2008 Woodie Awards
Ivy League significance down
By Frank Skrip
Rocket News Editor
Issue date: 9/30/05 Section: News
In a time when extra-curricular activities, internships and knowing the right people rules the entry into the job market, the pedigree of a student's education has been thoroughly reduced.
John F. Snyder, associate director for the office of career services, said he feels that it's not the institution that matters to employers as much as what the entry-level graduate was involved in.
"The thing that employers are realizing now more than ever, is that a student can get just as good of an education at a state school as they would at an Ivy League school, if they put in the right amount of effort," Snyder said.
Another advantage to the smaller state schools, Snyder said, is the individual attention students can receive due to the smaller class size. Since they can talk to a professor one-on-one and ask questions in class, more information is exchanged.
Extra-curricular activities are also easier to get involved in at the smaller university; a plus in the eyes of employers, Snyder said.
"There is much more of a partnership between the students and the faculty at smaller institutions," Snyder said. "It is also much easier to get involved with an organization that deals with the students' field of study when there aren't 100 other people vying for the same position."
While a shift in the significance of attending an Ivy League school is becoming more evident, there are still arguments that favor the Harvards and Yales.
Michael G. Ignelzi, associate professor for student affairs in higher education in the department of counseling and development, said that Ivy League schools continually have an advantage when it comes to networking. Ignelzi did his doctoral work at Harvard University.
"These (Ivy League) institutions have a real prestige about them more than anything else," Ignelzi said. "The prestige is what really draws most of the students there."
Snyder said he agrees that there will always be a certain degree of stature at Ivy League institutions that will, more than likely, never be paralleled at state schools.
John F. Snyder, associate director for the office of career services, said he feels that it's not the institution that matters to employers as much as what the entry-level graduate was involved in.
"The thing that employers are realizing now more than ever, is that a student can get just as good of an education at a state school as they would at an Ivy League school, if they put in the right amount of effort," Snyder said.
Another advantage to the smaller state schools, Snyder said, is the individual attention students can receive due to the smaller class size. Since they can talk to a professor one-on-one and ask questions in class, more information is exchanged.
Extra-curricular activities are also easier to get involved in at the smaller university; a plus in the eyes of employers, Snyder said.
"There is much more of a partnership between the students and the faculty at smaller institutions," Snyder said. "It is also much easier to get involved with an organization that deals with the students' field of study when there aren't 100 other people vying for the same position."
While a shift in the significance of attending an Ivy League school is becoming more evident, there are still arguments that favor the Harvards and Yales.
Michael G. Ignelzi, associate professor for student affairs in higher education in the department of counseling and development, said that Ivy League schools continually have an advantage when it comes to networking. Ignelzi did his doctoral work at Harvard University.
"These (Ivy League) institutions have a real prestige about them more than anything else," Ignelzi said. "The prestige is what really draws most of the students there."
Snyder said he agrees that there will always be a certain degree of stature at Ivy League institutions that will, more than likely, never be paralleled at state schools.
