A few years ago I needed to help my company hire a very specialized role… the hiring leaders asked for a PhD statistician. We launched a national search- just couldn’t find what they needed (complicated role, needed fantastic communication skills in addition to the technical stuff, some quirks to the position…
We ended up hiring a BS from Rutgers with a degree in applied math, and everyone was delighted. He did not have the research experience (crafting, writing and defending a dissertation) but he had everything else- strong writer, able to connect numbers to the bigger story, exceptional patience with non-technical people- and SUPERB statistical training, working with large datasets, mentored by some “known” professors in the field, etc.
NJ is a small state physically- I get that- and so a kid who has been active in sports or debate or other competitive ECs has likely visited a few dozen high schools over the years, been to every state park and beach, stopped at every rest stop on the turnpike… but that doesn’t mean you “know” everyone at Rutgers!!!