Name Schools v. No Name Schools

What's in a name? Nike or British Knights? Gucci or Old Navy? Ferrari or Kia? Hilton or Motel 6? Golden Gate University or ...? When I found out that I would be attending GGU law school by default (I didn't get into my other 2 choices) I immediately started making plans to transfer simply because GGU isn't as reputable as other law schools in the area. Working as a technical recruiter for the last 2.5 years I've realized how important names really are. I would present resumes to hiring managers and the first thing they would look at is which school the applicant graduated from. For one of my employers it didn't even matter if the applicant had 15 years of experience under their belt, if they graduated from Cal State Hayward they didn't stand a chance. On the other hand if the applicant graduated from MIT they would roll out the red carpet and pop the champagne bottles. I had a very hard time with this from a moral stand point. Who's to say that the woman who graduated from San Francisco State isn't as smart or as capable as the man who graduated from Stanford? Now there were a few hires I made where the applicants pedigree wasn't as distinguished as the next guy, and in these instances I always found myself rooting for the underdog. The only thing was that they would have to absolutely knock it out of the ball park during their interviews, while the MIT grad could make a bunt single and still be the one with offer packet. I'm not trying to say that people who graduated from the Stanford's and MIT's don't deserve the good jobs, the good money, or the good life, after all they probably worked really hard throughout their academic career and are now finally being rewarded for all their efforts. I just don't think it should be handed to them on a silver platter. Level out the playing field. Give the people who graduated from the no name schools a chance. If Rocky taught you one thing in life it should have been to never discount the underdog.

I'm wrapping up my first semester at GGU and I've had an incredible experience. The professors are great, the curriculum is challenging, I've made some really great friends, and I couldn't have asked for a better overall experience. Now I know transferring isn't guaranteed by any means, but if I get the opportunity to enroll in a "name" school I honestly wouldn't want to, but then it always comes back to the name. Everyone always roots for the underdog but no one ever wants to be one. I guess only time will tell.