one year later--it doesn't matter

311Griff
Sat, 19 Aug 2006 02:03:27 +0000

because many talented students do end up at top schools, students from these school often appear to do better in the job market. don’t be fooled though, it’s not the schools that are turning out this success–it is the students. witness the studies comparing average lifetime earnings of ivy league grads to lifetimes earnings of state school grads who got into the ivies but chose not to attend.

there are also a lot of dumb people at top schools. about 1/2-1/3 the people are dumb, and got in for non-academic reasons, even at the most “academic” schools. in spite of their degrees, these people never do anything great in the world. it only takes an employer a few weeks to figure out that the stellar diploma masks a less stellar ability-level. in the end, ability shines through, and education cannot create ability–it can only nurture it. there are great teachers and classes at colleges all over this country; it doesn’t take a “top tier” school to turn out a brilliant mind.



I’m sorry, but by this (calvinistic) logic, why even go to school? Why even do the college thing? It won’t improve anything. You are what you are whether you go anywhere and get a degree or not… hard working, bright people don’t need to go to school, because they will succeed regardless of their academic achievements. And for those sorry sapps who just happen to be in the 1/2-1/3 dumb category, well, too bad for them, school won’t be changing anything. I don’t agree, I think where you go does matter, and makes a difference to an extent… along with what subjects you study, and how passionate you are about your particular major. All people are dumb in some things but brilliant in others, given the opportunity and correct environment.