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It depends on the person. I can't comment on Ivys, however I attended a very prestigious East coast prep school. At the time I was a terrible "networker" and

by modoc 12y ago

It depends on the person. I can't comment on Ivys, however I attended a very prestigious East coast prep school. At the time I was a terrible "networker" and I left there with zero long term friends and useful connections. A good friend of mine went to a similar prep school, but he's more a naturally social guy, and he's maintained leverage connections with probably 100 people who have gone on to positions of power and prestige. He has been able to call on those acquaintances very successfully in his career to open doors and get introductions that simply aren't available to most people. So just because I wasn't personally able to capitalize on the networking opportunity doesn't mean that the opportunity wasn't there.

hnnewguy 12y ago
>So just because I wasn't personally able to capitalize on the networking opportunity doesn't mean that the opportunity wasn't there. It sounds to me that you reinforce the OPs argument: social people will make connections regardless.
- pm90 12y ago
  I don't see how you got there. Being social is important yes, but you can't just meet the diverse number of people that its possible to in university: future lawyers, engineers, doctors, artists, bureaucrats etc. all in the same campus. College is the best time to make connections, and an Ivy League College is even better.
  - hnnewguy 12y ago
    >I don't see how you got there. Well, I started with the fact that he said he isn't social and made few connections, while his sociable friend made many connections. From there, it wasn't hard to conclude that "college" had little to do with generating connections. >but you can't just meet the diverse number of people that its possible to in university Completely untrue. First of all, you know where you can find diversity? Almost anywhere. Join a club or a team sport and you're likely to encounter people of all shapes, colours, ages and occupations. Second, the University isn't as diverse as you proclaim. The average person you will meet in college in America or the Commonwealth will be globally wealthy, speak English and probably be a WASP, somewhere between ages 18 and 24. You surround yourself with like-minded people in your courses, many of whom will not graduate, and even fewer who will go on to careers related to their education. Don't get me wrong; I love the college experience, and am a firm believer in education. I've already spent more time there than is optimal for my career. >College is the best time to make connections And what do you base this argument on? I didn't have a clue who I was at 20.
    - modoc 12y ago
      it's not that "college" would make a huge difference, it's that an Ivy league (or similar school) would allow a person like my friend to make connections that are helpful. The high-end prep school he went to means he has connections at global banks and financial firms, connections to families with 100s of millions of dollars of wealth, people in national level politics, international connections, etc... that wouldn't have been possible at a normal high school.
- rayiner 12y ago
  You'll make connections, but to who? Consider Peter Thiel. He doesn't come from crazy money (his dad was a chemical engineer). But he went to Stanford for undergrad and law school, which allowed him to get a job on Wall Street. He funded his first hedge fund by raising $1 million from family and friends. Very few people from middle class families who go to state schools can raise $1 million for a business venture from family and friends in their 30's, no matter how social they were in college. However, it's very doable if you go to an Ivy where half your class ends up at investment banks and hedge funds, where they're making six figure bonuses just a few years out. It's even more doable if you first do a stint in one of those jobs--you gain instant credibility as someone who can be trusted with that kind of money.

by modoc 12y ago

hnnewguy 12y ago

>So just because I wasn't personally able to capitalize on the networking opportunity doesn't mean that the opportunity wasn't there. It sounds to me that you reinforce the OPs argument: social people will make connections regardless.

pm90 12y ago
I don't see how you got there. Being social is important yes, but you can't just meet the diverse number of people that its possible to in university: future lawyers, engineers, doctors, artists, bureaucrats etc. all in the same campus. College is the best time to make connections, and an Ivy League College is even better.
- hnnewguy 12y ago
  >I don't see how you got there. Well, I started with the fact that he said he isn't social and made few connections, while his sociable friend made many connections. From there, it wasn't hard to conclude that "college" had little to do with generating connections. >but you can't just meet the diverse number of people that its possible to in university Completely untrue. First of all, you know where you can find diversity? Almost anywhere. Join a club or a team sport and you're likely to encounter people of all shapes, colours, ages and occupations. Second, the University isn't as diverse as you proclaim. The average person you will meet in college in America or the Commonwealth will be globally wealthy, speak English and probably be a WASP, somewhere between ages 18 and 24. You surround yourself with like-minded people in your courses, many of whom will not graduate, and even fewer who will go on to careers related to their education. Don't get me wrong; I love the college experience, and am a firm believer in education. I've already spent more time there than is optimal for my career. >College is the best time to make connections And what do you base this argument on? I didn't have a clue who I was at 20.
  - modoc 12y ago
    it's not that "college" would make a huge difference, it's that an Ivy league (or similar school) would allow a person like my friend to make connections that are helpful. The high-end prep school he went to means he has connections at global banks and financial firms, connections to families with 100s of millions of dollars of wealth, people in national level politics, international connections, etc... that wouldn't have been possible at a normal high school.
rayiner 12y ago
You'll make connections, but to who? Consider Peter Thiel. He doesn't come from crazy money (his dad was a chemical engineer). But he went to Stanford for undergrad and law school, which allowed him to get a job on Wall Street. He funded his first hedge fund by raising $1 million from family and friends. Very few people from middle class families who go to state schools can raise $1 million for a business venture from family and friends in their 30's, no matter how social they were in college. However, it's very doable if you go to an Ivy where half your class ends up at investment banks and hedge funds, where they're making six figure bonuses just a few years out. It's even more doable if you first do a stint in one of those jobs--you gain instant credibility as someone who can be trusted with that kind of money.