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.