Want to be a billionaire? Go to Harvard.

Interesting article.

Why Harvard mints mega-rich alums.

Guess I'll never be one, oh well. :banghead:

 

"That leaves 93 percent of the world's super-rich," Friedman said, "who did just fine without attending a top ranked school."

No further comment!

 

What the article doesn't say, is that billionaires are generally not employees for hire, they are entrepreneurs! In other words, getting a degree in X so you can get a job as X isn't why these guys are rich.

 

If you attended Harvard, you also have a better chance of becoming a US President (8 to date) versus playing in the NBA (4 to date).

 

One requires networking, the other requires raw skill.... hmmmm.

 

This is interesting. Only two days ago, I had a conversation with a former protege of mine who I am encouraging to do a PhD. He has a fairly large regional university who will take him on scholarship (I mean he pays nothing). The regional university is high quality and will actually support him by designing his research project around his workplace.

His father, a university lecturer, told him not to take it, but to apply to one of the Australian "Harvard" equivalents. He would probably not get in and, if he does,he would then be treated like he owed them everything. In effect, they would do nothing for him. No big donations there.

In terms of quality of education, there probably isn't a cigarette paper between them. One school though has the wealthy and scholarship, while the other just has the scholarship. I told him that the PhD is a lonely journey and to get the best support he could. It is no good going to a "reputed" school and failing, particularly if you do not have the silver spoon to back you up. One is keen to have you and the other is, at the best, indifferent. Which one do you think will support you the best? I don't know which one he will pick. I guess it depends how he sees the networking.