Job Discussion Forums

[Cdaniels]

OK. I know there are many Mexican universities that are very good. I know that there are students throughout Latin America who go to Mexican schools. (although I'm not sure if this is mainly for post-graduate degrees or Bachelors, too)
Surely there's a French, Irish or NZ school that can offer a program that's decent, for a lot less than attending UNAM. If money is not an issue, the reputation and networking possibilities at US schools cannot be beat.

and yes, MELEE is a nice and helpful.

[FreddyM]

Yes, I should have mentioned, probably the best reason to attend a high status private university is for the networking potential. The quality of education you may receive probably wouldn't be better than at a public univ like UNAM, but you would be interacting with people of higher social status that could help you more in your career.

I think the same is also true of universities in the U.S. I attended two very different universities, one a middle of the road, average public univ, and another a highly ranked prestigious one. The students at the elite univ. tended to have a higher income background, were probably better educated in the long run, and certainly were more well-connected. The quality of the courwork however I don't think was any better, easier, or rigorous than the plain jane univ. I attended for undergrad. Unfortunately, back when I was in grad school I was more idealistic and thought "merit" and your own hard work would bring about its rewards, and I downplayed the role of networking. Big mistake. You go to those elite universities for the networking abilities. The fact that perhaps many of the students there really don't deserve to be there, don't have the mental abilities to do the work and all...none of that should matter to you.

That is why the perceived status of a university should be taken into account when you are deciding what exactly you want to do with your degree after you graduate.