how many PSers graduated from an Ivy League school?

[Dancing Fire]

what did you major in? how about your SO?

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Does graduate school count? If so, then I majored in medicine, lol.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Does graduate school count? If so, then I majored in medicine, lol.

yes,which school?

 

[tuffyluvr]

FI went to Columbia and majored in English

 

[soocool]

DH - Columbia School of Engineering

 

[Mrsacornblue]

I graduated from Penn with my MSN for Neonatal Nurse Practitioner.

 

[slg47]

yes and so did FI, although we met when I was an undergrad and he was in grad school. he went to a different ivy for undergrad.

 

[JewelFreak]

The college I went to was invited to join the Ivy League & turned 'em down as too run-of-the-mill an educational outlook. Sarah Lawrence College. We didn't have majors, no exams, no grades. Classes of no more than 15 & you meet w/your prof (no TAs) once every week or 2 for individual work in addition to classwork. Much harder: if you haven't done your stuff, you can't fake it face to face, as you can on an exam. (I tried!)

--- Laurie

 

[Black Jade]

I did and so did my DH.
I did both undergrad and grad.
I won't tell you which Ivy but I majored in history and got my graduate degree in Chinese.
There is some thread around here somewhere where people talk about which college they graduated from. Who knows how accurate it is, since people can claim anything about themselves online (and these threads are always self-selecting, since only people who are proud of their college will post) but it was a recent thread, within the last six months I think.
I won't say which Ivy since I have some illusions about (hope) about maintaining privacy--I have a lot of information scattered around Pscope but don't like to reveal area where I live, school I went to and stuff that can easily be looked up since this is a diamond forum and who knows who is lurking/reading. I don't own much stuff and what I do own lives in the bank but I wouldn't like the hassles that could result if someone is scoping out P'scope looking for potential robbery victims (whcih could happen, I've heard of stranger things.)

There are lots of great schools that aren't Ivies, by the way. The Ivy League was formed to play football together, not based on academic standards and actually there are quite a few schools that would rank academically better that at least some of the Ivies, though they are not Ivy.

 

[Black Jade]

Oh, my hubby majored in Applied Mathematics.

 

[mrscushion]

Yes, and so did DH. Me = social sciences, him = math. We started dating as freshmen.

 

[AGBF]

Absolutely no Ivy League here! And I have no dearth of degrees, either. I just didn't manage to get any of 'em from an Ivy league school. My husband did. But he threw me out. (Well...we're not legally separated, but we no longer live together, so I really cannot bask in the glory of his achievements any longer. Too bad, that. He went to some good schools.) And my parents went to Ivy League schools, too, but my father claims that in their day anyone who could pay could go to an Ivy League school! So I'm the big dummy here on Pricescope.

Deb/AGBF


Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend

 

[MissStepcut]

I didn't, and no one from my high school did either. I thought that was something that was only for rich east coast kids who went to certain high schools. I don't think anyone from my class even applied. That was almost 10 years ago. I wonder if that's still true in the information age, or if kids are more savvy now? I turned down an ivy for grad school for a non-ivy with better job prospects.

 

[Munchkin]

I got my MSN as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner from Yale.

 

[natascha]

A bit of topic, but I couldn't resist.

On another board, someone was talking about how how we in Europe aren't as smart as we think we are. The basis for her conclusion was that every ivy league school was in the US. So since Europe does not have a single ivy league school we are not as smart as we think we are . Oh and she knew this because her son, who is going to college, showed her the list of ivies and the were all in the US.

She must have been joking, right? Can people really be that ignorant? I know Americans have a certain reputation (and yes I know that every country has their fair share of clueless people) but if she has a son going to college then she can't be that oblivious.

DF: So why the interest in just Ivies, can't other good schools come out and play? Oh and which school did you go to?

 

[MissStepcut]

A bit of topic, but I couldn't resist.

On another board, someone was talking about how how we in Europe aren't as smart as we think we are. The basis for her conclusion was that every ivy league school was in the US. So since Europe does not have a single ivy league school we are not as smart as we think we are . Oh and she knew this because her son, who is going to college, showed her the list of ivies and the were all in the US.

She must have been joking, right? Can people really be that ignorant? I know Americans have a certain reputation (and yes I know that every country has their fair share of clueless people) but if she has a son going to college then she can't be that oblivious.

DF: So why the interest in just Ivies, can't other good schools come out and play? Oh and which school did you go to?

Seems facially pretty silly, that school quality is a mark of being smart. When I look at the top of the class at my law school, they came from a wide range of undergrads. There are also plenty of not-so-smarties at top schools.

 

[Haven]

A bit of topic, but I couldn't resist.

On another board, someone was talking about how how we in Europe aren't as smart as we think we are. The basis for her conclusion was that every ivy league school was in the US. So since Europe does not have a single ivy league school we are not as smart as we think we are . Oh and she knew this because her son, who is going to college, showed her the list of ivies and the were all in the US.

