[sixtypoundhound]

Both are nice to have but ultimately irrelevant to your success in life. Means nothing in the long run. Just do you.

And work to get to a level of accomplishment where you don't need to worry about getting accepted / funded.

Successful graduate of an "elite" university. With a wife from a state school who kicked his ass financially before we got hitched... (just saying)

[muzani]

Eh, I come from a fairly elite university, I did a startup, and I think both of them have played huge parts in my current situation. They're the kind of thing that get me about double the average salary, or random emails from interesting people.

I wouldn't say it means nothing. It certainly does mean something. But it is one path of many.