Non prestigious undergrad-->prestigious grad school

[90sNickelodeon]

Anyone else planning for the same transition? How much does prestige matter to you for graduate programs?

[Canukgirl]

I know tons of people that went to the University of "not even found on a ranking-any ranking"...to go on to elite grad schools...

Don't worry crazier things have happend (for sure)....lol

[90sNickelodeon]

I know tons of people that went to the University of "not even found on a ranking-any ranking"...to go on to elite grad schools...

Don't worry crazier things have happend (for sure)....lol

Hi Canukgirl!

My biggest worry is Princeton. I have the GPA. I have the story. I meet the criterion. But my undergrad is very non prestigious and if you notice, many of their selected students arrive from top schools.

[Aceflyer]

Hi Canukgirl!

My biggest worry is Princeton. I have the GPA. I have the story. I meet the criterion. But my undergrad is very non prestigious and if you notice, many of their selected students arrive from top schools.

Did they offer you admission? If so, that means the program's faculty have confidence in you. They think that you will succeed in their program and that you are a great fit for their program. If I may ask, what precisely is your concern?

[psycholinguist]

And I'm doing (almost) the opposite. Who cares? It's all about what's a good fit for your interests, personality, and whatever else.

[missashley]

I went to a small school that nobody outside of town has heard of- a school that I loved and a community in which I was challenged and nurtured. I transferred there from a large well-known university for personal reasons, and part of me regrets that my u/g degree is not from the school where I started. In a way, an "unknown" school can be great. In my case, it meant smaller classes, closer contact with profs (i got great recs), and a greater ability to shine academically.

I think that a big name means a lot to certain people for one reason or another, but has very little to do with the quality of education that you receive - i believe that you get out what you put in. that being said, i feel validated in a way, to be enrolling at a school in the fall that my out-of-state relatives have at least heard of.

[Aceflyer]

I went to a small school that nobody outside of town has heard of- a school that I loved and a community in which I was challenged and nurtured. I transferred there from a large well-known university for personal reasons, and part of me regrets that my u/g degree is not from the school where I started. In a way, an "unknown" school can be great. In my case, it meant smaller classes, closer contact with profs (i got great recs), and a greater ability to shine academically.

I think that a big name means a lot to certain people for one reason or another, but has very little to do with the quality of education that you receive - i believe that you get out what you put in. that being said, i feel validated in a way, to be enrolling at a school in the fall that my out-of-state relatives have at least heard of.

I agree with missashley's thoughts above. You get out what you put in - especially at the undergrad level. Most accredited schools have comparable curricula and educational standards. At the same time, regardless of personal opinion, there is still the "out-of-state relative" factor - it sometimes just feels 'better' to be able to say "I'm attending [well-known university]" instead of "I'm attending ["unknown" school]" and having people go "Wait, which school? Where's this school located?"

[Canukgirl]

I went to a small school that nobody outside of town has heard of- a school that I loved and a community in which I was challenged and nurtured. I transferred there from a large well-known university for personal reasons, and part of me regrets that my u/g degree is not from the school where I started. In a way, an "unknown" school can be great. In my case, it meant smaller classes, closer contact with profs (i got great recs), and a greater ability to shine academically.

I think that a big name means a lot to certain people for one reason or another, but has very little to do with the quality of education that you receive - i believe that you get out what you put in. that being said, i feel validated in a way, to be enrolling at a school in the fall that my out-of-state relatives have at least heard of.

I agree! And look at you now...accepted to two very prestigious universities for grad school...CONGRATS!

[missashley]

hey, thanks internet friends!

i was hoping that i could put that in a way that didn't come across too annoyingly.

something else to consider about big name schools, that i have just recently learned - is that it can work against you very fast

for example, my friends at work all know where i am enrolling, so now every time i do anything even halfway absent-minded, they all say "oh, look at the harvard grad student who doesn't even know how to work the scanner."

i never got that when i went to st. edward's.

sigh.

[Aceflyer]

hey, thanks internet friends!

i was hoping that i could put that in a way that didn't come across too annoyingly.

something else to consider about big name schools, that i have just recently learned - is that it can work against you very fast

for example, my friends at work all know where i am enrolling, so now every time i do anything even halfway absent-minded, they all say "oh, look at the harvard grad student who doesn't even know how to work the scanner."

i never got that when i went to st. edward's.

sigh.

Heh so very true... that sort of stuff happens to me too.

[europegrad]

Well, I'm in the middle of this process. Graduated on a top Latin-America research University, then got admitted to doctorate program (Research Master 2yrs + Ph.D 3yrs) in the the best or second-best department of my field in Europe. Class are small (8 first year students only, plus 4 who got waiver for 1st year for having already earned a M.Sc elsewhere), everyone has more experience than me, an I'm probably the younger one.

I'm really anxious about the program, which starts next August, but I'm confident that if thet admitted, they trust me, therefore I will thrive.

[dherres]

Heh so very true... that sort of stuff happens to me too.

I started my undergrad at a pretty good school, then took some time off and went to the local state school for a couple of semesters (biiiiig drop in the level of expectations, type of student body, workload, etc). For a while, when people asked me where I transferred from I would tell them, and hear them exclaim, "Wow.... why on earth did you come here?" (Long story, that one.) After a while, I just stopped telling people.... "just some private school," I'd say. Midway through fall semester, I had decided to go back to my old school the upcoming spring; when I mentioned this to the people in my Methods class, they asked, "where's that?" I tell them. "Oooh, I didn't know I was sitting next to a smarty pants!" "Let's watch what this guy's doing for our class project, he's smart and you know he's gonna do some good work!" Dude. I'm still the same person. Nothing's changed. Stop it.

