Comments on: How important is it to get into a ‘good’ school? http://www.higheredmorning.com/how-important-is-it-to-get-into-a-good-school Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:37:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: John http://www.higheredmorning.com/how-important-is-it-to-get-into-a-good-school/comment-page-1#comment-1155 John Thu, 06 Aug 2009 02:11:51 +0000 http://www.higheredmorning.com/?p=1104#comment-1155 The research presented here does not answer the question in the headline "how important is it to get into (go to) a "good" school. Deep in the article researchers who took entering characteristics into consideration are quoted: According to research from Alan B. Krueger, a Princeton professor and Treasury official who used to contribute to Economix, and Stacey B. Dale at Mathematica Policy Research, attending one relatively elite college (like Harvey Mudd) rather than another (like Harvard) doesn’t much affect a student’s future income. Rather, it’s the student who matters. Hard-working, ambitious students will do well wherever they go. The opposite applies to mediocre or lazy students. So, an "ivy" environment may not be as important (at least in terms of future income) as the qualities that a student brings to that environment. Of course, as always, more research is needed, but overspeculating and sensationalistic headline writing based on a very limited data set (regardless of the N) does not help. The research presented here does not answer the question in the headline “how important is it to get into (go to) a “good” school. Deep in the article researchers who took entering characteristics into consideration are quoted:

According to research from Alan B. Krueger, a Princeton professor and Treasury official who used to contribute to Economix, and Stacey B. Dale at Mathematica Policy Research, attending one relatively elite college (like Harvey Mudd) rather than another (like Harvard) doesn’t much affect a student’s future income. Rather, it’s the student who matters. Hard-working, ambitious students will do well wherever they go. The opposite applies to mediocre or lazy students.

So, an “ivy” environment may not be as important (at least in terms of future income) as the qualities that a student brings to that environment.

Of course, as always, more research is needed, but overspeculating and sensationalistic headline writing based on a very limited data set (regardless of the N) does not help.

]]> By: Karl http://www.higheredmorning.com/how-important-is-it-to-get-into-a-good-school/comment-page-1#comment-1133 Karl Wed, 05 Aug 2009 17:58:47 +0000 http://www.higheredmorning.com/?p=1104#comment-1133 I respectfully must disagree with JaneB. It's not about "making a lot of money", it's about earning a living wage. In this economic climate, I think everyone understands that there are no opportunities without a college education. So, people are going after college education in whatever forms that can find (afford). In that respect, a student earning an associate's degree may still find work after graduation, but might not earn a living wage with that degree. In my state, the average starting salary for an associate's in finance or horticulture is just $9.50 per hour - my part-time student earns as much! A graduate of a 'good' school has the best chance to earn enough (or more) to live or raise a family on - it's not ju I wish drive, talent and smarts were valued for more than they seem to be! I respectfully must disagree with JaneB. It’s not about “making a lot of money”, it’s about earning a living wage. In this economic climate, I think everyone understands that there are no opportunities without a college education. So, people are going after college education in whatever forms that can find (afford). In that respect, a student earning an associate’s degree may still find work after graduation, but might not earn a living wage with that degree. In my state, the average starting salary for an associate’s in finance or horticulture is just $9.50 per hour – my part-time student earns as much! A graduate of a ‘good’ school has the best chance to earn enough (or more) to live or raise a family on – it’s not ju

I wish drive, talent and smarts were valued for more than they seem to be!

]]> By: JaneB http://www.higheredmorning.com/how-important-is-it-to-get-into-a-good-school/comment-page-1#comment-1116 JaneB Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:37:03 +0000 http://www.higheredmorning.com/?p=1104#comment-1116 Getting into a 'good' school may be important if your main goal in life is making a lot of money; however, a quick look at successful people in different professions shows that many did not go to a 'good' school. Drive, talent and smarts do count for something! Getting into a ‘good’ school may be important if your main goal in life is making a lot of money; however, a quick look at successful people in different professions shows that many did not go to a ‘good’ school. Drive, talent and smarts do count for something!

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