Having attended an average-at-best school for my undergraduate degree and a name-widely-recognized-as-one-of-the-best school for my graduate degree, and teachin

Having attended an average-at-best school for my undergraduate degree and a name-widely-recognized-as-one-of-the-best school for my graduate degree, and teaching several classes at both: The top students at both schools were quite close in ability, drive, motivation and talent. There may have been a couple a very little smarter at the name school, but not many, and not enough to make a material difference. But the mid and bottom students at the average school were quite a bit worse than the mid and bottom students at the name school. And it wasn't even close. So, in my experience at least, there are definitely students worth hiring at both places, but you have to sift through quite a bit more students at the average schools.