The Ivy league is supposed to produce the leadership of this country. Right now it looks like the Ivy League has failed miserably. If trade schools produced plumbers like the Ivy League produced leaders, we would not have any functional indoor plumbing in this country.
Actually I think this extends beyond the Ivy league into most “elite” universities. In my long engineering career, I'm employed many folks from a variety of educational institutions and although it's always risky to generalize, I've noted the “elite” school grads are more likely to have a “I'm a cut above” chip on their shoulder and be less likely to be effective members of a team, especially under pressure. On the other hand, the graduates from small local schools, especially those who put themselves through school by working, are more likely the guys and gals that’ll merge into a team or lead a team successfully and with humility - a key ingredient of leadership.
I don't know if it's the nature of the kids getting accepted into the schools or whether it's bred into them while they're there, but I've come to view a degree from an “elite” institution with a certain degree of consternation when considering new applicants right out of college.
I've told my college bound kids that university name on the diploma may help you land exactly one job - your first. After that, it's what kind of person and employee you are that will determine your success. I think they get it.
The Ivy league is supposed to produce the leadership of this country. Right now it looks like the Ivy League has failed miserably
I don’t think looking at politicians as the reason to say Ivy failed. There are some great business types out there from Ivy’s who are doing great. All politicians fail period of the school they go to. They all disappoint at some point or another.