I went to a local state school As did I. I felt that I'd rather spend time working on my own projects instead of staying up all night working on some professo

I went to a local state school As did I. I felt that I'd rather spend time working on my own projects instead of staying up all night working on some professors' latest project. Turned out well for me at least, I made far more my senior year in college than my current income at my day job. I think the more your intended profession relies on doing to gain experience, the less going to a top-tier college matters. On the other hand, if it's through research and access to the top knowledge resources, then a top-tier school matters. For most of us as engineers / hackers, we learn much more through doing & building.