Abstract
The rank of the university a student graduates from is commonly used as an indicator of the student’s future job performance. Likewise, students seek admission to the highest-ranked universities thinking that the university rank is an indicator of the quality of training the university offers. This study tests whether or not university rankings relate to the performance of their students. The focus is laid on the performance of the graduates in global virtual teams while working on an international business consulting project. We developed and tested a theoretical model considering both positive and negative effects of the academic pedigree on the graduates’ performance. The results show that graduates from top-ranked universities generally perform better. However, the academic pedigree can also be associated with envy, arrogance, and excessive focus on tasks assigned. These could damage personal relationships, co-worker support, and ultimately undermine the performance potential of graduates from top universities.