BU VS. BC VS. Northeastern

Lergnom
Thu, 22 Apr 2010 20:26:58 +0000

This is an old thread but again the misconception is that a name matters. The name “Yale” matters because the kid scored well to get in and thus scores well on the MCAT, GMAT, GRE, LSAT, etc. People then confuse this fact with the name. If you go to Name-A-State University because it’s cheap or because you’ve been a Name-A-State Football Fan from birth and you get good grades and score well then you get into grad schools.

There is a marginal difference in MBA programs if the name on the diploma - again, limited to a few places, not number 33 versus number 55 - got you a better job for a few years. BUT and this is a CAPITAL BUT, if that kid with the name diploma doesn’t score well - as does happen - then that’s bad.

Take, for example, working at a top tier consultancy. I’ve done it. I’m familiar with the hiring process. You have to get through a bunch of screens. A less stellar performer from a top school can get through an early screen better but is going to wash out versus a better candidate from another, lesser name school. (Of course, the reality is that top performers tend to come from top schools, meaning Yale & Harvard, etc., because they are top performers, at least in the early stages of a career.) The name thing is all overblown.