Quick Question: Does the name and reputation of a college matter when applying to graduate school in the US (especially the Ivy League), or are grades all that matter?


Quick Answer: Yes, yes yes yes and yes!

It matters a lot, especially for Top Programs. Basically, it's more than just the prestige of having gone to a good institution, but for these schools it's an easy way of them doing a pre-selection, especially in countries where they don't know the entire academic layout intimately. But if they know that you come from one of the best three schools in the country, they will feel that you are at least well-educated if not also well-connected, and it is in their interest to tap into this already pre-selected pool of applicants.

For Indian candidates for example, in the top 10 schools, the large majority come from IITs. Now it may not be fair to non-IIT folks, but from the perspective of the schools, all Indians have already gone through a highly-developed rigorous testing process and the best performers go out to IITs. So it just makes their job easier.

Now, this is not to say that if you don't go to an Ivy League or Top 3 college in your country you can't get in. If you have done some amazing things, you have your shot too. But the prestige of your Undergrad institution does count for a LOT.

~Admissionado