Ugh, finally managed to read most of the article at the link. I would have preferred putting my hand in my garbage disposal.
It's an absolutely accurate portrayal of what's wrong in the world with respect to the reputation that top-tier schools have and the practices of top-tier corporations. Mr. Guo, in a few areas of self-reflection attempts to strike a reasonable tone in the parts that don't sound like a brochure for these name branded schools. But then we get to the section titled, "Take-home messages if you went to a normal, lesser-known university" (actually the title, I'm not making it up) and it's a fast ride downhill from there.
This kind of trite, patronizing, condescension is hard to find out in the public arena. This honest externalization from an elite is only confirmation of all the worst fears of what these folks are really thinking about you. The joy of it is not that Mr. Guo rails against the practices he so accurately describes but that he shrugs his shoulders, utters "just accept your station in life state-school", and ends his piece with a section so unbelievably arrogant, so paternal...we get this little pat on the head "be realistic state-school, you could always open some rinky-dink business in some small town that's never heard of Google".
Here, I'll not paraphrase anymore, I'll just quote:
"If you are like the vast majority of people who didn't attend a name-brand university, then I want to stress the importance of perspective. Realize that the deck is stacked against you...To try to buck the system will likely result in disappointment and dejection."
"Another aspect of perspective is the importance of realism. It's healthy to have dreams, but you must at the same time have a realistic career plan."
"Being realistic doesn't mean being complacent, though. For instance, starting a small local business is a great outlet for those who are aspiring entrepreneurs. If you are the town expert on Topic X, then you can form a small business without fear that some Ivy League brat will infringe on your local market."
Are you kidding me with this "why even try, you'll just end up disappointed" rubbish?
thanks for the comments ... you have a good point regarding some of the passages, i'll take them down soon or try to re-work them.
i'm glad that you understood the main purpose of that article, which is to highlight what i've observed about top-tier schools and the hiring practices of certain big corporations.
however, i really don't mean to sound like i'm an advertising brochure for those schools, because i'm definitely not. again, i'm just trying to share the experiences i've heard from my friends (who went to all different types of schools) with regards to their job hunting process.
in part, i'm trying to express some of the frustrations that people have relayed to me because they were definitely worthy of certain positions but got passed up due to their lack of so-called name-brand credentials. but i see that i've done a bad job at doing that, since i drew such negative criticism due to my tone ;)
please email me personally if you'd like to give me more feedback on how i could emphasize the more objective points of that article without sounding condescending. thanks.
I wouldn't change it at all. I think you were being honest, which is commendable. It's a perfect example of the attitude that permeates top-level schools, employers and social organizations. An attitude most elites won't admit to. Yet we of the penny seats in life face it every day. The honesty, while infuriating, is refreshing. It's not that you were quietly or subtly ignoring those from generic schools, but that you were out and out saying what we know you are thinking "don't bother competing, you can't hang with us".
It's the academic and professional version of the kind of trash talk you might hear at an inner city pick-up basketball game or an 8-mile rap battle. It's starts with why the elite are the best, and what being the best means, and ends with why the non-elites can't be part of this group and what they should do about it. You just had fewer insults about my mother, but the content was the same.
It's a challenge, not much different than the challenges presented by elites to non-elites in every capacity of life.
I suspect that much of what you see in the other article is merely the frustrated result of having to work just as hard as the elite guy for schooling, but then also having to beat, kick and claw their way through even minor interactions because they are being treated like a child just like in the example you provided in the original version of this article. It's a vicious cycle that creates a bad environment for everyone.
It's an absolutely accurate portrayal of what's wrong in the world with respect to the reputation that top-tier schools have and the practices of top-tier corporations. Mr. Guo, in a few areas of self-reflection attempts to strike a reasonable tone in the parts that don't sound like a brochure for these name branded schools. But then we get to the section titled, "Take-home messages if you went to a normal, lesser-known university" (actually the title, I'm not making it up) and it's a fast ride downhill from there.
This kind of trite, patronizing, condescension is hard to find out in the public arena. This honest externalization from an elite is only confirmation of all the worst fears of what these folks are really thinking about you. The joy of it is not that Mr. Guo rails against the practices he so accurately describes but that he shrugs his shoulders, utters "just accept your station in life state-school", and ends his piece with a section so unbelievably arrogant, so paternal...we get this little pat on the head "be realistic state-school, you could always open some rinky-dink business in some small town that's never heard of Google".
Here, I'll not paraphrase anymore, I'll just quote:
"If you are like the vast majority of people who didn't attend a name-brand university, then I want to stress the importance of perspective. Realize that the deck is stacked against you...To try to buck the system will likely result in disappointment and dejection."
"Another aspect of perspective is the importance of realism. It's healthy to have dreams, but you must at the same time have a realistic career plan."
"Being realistic doesn't mean being complacent, though. For instance, starting a small local business is a great outlet for those who are aspiring entrepreneurs. If you are the town expert on Topic X, then you can form a small business without fear that some Ivy League brat will infringe on your local market."
Are you kidding me with this "why even try, you'll just end up disappointed" rubbish?