[nopmike]

I don't think this is unique to the LA area or even California and is a common misconception when people apply to colleges. As a high school or returning student you are told that some schools are better than others, and that might true from an entry standpoint. But, in most cases (except for ivy league or a Cal Tech, MIT) an employer is going to value your technical and interpersonal skills 1000x more than where you went to school.

[kenhwang]

Maybe that's true for tech in the Bay. But everywhere else, for any other field, the very first filter applied to a stack of resumes is degree/school.

Your technical/interpersonal skills are definitely more important, but odds are you won't get a chance to demonstrate it.

[morgancmartin]

Yes, but they only look for the presence of the degree, not so much the pedigree of the school, barring Ivy leagues of course.