Ivy League Diplomas Still Worth Price of Admission?
Senior Editor, CNBC
Yale senior says connections are worth tuition
For many college-bound students, the lure of a Dartmouth or Cornell remains intoxicating.
Christopher Stanley is a 21 year-old senior at Yale and has already secured an investment banking job on Wall Street after graduation. By picking an Ivy League college, the native of Los Angeles, Calif. admits to taking the fast track he saw others get on.
"My high school really set the tone for me to attend an Ivy League school," says Stanley, a student athlete who chose Yale over Penn and Brown, as well as other colleges that offered full scholarships.
"There were so many kids from my high school football team that got admitted to Ivy league schools and got great jobs and were off to do great things with their lives," Stanley explains. "For me, the choice to attend Yale involved the 'Oh' factor as a resume builder."
The 'Oh' factor comes with the first step on campus, Stanley says.
"We're constantly told that we have been selected because we are better and special," says Stanley, who will graduate with a double major. "This gets instilled in our brains from the moment we enter Yale."
Stanley warns that an Ivy League school is not for everyone—at least when it comes to finances.
"I've had great experiences at Yale, but the school itself does not breed success. If money isn't an issue then come here," says Stanley, whose family paid for his first three years before he received a full scholarship as a senior. "If money is an issue, you can probably get a good education elsewhere."
As he sums up the last four years, Stanley concedes the opportunities that lay ahead may be worth more than the education he got.
"Is my degree worth it? Maybe not," Stanley explains. "Are the connections worth it? Definitely."