She must have been joking, right? Can people really be that ignorant? I know Americans have a certain reputation (and yes I know that every country has their fair share of clueless people) but if she has a son going to college then she can't be that oblivious.

DF: So why the interest in just Ivies, can't other good schools come out and play? Oh and which school did you go to?

That really had to have been a joke.

I have met people who believe that the Ivy league schools are the only top-notch schools in this country, which of course isn't true. But that's a different story. I'm just going to believe that this poster MUST have been joking. Please say she was joking! The alternative is too frightening.

 

[natascha]

A bit of topic, but I couldn't resist.

On another board, someone was talking about how how we in Europe aren't as smart as we think we are. The basis for her conclusion was that every ivy league school was in the US. So since Europe does not have a single ivy league school we are not as smart as we think we are . Oh and she knew this because her son, who is going to college, showed her the list of ivies and the were all in the US.

She must have been joking, right? Can people really be that ignorant? I know Americans have a certain reputation (and yes I know that every country has their fair share of clueless people) but if she has a son going to college then she can't be that oblivious.

DF: So why the interest in just Ivies, can't other good schools come out and play? Oh and which school did you go to?

Seems facially pretty silly, that school quality is a mark of being smart. When I look at the top of the class at my law school, they came from a wide range of undergrads. There are also plenty of not-so-smarties at top schools.

It seems like I am a bit slow right now. Blame it on being 2am over here. What do you mean?

 

[Dancing Fire]

DF: So why the interest in just Ivies, can't other good schools come out and play? Oh and which school did you go to?

none! .. , unless you count pool halls,bowling alleys and gambling parlors.

 

[MissStepcut]

Seems facially pretty silly, that school quality is a mark of being smart. When I look at the top of the class at my law school, they came from a wide range of undergrads. There are also plenty of not-so-smarties at top schools.

It seems like I am a bit slow right now. Blame it on being 2am over here. What do you mean?

I mean that going to a premiere school doesn't mean you are particularly brilliant, or the inverse either. But that might be more valid, when going to top tier schools includes a top tier tuition check.

 

[TristanC]

Seems facially pretty silly, that school quality is a mark of being smart. When I look at the top of the class at my law school, they came from a wide range of undergrads. There are also plenty of not-so-smarties at top schools.

It seems like I am a bit slow right now. Blame it on being 2am over here. What do you mean?

I mean that going to a premiere school doesn't mean you are particularly brilliant, or the inverse either. But that might be more valid, when going to top tier schools includes a top tier tuition check.

It does mean that you are going to a place where on balance there are more rich people (tuition costs) and there is a higher likelihood for people there to be successful (family influence, attracts some top scholars/talent), and since you went there, you can leverage those friendships and circles for your own career/business down the road.

That to me is the draw of good schools, even right from a young age, not just in college. It isn't what they teach, it is who you know.

But no, I didn't go.

 

[mrs taylor]

accepted, but didn't go. another school offered me a ton of financial aid. I chose to walk the path that wouldn't leave me in debt.

 

[sonnyjane]

accepted, but didn't go. another school offered me a ton of financial aid. I chose to walk the path that wouldn't leave me in debt.

Same! I was recruited by both Columbia and Brown for swimming and went on official visits, but Ivy Leagues don't give athletic scholarships, so I ended up signing with University of Miami because they offered me a full scholarship. It was a tough decision because I really wanted the "name" from the Ivy Leagues, but I just couldn't afford it. In hindsight, I'm no worse for wear. I have the job I would have wanted anyway and I didn't need the Ivy League name to get me there. Consequently my step-brother went to UPenn (and went into ridiculous debt to do it) and has been bartending for the last eight years so, his alma mater's reputation doesn't really matter very much.

 

[sba771]

My brothers and I refused to go to Ivys for undergrad, although later one got his doctorate from Harvard, but all three of us did graduate from top 12 schools, not too shabby.

 

[MissStepcut]

Seems facially pretty silly, that school quality is a mark of being smart. When I look at the top of the class at my law school, they came from a wide range of undergrads. There are also plenty of not-so-smarties at top schools.

It seems like I am a bit slow right now. Blame it on being 2am over here. What do you mean?

I mean that going to a premiere school doesn't mean you are particularly brilliant, or the inverse either. But that might be more valid, when going to top tier schools includes a top tier tuition check.

It does mean that you are going to a place where on balance there are more rich people (tuition costs) and there is a higher likelihood for people there to be successful (family influence, attracts some top scholars/talent), and since you went there, you can leverage those friendships and circles for your own career/business down the road.

That to me is the draw of good schools, even right from a young age, not just in college. It isn't what they teach, it is who you know.

But no, I didn't go.

