<p>A person who was admitted to both Y and H contacted me offsite because he/she is getting pressure from family and friends not to turn down the H “name”. The student’s mother assured her that the H name has more international recognition. I thought I’d share with you what I replied to my offline inquiry. I hope it’s helpful:</p>
<p>Any graduate school or employer who knows anything, will know that there’s no material difference between a Yale or Harvard degree holder. Do I care if some soap opera television watcher in a small American city has heard about Harvard and not Yale? Do I care if the guy who smokes all day long at the cafe in Cairo or Lisbon or Dakar has heard about Harvard and not Yale? No.</p>
<p>Do I care if a Law school admissions officer or the hiring manager of a Fortune 500 company knows that there’s no difference between a Yale or a Harvard degree? Yes.</p>
<p>To be frank, the jobs you’ll be applying to (that Ivy leaguers will want) will know the value of a Yale degree. Don’t let popular culture dictate a single item – they don’t hire ivy league graduates.</p>
<p>I’ve been in the position to hire Ivy graduates. H or Y would matter as much as the shade of white on the resume paper.</p>
<p>I’m being blunt because the “popular culture’s” view of Y and H is so inane (like television shows and movies: Gossip Girl and Skulls) and out of touch with the reality of attending two of the world’s finest learning institutions, in the history of the world.</p>
<p>If you’re in the fantastic situation to choose between Y and H and wherever else, please, please don’t let “name recognition” move you in the slightest. </p>
<p>From someone who’s been there, done that. Good luck to you.</p>
<p>When I was deciding where I wanted to go, I realized that the only thing Harvard had going for it (in regards to what I want to do in college) was its name… hence my choice.</p>
<p>My mom really wanted me to go to Harvard, but my dad was always rooting for Yale because he thought I’d be happier there. Which I SO WILL BE. (Don’t mind me, I’m having a post-commitment buzz.)</p>
<p>I think when it comes down to schools like MIT, Stanford, Princeton, Harvard, and Yale, it all depends on what you’re thinking about going into and how you fit at each school. Academically, all of these schools are virtually the same (differences between them would be trivial at best).</p>
<p>If I’d thought I would be happier at Princeton if I wanted to study theater, I would have chosen Princeton regardless of the fact that Yale theater is amazing. But that is not the case (nothing against Pton, just personal preference). </p>
<p>My friend just called to tell me she committed to Princeton. Even though she thought she was going to Harvard or Stanford until 4 hours ago.</p>
<p>worknprogress: Well sure. I can see how people will look at someone and feel they’re overqualified (She shouldn’t get this job. It’s only a stepping stone for her. I want someone who will be here 3+ years) or they feel is not humble (Ivy leaguers think they know everything! You can’t teach anything to them!)</p>
<p>For good or bad, depending on the fields you pursue, one may have to downplay your Ivy pedigree. I work in the non-profit field and work with many people who have little post HS education. To bring up the fact that I’m a Yale graduate needlessly brings forth a gulf in their minds when I have no issues at all working alongside them, managing them or being supervised by them. But that’s me.</p>
<p>I live in the midwest and a UMich, Michigan State or Northwestern degree holds sway due to the huge no. of alums. Ivy degree resumes float around but due to their scarcity, people don’t know what to make of them. A Wolverine is a known quantity in many people’s eyes. “A Yalie? Maybe he’s a snob” That’s how it goes. I don’t fret about it though.</p>
<p>I echo what T26E4 says. Depending on the field you go into, an Ivy degree may or may not carry much weight, or may even be perceived negatively. Around here (near Philadelphia) a degree from Penn State can make it easier to find a job, since there are so many alums and the loyalty and networking opportunities are huge. Again, though, that completely depends on the field: in anything related to academia, medicine, etc., the Yale degree would certainly carry more weight.</p>
<p>that’s exactly what I found. I really thought Harvard did a poor job of trying to convince people to attend…perhaps that’s because they felt like they didn’t need to when you have a name like they do.</p>
<p>“Do employers ever hold it against someone because they went to Yale or Harvard?”</p>
<p>worknprogress, in response to your question above, I did come across someone who was in the position of an “employer” with that exact bias! A few years ago, when DH & I were touring UC Berkeley campus with DS, we met a fellow parent who was also there touring the campus with his daughter. We started a conversation during which he told us that he owned a company with many employees. I was quite appalled when he stated in a totally as-a-matter-of-fact manner that he would “purposely” give any job candidate with an Ivy degree a hard time! It’s almost as if he had some ax to grind due to his own Ivy rejection in the past!!</p>
(Don’t mind me, I’m having a post-commitment buzz.)</p>