Lynch. This subject came up in our discussion. Really he said that it doesn't matter where they(Merrill Lynch) recruit students.
He also though said if Merrill Lynch recruited Black students they would recruit from an HBCU. Why? B/c their perspective is differnent from Black students that attend PWC's,plus it looks good for them if they recruit Black students from HBCU's.
Then he went on to say that whatever your college you graduate from,you are just paying to get into that network of alumni.
The only company in America that really looks at the college where you received your degree from is the investment firm of Goldman Sachs and this guy informed us that usally they only recruit from one university and that's Harvard,but if a student at Harvard so happened to attend the illustrious Phillips Exeter boarding school in New Hampshire,then that student has the distinct advantage over all other Harvard students that did not attend Phillips Exeter.
He went on to say that to Goldman Sachs, a person with a degree from the University of Michigan might as well have graduated from Shorter College(Little Rock) or UAPB!! He also said that it's not that they are smarter being that they are from Harvard and with a secondary background from Phillips Exeter,it's in the preparation; the business etiquitte;the style of presentations that is taught.
So Sir Gram tell that person it definitely does not matter where you get your degree from UNLESS you want to work for Goldman Sachs!! But hey me personally, God only creates absolutes,man creates rules that are made to be broken. Who knows you may impress Goldman Sachs to hire you with your degree from the ICON.
He also though said if Merrill Lynch recruited Black students they would recruit from an HBCU. Why? B/c their perspective is differnent from Black students that attend PWC's,plus it looks good for them if they recruit Black students from HBCU's.
Then he went on to say that whatever your college you graduate from,you are just paying to get into that network of alumni.
The only company in America that really looks at the college where you received your degree from is the investment firm of Goldman Sachs and this guy informed us that usally they only recruit from one university and that's Harvard,but if a student at Harvard so happened to attend the illustrious Phillips Exeter boarding school in New Hampshire,then that student has the distinct advantage over all other Harvard students that did not attend Phillips Exeter.
He went on to say that to Goldman Sachs, a person with a degree from the University of Michigan might as well have graduated from Shorter College(Little Rock) or UAPB!! He also said that it's not that they are smarter being that they are from Harvard and with a secondary background from Phillips Exeter,it's in the preparation; the business etiquitte;the style of presentations that is taught.
So Sir Gram tell that person it definitely does not matter where you get your degree from UNLESS you want to work for Goldman Sachs!! But hey me personally, God only creates absolutes,man creates rules that are made to be broken. Who knows you may impress Goldman Sachs to hire you with your degree from the ICON.
Vinita
Let's Go Lions, GO!
Honey, that is a bunch of foolishMESS, for real! :tdown:
The job I have now, was all but in the hands of a chick from a PWC, until after I completed my interview. I know this because we happened to work together at a workshop last year. She REALLY wanted to be in my building, too. :nod:
The job I have now, was all but in the hands of a chick from a PWC, until after I completed my interview. I know this because we happened to work together at a workshop last year. She REALLY wanted to be in my building, too. :nod:
Suge
The Phat Mack
For the most part, it does not matter. Most schools are very regional in nature, and that includes PWC's and HBCU's. By this I mean, once you leave that area, most people have not heard of that school. For example, why would a degree from ULM carry anymore weight than a degree from GSU, Tech, SU, or ULL. In the eyes of most, they are equal because they are all state run schools in LA. Schools that most people outside of the region have not heard about. Although each may have programs that they "hang their hats on", none of them are perceived as academically superior when you look at big picture. And when it comes to a discussion like this, perception is reality.
Only the ivy league schools, the black ivy league, stanford, duke, cal-berkley, MIT, Army, Navy, and maybe a half dozen others(most of which are private), are considered academically superior in the eyes of the nation. The perception is that the educational integrity at these schools is superior, even though it may not be. But that is the image. And defineatly don't let someone from a sports school try to tell you that because they are good in sports, they are somehow superior. Many schools that you do know of outside of your region, you know of only because of sports, not academics.
As for the pursuits of obtaining employment or attending graduate school...just open your eyes and look around. There are HBCU graduates, young and old, that are excelling in professional schools across the country and the world. And you are interacting with a plethora of HBCU grads on this board who are in a number of career fields, most of which are very successful in their chosen careers, or at the very least, gainfully employed.
Only the ivy league schools, the black ivy league, stanford, duke, cal-berkley, MIT, Army, Navy, and maybe a half dozen others(most of which are private), are considered academically superior in the eyes of the nation. The perception is that the educational integrity at these schools is superior, even though it may not be. But that is the image. And defineatly don't let someone from a sports school try to tell you that because they are good in sports, they are somehow superior. Many schools that you do know of outside of your region, you know of only because of sports, not academics.