Ugh. And outside of the region, it's not even that well-known of a school.

[90sNickelodeon]

I started my undergrad at a pretty good school, then took some time off and went to the local state school for a couple of semesters (biiiiig drop in the level of expectations, type of student body, workload, etc). For a while, when people asked me where I transferred from I would tell them, and hear them exclaim, "Wow.... why on earth did you come here?" (Long story, that one.) After a while, I just stopped telling people.... "just some private school," I'd say. Midway through fall semester, I had decided to go back to my old school the upcoming spring; when I mentioned this to the people in my Methods class, they asked, "where's that?" I tell them. "Oooh, I didn't know I was sitting next to a smarty pants!" "Let's watch what this guy's doing for our class project, he's smart and you know he's gonna do some good work!" Dude. I'm still the same person. Nothing's changed. Stop it.

Ugh. And outside of the region, it's not even that well-known of a school.

DUDE!!!!! That is MEEEE!!!

I swear I did the same thing. Went to a posh, top Liberal Arts College but dropped out because I became gravely ill and my grades suffered for it. Got into a state school with low admissions expectations for transfers, that isn't even the flagship university, and have to endure condescending or confused looks when I tell people my story. Hey, it's not my fault I got sick. :cry: I just wish I at least tried for the flagship university--but my gpa was so atrocious that I didn't even bother. Oh well. I ended up graduating with high honors from my TTT but it's still embarrassing. I won't even hang my diploma up.

[dherres]

DUDE!!!!! That is MEEEE!!!

I swear I did the same thing. Went to a posh, top Liberal Arts College but dropped out because I became gravely ill and my grades suffered for it. Got into a state school with low admissions expectations for transfers, that isn't even the flagship university, and have to endure condescending or confused looks when I tell people my story. Hey, it's not my fault I got sick. :cry: I just wish I at least tried for the flagship university--but my gpa was so atrocious that I didn't even bother. Oh well. I ended up graduating with high honors from my TTT but it's still embarrassing. I won't even hang my diploma up.

I am unbelievaby grateful that I still had the opportunity to graduate from my 1st school given the circumstances (severe depression with alcoholism and addiction, resulting in two suspensions and a near-expulsion because of grades). When I spoke with the lady in charge of academic audits prior to deciding, she told me I only had my major classes and a PE to finish -- I cried for a good 45 minutes afterwards. Even though it put me several K more in debt, I NEVER would have forgiven myself had I stayed at State School..... I had decided while I was there that I wouldn't even walk at graduation.

Sorry it didn't work out for you...... High honors isn't something to be scoffed at though, anywhere. And look -- now you're on to bigger and better things, right?

P.S. Old Nick was SOOOO much better than that junk they play now! "Whenever my life gets me so down, I know I can go down....." Roundhouse, Clarissa, Are You Afraid.... Ahh, happy times!

[90sNickelodeon]

I am unbelievaby grateful that I still had the opportunity to graduate from my 1st school given the circumstances (severe depression with alcoholism and addiction, resulting in two suspensions and a near-expulsion because of grades). When I spoke with the lady in charge of academic audits prior to deciding, she told me I only had my major classes and a PE to finish -- I cried for a good 45 minutes afterwards. Even though it put me several K more in debt, I NEVER would have forgiven myself had I stayed at State School..... I had decided while I was there that I wouldn't even walk at graduation.

Sorry it didn't work out for you...... High honors isn't something to be scoffed at though, anywhere. And look -- now you're on to bigger and better things, right?

P.S. Old Nick was SOOOO much better than that junk they play now! "Whenever my life gets me so down, I know I can go down....." Roundhouse, Clarissa, Are You Afraid.... Ahh, happy times!

OMG I had severe depression too. I went absolutely bonkers. I mean, it just crept up on me and left me paralyzed. It was quite a series of unfortunate circumstances. But I'm glad at least I could get back up and finish university.

RE old school Nickelodeon: YES!!!! Can't forget Doug and Salute your Shorts!!!!!!

[fes_alum]

Anyone else planning for the same transition? How much does prestige matter to you for graduate programs?

FYI- Went from a third-tier state school to a master's degree at Yale. Now, I'm off to Harvard. For me, it's not about prestige but which program is best suited for my long-term career goals.

[90sNickelodeon]

FYI- Went from a third-tier state school to a master's degree at Yale. Now, I'm off to Harvard. For me, it's not about prestige but which program is best suited for my long-term career goals.

Wow well done. You have the right idea and attitude about this.

[Soon2BPHD]

On average, it will be harder to go from a little-known school to a "prestigious" school, but it certainly is not impossible. I think the key (assuming you have good grades, GREs, etc.) is to have good recommendations and at least one recommender who is really willing to go the extra mile for you (which of course requires you putting in time with that faculty member during your undergrad years). I went from a relatively unheard of satellite state school for undergrad, but had a great relationship with several fairly well-known faculty members there. I was able to go to a very good school for my masters (not necessarily prestigious, but very good in my field). And now I'll be going to one of the top-ranked schools in my field for the PhD. And I can say with very little doubt that it simply would not have happened had I not had the support of my undergrad advisor and other recommenders. Furthermore, if I hadn't gone to the small school I went to, I may not have had the opportunity to strike up such relationships.

[Stories]

If you have the right mindset and good ideas, it won't matter which undergrad you're coming from. Those intangible qualities that grad programs look for shine through in interviews and applications, regardless of your undergrad institution.