In one of the stackoverflow podcasts Joel did touch on this.
I believe this comment was that a "big-name" school won't get you hired. Conversely not going to a "big-name" school won't get you excluded from hiring.
To paraphrase what I remember him saying...
The only thing a that going to a top school gets you is your resume move to the top of the pile when doing interviews.
Meaning if they are hiring 2 people and the people who have the big name school on their resume do well then the person with out the big name school won't get a crack at the interview.
I believe this comment was that a "big-name" school won't get you hired. Conversely not going to a "big-name" school won't get you excluded from hiring.
To paraphrase what I remember him saying...
The only thing a that going to a top school gets you is your resume move to the top of the pile when doing interviews.
Meaning if they are hiring 2 people and the people who have the big name school on their resume do well then the person with out the big name school won't get a crack at the interview.