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My anectodal experience tells me no. I went to a CUNY (NYC system college) school with a 99% acceptance rate and sub 20% graduation rate. It was more important

My anectodal experience tells me no. I went to a CUNY (NYC system college) school with a 99% acceptance rate and sub 20% graduation rate. It was more important that I lived in New York than that I went to this specific school. I was able to find internships which got me into the industry, network with folks from different industries, and generally have a lot of opportunities available to me. Also, I graduated in 4 years with no student debt and low overall expenses, I was able to pay my way with a part time job and government subsidies. I've given way more in taxes than what it cost the city and federal government to send me to school. It may not be an elite Yale or Stanford education, but most folks don't have that anyway.

projectramo 8y ago
But is your experience typical or exceptional?
- 40acres 8y ago
  It's atypical but I think it provides a completely different model about how to think about college. A lot of parents are stressing out about how to pay for college and for good reason, but I think you can derive 80% of the value of going to college for 20% of the cost. For one: I don't think most families can pay the extra fees associated w/ going to an out of state school. Second: most states have at least one solid state school that has a relatively high acceptance rate for residents, third: students and parents really need to have frank discussions about the economic potential of a degree. Fourth: Students and parents should strongly consider a "half and half" between community college and a state school to complete their degree. At the end of the day, a lot of parents are paying for prestige, but if you can get the right degree and internship experience I don't think where you went to school is weighted as heavily. I'm fortunate to be in software (although I did do market research before declaring), I doubt anyone who's read my resume has heard of the school I went to, but a critical internship really opened up the doors for me and I've had opportunities to interview at some of the biggest companies in the world. You gotta think outside the box.
  - mcguire 8y ago
    How do you get the right internship experience if the right companies don't recruit from your school?
purplezooey 8y ago
Second this. My experience as well and I think it is a common route, just not the one you hear about much.

projectramo 8y ago

But is your experience typical or exceptional?

40acres 8y ago
It's atypical but I think it provides a completely different model about how to think about college. A lot of parents are stressing out about how to pay for college and for good reason, but I think you can derive 80% of the value of going to college for 20% of the cost. For one: I don't think most families can pay the extra fees associated w/ going to an out of state school. Second: most states have at least one solid state school that has a relatively high acceptance rate for residents, third: students and parents really need to have frank discussions about the economic potential of a degree. Fourth: Students and parents should strongly consider a "half and half" between community college and a state school to complete their degree. At the end of the day, a lot of parents are paying for prestige, but if you can get the right degree and internship experience I don't think where you went to school is weighted as heavily. I'm fortunate to be in software (although I did do market research before declaring), I doubt anyone who's read my resume has heard of the school I went to, but a critical internship really opened up the doors for me and I've had opportunities to interview at some of the biggest companies in the world. You gotta think outside the box.
- mcguire 8y ago
  How do you get the right internship experience if the right companies don't recruit from your school?

purplezooey 8y ago

Second this. My experience as well and I think it is a common route, just not the one you hear about much.