Do People Care What College You Went to for Engineering?

When it comes to getting a job as an engineer, does it matter what college you went to? The answer is: it depends.

In some cases, employers may have a preference for candidates who graduated from certain colleges or universities. This is especially true for large, well-known companies that receive a high volume of applications. By focusing their search on graduates from a select group of schools, these companies can reduce the number of applications they need to review and make it easier to find the best candidates.

However, there are also many employers who do not care what college you went to. These employers are more interested in your skills and experience than your alma mater. If you have a strong academic record and can demonstrate that you have the skills and knowledge necessary to do the job, you are likely to be a competitive candidate regardless of where you went to school.

So, how do you know if the college you went to matters?

Here are a few factors to consider:

The size of the company. As mentioned above, larger companies are more likely to have a preference for candidates from certain colleges. This is because they receive a higher volume of applications and need to find ways to narrow down the pool of candidates.
The industry you are applying to. Some industries, such as investment banking and consulting, are known for being more competitive and selective. As a result, employers in these industries may be more likely to give preference to candidates from top-tier schools.
Your own qualifications. If you have a strong academic record and can demonstrate that you have the skills and knowledge necessary to do the job, you are likely to be a competitive candidate regardless of where you went to school. However, if your qualifications are less impressive, you may need to attend a more prestigious school in order to stand out from the crowd.

Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to attend a prestigious college is a personal one

There are many factors to consider, such as cost, location, and academic fit. If you are not sure whether or not attending a prestigious college is right for you, I encourage you to do some research and talk to people in the field you are interested in.