I wish someone would have told me this is completely false when I was in college, then I wouldn't have been stressed about it.

Truth is the education quality doesn't correlate that strongly with "top" University ranking; at above top X ranked university, or top university in respective country, the quality of education is mostly the same. The difference in the ranking only really reflects the research output/opportunities and networking opportunities.

This becomes so glaringly clear as soon as you start being the interviewing side of the job.

European elites seems to not go to US top universities either; top talent (in intelligence) from upper middle class and above, maybe. But there's more to gain networking in their own countries top universities than abroad. (hence the exchange year system for that)

> the quality of education is mostly the same. The difference in the ranking only really reflects the research output/opportunities and networking opportunities.

I think the point of the top level comment here is exactly what you've said and additionally that the networking opportunities are actually what matter for success.

Exactly. If you have the opportunity to network with people who will actually be relevant in industry -- globally -- and the means to do it, you do. This is the whole point of many MBA programs.

I spent one year as an undergrad reading maths at Oxford and the curriculum, teaching and students were all far superior to the same at Duke University (1988)

Oxford is a global institution, so is Cambridge. What portion of British college attendees attend those two universities? How do the universities in France, Spain, Italy, and Germany compare?

Comparing Oxford to Duke is like comparing a Tesla Model S Plaid to a Toyota Camry.

So ETH Zurich, L'École polytechnique, etc are not elite? What are talking about?

I said most. ETH Zurich and L'École are on the short list of 'real' universities in Europe for me.

Hm, I'd hire a RTWH, Saclay or ETH graduate over a graduate from every single US university anytime. They seem better grounded in reality, look for solutions instead of 'visions' and actually understand math. But that's just me.

>RTWH

But it is RWTH

I went there because it was supposed to be the best university in my state. But it did not help my career at all

I should have tried to get into a US university