<p>D graduated from Vanderbilt (high GPA) in May 2011 … no job. She had internships, but didn’t have a job lined up at graduation. She worked at Starbucks until March 2012, when she got a fabulous job. I mentor a young man with a B.A. from Wesleyan and a B.S. from Columbia (Computer Engineering). He had several interviews at a top firm for CE grads, but no job offer. He is willing to relocate. He is doing free lance work, but he does not have a full time job offer. Sometimes it takes time to get a good job. The key is to do something, and keep looking.</p>
<p>FWIW, I know kids from mediocre state schools who got decent jobs right out of college, and I know kids from good schools who did not … and vice-verse. Sometimes it is about being in the right place at the right time.</p>
<p>So what UMMD is saying is that it is not the level of the school but rather what the student does which leads to the success of the student. I couldn’t agree more. We need to stop being obsessed with getting into a certain level of school and thinking that having ivy credentials is the secret of life!</p>
<p>People who are mean spirited aren’t worth the oxygen they are removing from your general vicinity. That’s about THEM not your son, and is just information for you to file away about them when you are looking for a good friend to confide in.</p>
<p>I sometimes want to say what my grandmother used to say, “Nobody goes to first grade in diapers.” It was her way of saying, “They all figure it out.” I think sometimes some kids are a bit behind when they’ve been academic superstars. Perhaps, as Cartera suggests, in a sideways way, you might want to retain the services of a lifecoach for him? I would.</p>
<p>Life is long. There’s no reason to stress or rush. There’s no finish line he needs to get to any time soon.</p>
<p>Kiddie - you boiled my long post down to the essential - exactly what I was meandering towards arriving at, thanks. </p>
<p>So, back to the OP who may or may not have started this thread in the hope of helping people decide if the “elite” university is the one to go with - it’s what the student makes of it. Just having the prestigious diploma is not enough. No matter where your child goes, encourage him in any way you can to take full advantage of everything his school has to offer. I tried, but mine don’t seem to take my advice! </p>
<p>Poet- would love to get a lifecoach, career counselor etc for him. However, at 22 it has to be something HE wants to get, not something I want him to get. Can’t help someone who doesn’t want help, or who thinks they don’t need it. At some point maybe he will agree, but based on his personality not likely.</p>
<p>Trying to eliminate the petty, non-supportive, judgmental, boastful so-called friends from my life. Not so easy in a small community.</p>
<p>As for the finish line, I hope that’s true, but not so sure. I worry the longer it takes, the less desirable a candidate appears. I fall back on a previous poster on this thread who said basically that.</p>