College...does it matter which one?

Ok, so I'm looking at my college options and I know I can get into any college GPA-wise...but the money is ridiculous and I don't want a huge atmosphere where your just a number because having an actual name motivates me and I work better in a small atmosphere.





However, all of the small colleges (not small small...just not like Harvard or Princeton) are recognized as being not prestigious while a major school is...





So, after I graduate college will this deter my chances at getting a good job...I WANT TO BE A NEUROSURGEON...pre-med school...i found many college options so far for pre-med...but when I do become a surgeon will the company or whoever hire a person from Brown in RI...where I live...over a person from like from Elms college (couldn't think of any other college:-) )





THANKS!

College...does it matter which one?
Man if you're a stud neurosurgeon in 18 yrs (assuming you're a sr in HS now) then it really doesn't matter too much. Neurosurgeons are in HIGH demand. It might matter if you want to work in a very high profile place like Manhattan or LA. or Chi-town... other than that... not really. A neurosurgery residency is extremely competitive. That's after 4 yrs of college to be in the top 10% and 4yrs of med school and being in the top 3% of the top 10% from college. So if you can manage that feat.... trust me.. you'll be fine man. Good luck. It's a long road though, I'm curious why you believe this is your calling?
Reply:If you don't go to a Ivy League School or Top School ( Cal, UCLA, USC ... ) it really doesn't matter which school you pick. Unless it is a top 5 school in what your degree is in. TRUST ME ON THIS. No job employer will go, "You went to University of Illinois and you went to SUNY so I will hire the person from University of Illinois, because it is a little bit of a better school" NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. If it was Yale to SUNY no surprise Yale kid will get the job.
Reply:The very people who write those reports on what schools are "prestigious" have admitted time and time again that the rankings are basically meaningless.





In reality, Harvard and Yale are only viewed as better schools because everyone views them as better schools. It's their name that carries them. They're good schools, but it's ridiculous to say that they've been the top 2 schools in the US for the past 100 years and no one else has ever come close.





If you succeed at a state university with a strong background in whatever field you want to pursue, you'll be in great shape. I highly doubt anyone is going to hire someone based solely on the fact that they went to Brown, unless the person doing the hiring went to Brown themselves.
Reply:No one is going to care about your undergraduate work after you finish medical school. Where you go to medical school is what's going to count.
Reply:As long as you get really good grades and are in the top of your class, you shouldn't have a problem getting a good job. Grades and board exams are more important than what college you went to. It looks good to say you went to Brown, Harvard, or Princeton, but it's also a lot more competitive. You definitely want to go to a really good medical school, but for undergraduate pre-med any school should be fine.





Have you looked at St. Louis University? I went there, and I have heard their Medical school, and undergraduate medical programs are very good.
Reply:Your college choice is important. Be sure to select an accredited univeristy. The US World Report ranks U.S. univeristies, you may check it out and see where your options fall on the list. If you are just beginning as an undergraduate, you have more flexibility. You can always go somewhere more prestigious later for medical school. Then, you still have to do your residency somewhere. You may even want to take on a post-doc fellowship somewhere to develop a speciality. Pick and accredited school for your BA where you will be most successful to set you up properly for the long run.
Reply:If they're not "being recognized" as prestigious, but you know they are and you'll receive a good education, what difference does it make? If you're going into the medical field, a quality education is better than going to a school with a good name. Good names do not equal good education!


Great employers are going to look at your classes, GPA, activities and achievements while you're in a university, and secondly, if they're in the field they'll know the best colleges around, big names or not.
Reply:correction.. Harvard and Princeton are incredibly prestigious. And if you are concerned with the price of college, apply for a lot of scholarships. Also, a lot of times it is more important where you go to grad school.

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