<p>IMO, the quality of the undergraduate department does matter, because at a quality department the applicant has more opportunity to do research with well-respected professors.</p>
<p>I said department and not college intentionally. A lesser-known college can have a great department in a specific field.</p>
<p>And of course many people get into graduate school from lesser-known colleges, so the effect is small, in my experience.</p>
<p>–</p>