How important in a college's prestige?

Question

Right now I go to Iowa State. I came in with college credits, so at the end of my first year I'll have about 47 credits. Next year, I would much rather take one semester at community college to finish off gen eds, and then transfer to a university closer to my home town.

The reasons for doing this are:
-It's Cheaper
-If I take just 13 credits one semester at community college I could get a job and actually make some money
-Closer to family and friends
-Better lifestyle(I could rent an apartment for very close to what I'm paying for my dorm, and my friends and I are going to train for a marathon this summer, so I'd continue running if I was there)
-A girl
-GPA will disappear at transfer (my GPA isn't atrocious, about a 3.1, but I know I was just unprepared first semester)

The only reason I have for staying at ISU is that it has a higher prestige. The school I am thinking of transferring to is a 4th tier school.


So how important is the prestige? Will it really matter that much in the end if I get good grades and have work experience? I'm a computer science major, and I already am in charge of maintaining a website. I also plan to do Google Summer of Code if it is announced this summer, and to continue to build my resume with more than just a school name and GPA.

Answer 1

Make sure the school where you get your CS degree is CAC/ABET-accredited for CS.

In Iowa, only Iowa State is CAC/ABET-accredited.

Answer 2

I think more than prestige, it's a matter of how good the program at the school is. When you're looking for jobs, employers going to take into consideration that you graduated from so-and-so program at so-and-so school, which is competitive and high quality. If you do a 4th tier school, you might have the same education, but it definitely wouldn't look as great. I'd argue that a lower GPA at a good school is better than a high GPA at a lesser known school. But in the end, work experience is more important than either.

Although I think networking and finding people in higher places is easier at higher ranked schools.

Answer 3

those are so close it is not suitable. actually I even have employed Cal Poly Pomona grads over UC grads as quickly as I employed engineers because of the fact the Cal Poly candidate gave himself extra advantageous adventure with the aid of beginning to construct a guitar amplifier. the college isn't each and every thing. My daughter went to an undergrad college rated like variety 4000 to get a extra advantageous GPA with the aid of having poorer opposition and is now in a completely funded PhD in engineering at a suitable 50 college.

Answer 4

Do not mention "prestige" to an academic. You will be dismissed as shallow and not worth the bother.



People who care about such superficial considerations don't count. People who count don't care.