It also gives you access to employers who would never have hired from my undergrad. I think it has lots of value, I just don't read too much into a person's intelligence on the basis of what school they chose to attend at 17/18/19.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

I think the value also relates to what career you hope to have. From what I understand, the name of the law school you graduate from matters a great deal in terms of job prospects. In other fields, it might matter less.

 

[MissStepcut]

I think the value also relates to what career you hope to have. From what I understand, the name of the law school you graduate from matters a great deal in terms of job prospects. In other fields, it might matter less.

In law, there's still some element of "what is it that you're trying to pursue?" If you want to be a corporate lawyer, academic, work for the Department of Justice or work for a public interest group, not going to a top law school could hurt you. If you want to be a divorce lawyer in a small town, it matters less.

By the same token, if you want to go to law school, you might as well go to undergrad cheaply. If you want to be an investment banker, paying Yale's high tuition makes sense for you. The problem is, how many 17 year old kids are equipped with the knowledge and judgement to choose well?

I personally know people who think their expensive undergrad was a waste of money, people who think it's what made them, people who regret going to an inexpensive state school, and people who are thrilled that they did. It's really hard to know beforehand which choice was going to serve you best.

 

[AGBF]

I think the value also relates to what career you hope to have. From what I understand, the name of the law school you graduate from matters a great deal in terms of job prospects. In other fields, it might matter less.

In law, there's still some element of "what is it that you're trying to pursue?" If you want to be a corporate lawyer, academic, work for the Department of Justice or work for a public interest group, not going to a top law school could hurt you. If you want to be a divorce lawyer in a small town, it matters less.

By the same token, if you want to go to law school, you might as well go to undergrad cheaply. If you want to be an investment banker, paying Yale's high tuition makes sense for you. The problem is, how many 17 year old kids are equipped with the knowledge and judgement to choose well?

Young people are really an entirely different breed today than they were when I was making similar decisions. I would really like the opinions of others my age, like Jewel Freak. I am assuming that they will be similar to mine. I decided on schools based on where I got in (of course) and what I liked. I never thought about where I wanted to work afterwards.

I did know one boy who wanted to go into the foreign service. He was just an acquaintance whom I met because my best friend's boyfriend went to Dartmouth where he met this guy. Now this guy knew where he wanted to go and was career driven. But I think he was the only person I knew who really kept his eye on where he wanted to work and made choices accordingly. Other friends might know they wanted to become physicians or lawyers...and might have gone on to become them...but no one planned very well.

When I wanted to become a lawyer it was to become William Kunstler (go look him up) so I could defend Black Panthers like Huey Newton and Bobby Seale and people arrested at anti-war demonstrations who had been beaten up by the police. I wasn't thinking about impressing an employer! I just wanted to be one of the Good Guys fighting evil.

Deb/AGBF

 

[MissStepcut]

Hi Deb,

You know, I really didn't mean to imply that kids today do consider career primarily, I was just thinking about which outcomes would validate their choice. In fact, among the teens I work with through Rotary, I think they're pretty idealistic.

The problem with just choosing a school you like and get in to is that for many kids, that's going to lead to crushing student loan debt. It costs over $50k a year to send a student to Yale. That's a pretty hefty investment, and you have to think about how it is going to pay off beyond personal growth.

I always say, I was the last generation of students to be able to work their way through school.

 

[natascha]

Seems facially pretty silly, that school quality is a mark of being smart. When I look at the top of the class at my law school, they came from a wide range of undergrads. There are also plenty of not-so-smarties at top schools.

It seems like I am a bit slow right now. Blame it on being 2am over here. What do you mean?

I mean that going to a premiere school doesn't mean you are particularly brilliant, or the inverse either. But that might be more valid, when going to top tier schools includes a top tier tuition check.

OK seems like we were talking about different things . I found it astounding that the woman did not understand that ivy league schools just exist in the US because they are an american athletic conference. She seemed to believe that ivy league meant the top schools in the world.

Reading your posts and the other posters, I find it disturbing that people are choosing not to attend certain schools because of costs. I am very Swedish in my belief of merit only admission. That we should try to ensure that the most apt students (which I know is very hard to determine) get the chance to study at the best schools independent of their financial background.

While I agree that there are brilliant people in not so good schools, at least over here, if you get in to the top schools and manage to pass the exams in the first three tries, then you are smart. But then you need a 20.0/20.0 GPA with high maths, chemistry, physics,etc and of course three languages (although it is acceptable to be semi-fluent in your third) just to get in. Still, just one third of the class passes ex statistics on the first try.

Having not-so-smarties at top schools is sad. Firstly they are taking the chance of someone more apt, secondly they are probably bringing down the educational level and thirdly they can't feel all that great once they realize that they are "not good enough to pass". I am very grateful that I pay zero tuition ( the business community pays, haha we are selling our souls to the devil). Were I to live in the US I doubt that I would have been able to afford the education that I have.