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WHY are Ivy League schools considered to be so much “better?” Do they actually teach something more? Does a doctor from Harvard know more about his specialty than a doctor from Duke? Or are the reputations just a result of decades of good public relations and marketing?

If I’m not mistaken, a doctor from Harvard and a doctor from Duke would be fairly equal.

However, a doctor from Harvard and a doctor from the University of Puerto Rico would not be on the same standing

WHY are Ivy League schools considered to be so much “better?” Do they actually teach something more?

Ivy League schools admit the kids at the top of their class in high school. We're talking about maybe the top 1-2%, academically. That creates an extremely intense and competitive academic environment that you wouldn't get at a place like Arizona State or wherever.

Does a doctor from Harvard know more about his specialty than a doctor from Duke?

Those schools are in the same league, so there is not a huge difference between a doctor from Harvard and Duke. But, again, due to the fact that these schools are extremely difficult to get into, a doctor from Harvard or Duke is going to be extremely intelligent and hard-working.

In large part, these schools are prestigious because of the extremely high caliber of the students that go there.

Medical aside, a lot of it is 'old boys club' -- CEOs and Partners take care of their own. They will take a personal interest in recruiting at their own alma mater.

Also, depending on the company, it's worth a lot in prestige to say you have 10 Harvard or Georgetown or Holy Cross or Dartmouth grads on board. You probably don't have a prayer of being hired or recruited for one of the big name (for instance) accounting firms if you graduated from a state school. That's just the way it is.

I do think though, that kids graduating from those top tier schools do have something extra - poise and confidence that are instilled in them from day one. Also, the kids in those schools have to be of a competitive nature to get in at all -

All IMO.

I would say that if you want to be a serious journalist, go to Boston University and spend the money. If you want to be an English major or a teacher, go to a state school and save the money. My daughter is in nursing school - she could go to BC and pay 50k a year or she could go to a good smaller nursing school and pay 20k per year - and end up making the same salary either way (union).