<p>My opinion is that prestige does not matter for the top 50-70 schools or so, but once you get down to schools in engineering like SMU, it does become a consideration. Sure, you will get a good job from SMU if you get good grades, but you have to consider the cost of the private school and the fact that there probably won’t be that many recruiters at your school (especially since SMU’s size is smaller than that of UT or Texas A&M or even Houston and isn’t as reputable as Rice). Sure you will get a good job, but if you’re paying all that money, why not shoot for something a little better?</p>
<p>Just my two cents.</p>