As for the pursuits of obtaining employment or attending graduate school...just open your eyes and look around. There are HBCU graduates, young and old, that are excelling in professional schools across the country and the world. And you are interacting with a plethora of HBCU grads on this board who are in a number of career fields, most of which are very successful in their chosen careers, or at the very least, gainfully employed.
Suge
The Phat Mack
Hey that happened when I got this teaching job. The woman I was hired over still has some malice towards me. She was an ODU grad......andnow when she sees me at district science meetings she will comment "that's the arrogant man that stole my job"
Da_Sperm
New Member
It does matter where you get your degree from. Don't get that wrong.
If it didn't matter, then the cost of an education would not be different from school to school. State schools are basically on the same level.
You can well believe that a degree in Finance from UAPB will not carry the same weight as a degree in Finance from NYU when trying to get a job on Wall Street. Like Suge said, it is REGIONALLY based. A degree in agriculture from NYU does not carry the same weight as a degree in agriculture from UAPB when trying to get a government job in Agriculture in the Delta.
Many times, it does not matter for the foot soldier type jobs. However, it will matter once you get past that management position on to upper management. That is where your degree comes from starts to matter (also your post graduate degrees).
If it didn't matter, then the cost of an education would not be different from school to school. State schools are basically on the same level.
You can well believe that a degree in Finance from UAPB will not carry the same weight as a degree in Finance from NYU when trying to get a job on Wall Street. Like Suge said, it is REGIONALLY based. A degree in agriculture from NYU does not carry the same weight as a degree in agriculture from UAPB when trying to get a government job in Agriculture in the Delta.
Many times, it does not matter for the foot soldier type jobs. However, it will matter once you get past that management position on to upper management. That is where your degree comes from starts to matter (also your post graduate degrees).
Donald K. Willi
New Member
There may be some personnel directors who're concerned with which school an employee graduated from but I think what you got your degree in means more.:read:
I agree with this statement.
After you get the degree (and/or job), then I think productivity, attitude, persistence, and communication skills are the biggest determinants of success.
Bane
The Vilian
Man I wish someone would've given me that advise before I went to college. Being the first one in the family to go to college, I was just happy to go and really didn't think about choosing the school according to the program/major I was interested in.
Like most of the people stated, where you graduate from does somewhat matter. I work on a military base in Virginia with about four thousand other government civilian employees. Over half of these folks are Virginia Tech (VT) grads. UVA, George Mason, VCU, and several more universities are much closer than VT, but VT has a top notch Engineering program and thats where we get most of our Engineers from.
XHALE9802
GRANDEUR...
Olde Hornet
Well-Known Member
I agree with JC about the wall street guys and I agree with Suge.
Look at your concentration and what the school that you chose is doing to get you to where you want to go.
I have said this many times before about where i live. The people who look at top schools only consider a few schools in the south worthy of their kids. UVA and Duke (a few others get mentioned). They really don't know the difference between U of A and ASU.
Look at your concentration and what the school that you chose is doing to get you to where you want to go.
I have said this many times before about where i live. The people who look at top schools only consider a few schools in the south worthy of their kids. UVA and Duke (a few others get mentioned). They really don't know the difference between U of A and ASU.
Bane
The Vilian
Man you have to be joking right. Who in their right mind would think some people wouldn't know the difference between the University of Alabama and Alabama State University. Most of those people probably never heard of Alabama State University. Like most of the major PWC, U of A is nationally known.
Suge
The Phat Mack
Styles, what you are forgetting is that everyone does not care about sports. And if you are not a sports fan, why would you know Bama, outside of the south? That is why I mentioned in my post about the diference in a school being known for sports vs. academics.
Its like you said in your previous post about VT being a top notch engineering school and that most of the engineers are from there....that is a regional thing too. You go to the midwest and VT isn't as respected as say Purdue. Outside of the mid atlantic, VT is known for football, not engineering.
Its like you said in your previous post about VT being a top notch engineering school and that most of the engineers are from there....that is a regional thing too. You go to the midwest and VT isn't as respected as say Purdue. Outside of the mid atlantic, VT is known for football, not engineering.
Right. You come to NASA in Houston and you have Texas A&M being considered tops, and PV, SU and A&T being the tops for black engineers down here.
buckwheat
Well-Known Member
True, it's a regional thing. When I lived in Tucson, AZ, a lot of the engineers were being hired that went to the Univeristy of Arizona and Arizona State and a lot of HBCU grads were hired. I'm still working for Raytheon now but the engineers are being hired from VA-Tech and Penn State. There are several HBCU grads also. All that matters is experience once you've gotten your foot into the door. Sir-Gram, you can use the members of the swacpage as your example. We all have different degrees and but we are being productive. Whomever told you that bull, is trying to make you feel inferior by attending an HBCU. I used to hear the same thing before and while I was at Grambling. A lot of the blacks that I know that went to PWC's are still a home living with their mom and dad and are barely making it.