[Roberton3]

I had always seen the 40-year commitment as some special insider network wherein you are able to connect and make thousands more than people with similar degrees.

Going to Stanford was a great decision for me.  But it's certainly not because of the financial benefit I've gotten from the Stanford "network".

My impression is that this "special insider network" is largely a myth (both about Stanford and about other elite universities, such as the one where I was an undergrad before heading to Stanford for grad school).  That myth seems to be perpetuated primarily by people who went to lower-ranked schools, resent their lack of success, and say things along the lines of "I'm just as good as those Stanford grads, but they get better jobs because they know the right people."  There's a tiny bit of truth to that, but only a tiny bit.

As others in this thread have stated, the things one learns at Stanford are incredibly valuable.  The "what I know" because of Stanford has been more valuable than the "who I know".  Moreover, to the extent that the "who I know" has been valuable, it has come in the form of knowing interesting and fun people, which enriches my life, but has had very little financial benefit for me.

[Roberton3]

I had always seen the 40-year commitment as some special insider network wherein you are able to connect and make thousands more than people with similar degrees.

Going to Stanford was a great decision for me.  But it's certainly not because of the financial benefit I've gotten from the Stanford "network".

My impression is that this "special insider network" is largely a myth (both about Stanford and about other elite universities, such as the one where I was an undergrad before heading to Stanford for grad school).  That myth seems to be perpetuated primarily by people who went to lower-ranked schools, resent their lack of success, and say things along the lines of "I'm just as good as those Stanford grads, but they get better jobs because they know the right people."  There's a tiny bit of truth to that, but only a tiny bit.

As others in this thread have stated, the things one learns at Stanford are incredibly valuable.  The "what I know" because of Stanford has been more valuable than the "who I know".  Moreover, to the extent that the "who I know" has been valuable, it has come in the form of knowing interesting and fun people, which enriches my life, but has had very little financial benefit for me.