POI: UWisc has 4x the population of Harvard, so it isn't really on par on an odds ratio. I expect similar class size differences for the other state vs Ivy schools.
Right, but if you believe the narrative that some people seem to be promoting (not raganwald, mind you, I'm generalizing a bit here), they'd have you believe that going to a State school is like a career death sentence or something... the narrative seems to be "Ivy League or you might as well commit suicide, unless you're the rare lucky chump like Zuckerberg or Gates".
I'm just pointing out that things aren't quite so skewed. You can go to school at a reasonably reputable State school and still have a pretty good career... Ivy League not required.
> the narrative seems to be "Ivy League or you might as well commit suicide, unless you're the rare lucky chump like Zuckerberg or Gates".
Both of which actually did go to Ivy League schools, so they are actually counterexamples to what you are trying to say. They may not have graduated, but to focus on that is to miss the point.
The point is that these Ivy League schools come with networks, which are more important than the education itself. When you are part of such a network, you are more likely to be considered for high-ranking positions. Going with the article's example, being in the network is the difference between being a Lisper vs. a Pythonista.
The point is that these Ivy League schools come with networks, which are more important than the education itself. When you are part of such a network, you are more likely to be considered for high-ranking positions.
I don't disagree with that, but I think the value of that may be overstated. That's all I'm saying. Again, I would not try to tell somebody to not attend an Ivy League school... what I'm saying is that there is plenty of evidence that one can attend a non-Ivy League school, even the oft-derided "State university" and still have a good chance at an amazing career. Not just a good career mind you, but amazing, as I would consider making it to the level of "S&P 500 CEO" to be pretty dang amazing.
So, if you're just starting out, just out of high-school, and you know that you absolutely want to be CEO of a S&P 500, or Fortune 500 company one day, then by all means, do everything in your power to get into Harvard or Stanford or Yale or Princeton or Brown or Columbia or something. It can't hurt. BUT... if you're willing to accept, say, only being CEO of a multi-million dollar company that nobody has ever heard of, you certainly aren't out of the running if you go to a State university. And, as seen above, you aren't even out of the running for the S&P 500 gig either. Maybe you'd have to work a little harder, or have a little more luck to get there, but it obviously can be done.
Fair enough, I was thinking in terms of "graduated from an Ivy League school", but point taken.
Anyway, that I could have chosen a better example doesn't negate the point, that you can certainly be very successful without having attended an Ivy League school.
