For a long time, me and A have been debating on this topic.
"Does being in Ivy League settle your life forever?"
The answer is Yes. And A agrees.
"Do I have less opportunities than an Ivy League graduate?"
The answer is No. But A won't agree to this.
We pondered on what are the reasons that people at an Ivy League get chosen over others - great reputation, strong alum, lots of resources at your dispose. And that's it? What about the basic 'intelligence'?
I personally know few people from the Ivy colleges, who aren't as "intelligent" as you think they should be. Period. And yet they make the best job offers. I cannot quote who they are and what they did, for me to reach this conclusion. But it is true and it is a fact.
Of the few places I have worked, I met some of the smartest and some of the dumbest. Both from Ivy. Coming back to the question, do they have more opportunities than you? They certainly get those opportunities faster and easier than others. Its simple, there alum is very very strong and they have a better reach. In the States, nothing works without references. If you know a few people who can get you to the top, that is all there is to it. You can "fake" your way to that initial job, without getting stressed out about it and without knowing what the job expectations are. You are Ivy right, you are in :)
It really wonders me how people get into such top institutes without the strong basics that are expected of them.
But like I told A, you can dig opportunities, if you want to.
You can climb the corporate ladder, if you want to. You can get to start a company, if you want to.
Ivy or not, it is your determination to push yourself and make your own way.
Who wants an Ivy League degree when you know you can achieve more by walking that extra mile..
PS: I totally think A is much more smarter than those douches from Ivy I met:)
3 comments:
An institute can only take in a fraction of the people.. It might choose whose they are but it can only pick among the people who opt for it.. While students coming out of it could have better opportunities, i think the right people would always find their way..
Yep, I agree Ramana! You summarize the whole post in few lines:)
I have a different take on this. Being in Ivy's obviously lets u leverage that network - and being intelligent per se is not a pre req to get in. But rather the illusion of being intelligent. Why should one network be favored?
Hmm...I guess a few paragraphs from Prince should enlighten.
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