people’s pedigree & false signaling (part 1)
9/17/24
It’s human nature to make assumptions based on certain markers we associate with success. Examples include:
She attended Harvard – she must be brilliant.
Sequoia backed his startup – they must be building something exceptional
He played on that travel lacrosse team – he must be really talented.
These assumptions often hold some truth because, historically, these indicators reflected genuine success. However, these signals have been corrupted by the “game” everyone plays – where some people know how to win, even when they shouldn’t. Yet, they do. That’s the reality we live in.
This isn’t new; it's a dynamic that has existed across generations. But I can only speak for the one I’m living in, where I watch others play this “game” in real-time.
In reference to college, I grew up believing my life would be dictated by the pedigree of my degree. This belief came from my parents instilling the importance of a great education and what the system fed me. But a large component of this was observing the parents I was exposed to as a kid and recognizing that the ones who were the most successful were the ones that attended the “top-tier” institutions such as Harvard, Stanford, Penn, etc
“The game” being played at the start is funny enough, not by the kids, but by their parents. The parents who hacked their child’s life to create the perfect resume for “top-tier” colleges. Parents engineer their child’s life to build the perfect résumé for these “top-tier” colleges – a stellar GPA, perfect SAT scores, a laundry list of extracurriculars, and a touch of selflessness through community service. These achievements are all great, but only if they align with the child’s own priorities, not just the parents’ desire to win “the game.”
College has traditionally been seen as an indicator of work ethic, ability to navigate a system, and time management. In the past, attending a “top-tier” institution provided an undeniable advantage while obliterating those at lesser schools or those without any formal education were often left behind. But today, with advancements in technology and access to information, the playing field has leveled. Education is no longer gatekept by institutions. Success is now defined by curiosity, self-motivation, and drive – not just a degree.
While we may never achieve a purely meritocratic society due to human nature, we’re moving closer to one. In the last decade, I’ve noticed that the most intelligent people I’ve met don’t care where you studied. Either they attended a “top-tier” institution themselves and understand that it’s not a real indicator of intelligence or success, or they didn’t, and it doesn’t matter to them at all. Today’s most innovative leaders aren’t concerned with where you went to school or how well you played the game; they care about what you’ve learned, what you’ve built, and what you can do. What’s your output?
I say this as someone who tried playing “the game” and didn’t quite win. I didn’t get into a “top-tier” institution, ending up at Babson College instead. But in retrospect, Babson was the best place for me. Its focus on entrepreneurship, finance, and business-aligned perfectly with my interests and helped shape my worldview. Looking back, I’m glad I didn’t win that game because I was able to play my own.
I hope others choose to play their own game as well. Make decisions based on your own passions and curiosities, not on what society expects of you.
Shoot me a note if you want to learn more about my experience at Babson!
-m