The value of a top education

[gamblore99]

I have pretty sweet grades and am excited that I may possibly get into somewhere like harvard for graduate school.

My friend has even more spectacular grades and could definitely go anywhere of his choice.

We have been arguing the value of graduate degree from a top school. We both agree that it will help career wise, but outside of that what kind of benefits if any to your life does would this bring?

[Sephus]

if people respect you automatically without you having to prove yourself, that would be a bonus.

[AbreuTime]

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We have been arguing the value of graduate degree from a top school. We both agree that it will help career wise, but outside of that what kind of benefits if any to your life does would this bring?

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Outside of the abovementioned career opportunities...
Benefit: If you like to date intelligent women, they will be easier to find.
Benefit: If you like to date gold-diggers, you will have an easier time.
Cost: You may have less time to date.

[Patrick del Poker Grande]

The value varies greatly depending on the field. What are you going into?

[capone0]

If your talking about Business, Law, Med programs then it matters. You don't get a huge pay increase for things such as Engineering PHDs and Graduate Degrees in topics such as English, Science, etc. I think the Professional Programs at the top schools are where you are going to get the most benefit. Another huge benefit is networking.

Also, where did you go for undergrad? If you went to an easy school for undergrad you can still get in but it's much easier to get into a top flight grad school from a top flight undergrad program or atleast that's my personal experience from my friends (I went to Cornell).

[econophile]

This is a pretty provocative scholarly article on the issue:

"Estimating the Payoff to Attending a More Selective College: An Application of Selection on Observables and Unobservables," (with Stacy Dale), Quarterly Journal of Economics, vol. 117, no. 4, November 2002.

You can get a public version here www.irs.princeton.edu/pubs/pdfs/409.pdf

The main result is earnings depend on the quality of the student instead of the quality of the school. So the main reason Harvard grads earn more than Kansas State grads is that the average Harvard grad is a lot smarter. Of course this isn't the final study on the subject, but it is one of the best to date.

Also note this is for undergraduate institutions.

[kutuz_off]

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We have been arguing the value of graduate degree from a top school. We both agree that it will help career wise, but outside of that what kind of benefits if any to your life does would this bring?

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Um, networking? Your chances to get to know (befreind, sleep with, do favors for, work with) future movers and shakers are much higher at Harvard than at some Bronx Community College.

[XXXNoahXXX]

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[ QUOTE ]
We have been arguing the value of graduate degree from a top school. We both agree that it will help career wise, but outside of that what kind of benefits if any to your life does would this bring?

[/ QUOTE ]

Um, networking? Your chances to get to know (befreind, sleep with, do favors for, work with) future movers and shakers are much higher at Harvard than at some Bronx Community College.

[/ QUOTE ]

unless you meana actual movers.

[gamblore99]

Patrick Del Poker Grande and capone0,

Either medical school or an MBA, most likely an MBA.

I'm more interested in discussing the benefits outside of career/pay.

[kutuz_off]

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I'm more interested in discussing the benefits outside of career/pay.

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Natalie Portman goes (went?) to Harvard. Need more?