Worth running for NAU?

wisconsin haven't won a team title in 8 years compared to the three peat of NAU

the knowledge room wrote:

wisconsin haven't won a team title in 8 years compared to the three peat of NAU

Yes no question NAU is better right now. But the OP implied that he would be sacrificing his running by going to Wisconsin, which is absolutely ridiculous.

I meant sacrificing national championship team titles in cross country, not one sacrificing his running endeavours

Fair enough

It depends on several factors, but my bias would be "no". The championship is a nice experience, but doesn't really do anything for you personally. That is: It won't get you a real job, and it won't get you a sponsorship unless you are one of the top runners. And if you are one of the top runners there, you could be a top runner at Stanford, Notre Dame, Wisconsin or Michigan. Did winning two NCAA championships at a collegian result in Tim Hacker (Olin's dad) having a great pro career? Not really, although he didn't do badly. But the Wisconsin educational opportunities led to a PHD and a professorship at the UW. That is winning.

Can you get a good education at NAU? I expect so. But you can get a good education lots of places. The real question is what degrees mean more to employers and grad schools. If you aren't planning on grad school, pick the best school with a good running program. Why do you think McDonald and Hoare chose Wisconsin over NAU? If you are thinking of grad school, NAU might be an OK choice if you apply yourself and get top grades. Otherwise, you should be headed to other schools.

Your undergraduate institution ABSOLUTELY has an influence on your job prospects(and graduate school options) out of college. No question. This isn't even debatable. You have far more opportunities right out of college from an elite institution. Far more doors are opened from Standford then from NAU. Large firms have deep recruiting networks at elite schools. They invest recruiting resources disproportionately to better schools. This isn't a secret. At all. Of course there are exceptionally talented people that will dominate the job market no matter where they go to school. But most people aren't exceptionally talented. They aren't the norm.

10 or 15 years down the road, when you're established in your career, nobody will ever care where you went, but its those initial job opportunities that can make an enormous difference.

NAU and ASU both are not even ranked within the top 125 universities in the country. Is this a joke?

ASU managed to be the butt of the joke in the second Dumb and Dumber movie when Harry opens the mail and realizes he got in to ASU back in high school.

Don't lie to yourself and others to make yourself feel better. Can you accomplish something career wise graduating from either? Yes. Are you more likely to with a top 25 degree? Absolutely.

Stack the hand in your favor. Always.

You are both correct and incorrect. Way down the road in your career nobody will care. But where you go has a large effect on job and educational opportunities.

I went to an NAU caliber school when I had opportunities at elite schools. I didn't go for athletics. I went for free tuition at the less reputable school. My elite opportunities were more costly upfront as I couldn't get a full ride.

I definitely put some major hurdles in my way going to the lesser school. I had a super hard time getting initial job interest and post-graduate interest simply because my school did not have a great reputation. I was fortunate. I overcame a lot of hurdles and had to prove myself repeatedly more than I would have otherwise. 15 years down the road I make more money than my colleagues that went to princeton and yale. But I have mant friends that are qualified and talented but just never got through the glass ceiling.

I got an MBA from Harvard, made assoc partner at McKinsey, and had a good outcome as startup CEO.

You go to a top school for 3 reasons:

1. A stamp of credibility

2. An alumni network

3. Oh yeah, maybe learn something

The top two matter tons more than the specific content in the third.

All the comments about it’s what you learn in school and nobody cares where you went probably are made by career corporate or small biz lifers. Maybe they also went to a no name school in another state, so there’s no alumni network where they’re at. You’re right. No one cares where you went.

For those who want an accelerated career and a network of folks that will help you, a top school increases your probability of success. It’s far from a guarantee. And you can be successful coming from any school. But it’s about probability.

Even if you believe that you learn just as much at any school...that misses the point. That’s not what you’re buying or getting.

Now for the more important point. Having a “prestigious” career doesn’t mean you’ll be happy. Do what makes you happy. If that means going to a forgettable school that no one outside the state of Arizona gives two clicks about because you want to run and be in flagstaff, NAU, fine. If you want to go to Penn State, live in PA, and be surrounded by a passionate alumni network...that could be a great choice. Do what makes you happy.

+2

Wow a reasonable comment from a Harvard McKinsey guy. Unexpected.

the knowledge room wrote:

I meant sacrificing national championship team titles in cross country, not one sacrificing his running endeavours

Drew Bosley wanted to go to UW they just wouldn't let him in.

Don't go to NAU, there's too much of a choking hazard.