I'd argue that the more important measure is who your classmates are, but where their ambitions lie. I went to a prestigious engineering school with high-quali

I'd argue that the more important measure is who your classmates are, but where their ambitions lie. I went to a prestigious engineering school with high-quality instruction and top-notch students. However, the professional culture of the school was very much defined by a finance-heavy recruitment culture. Very few graduates of the school go on to do engineering, and thus the peer culture there doesn't contribute to advancing one's career in the sciences.