3 ms·
Re signalling - apart from simple education, going to an elite college also gives softer skills. For example increased confidence, social skills, networking opp
by chippy 6y ago
Re signalling - apart from simple education, going to an elite college also gives softer skills. For example increased confidence, social skills, networking opportunities, training in etiquette and behaviour or manners, and better alumini connections which could be utilised later on. Elite colleges may have better extra curricular activities too, a better gym maybe, or better equipped clubs, enabling students of the same intelligence to have other benefits than just education.
Now, here's the kicker. Signalling is not about a better education. These soft skills are the primary thing that is being signalled. The signal is: "going to an elite place produces better more rounded individuals".
You can go to an elite school and not gain any of the actual softer skills and stay in your room all day but you would still benefit from the signalling!
- srtjstjsj 6y ago> social skills, training in etiquette and behaviour or manners, How do schools give these?!
- charlesu 6y agoYou're surrounded by the children of the elite, who model the etiquette and behavior of their parents. After a few years, you tend to imitate them and that allows you to move in those circles effortlessly. That gives you access into high powered careers like high finance, strategy consulting, and corporate law where upper-middle class behaviors are required. McKinsey just isn't going to take someone with the behaviors of a yokel and put him in front of a F500 CEO even if he's a literal genius. You have to look and act the part. That's the true value of an elite education: a rubber stamp and an understanding of the behaviors and habits of the elite.