A longitudinal study of the occupational attainments of a national sample of male
college graduates suggests, contrary to prevailing thought, that college origins do have
a direct impact upon status attainment. They do so, however, only among professional
occupations, rather than among business-managerial ones. Institutional sponsorship,
should it occur, is more properly viewed as a latent rather than active capacity of
collegiate institutions, one which is occupational situs-specific in character, rather
than occupation-general. Nor does it appear to apply equally well to all members of the
institution. Simply being at a prestigious institution is no guarantee of sponsorship to
elite occupational positions. Individuals must demonstrate competence in order to
activate the sponsorship capacities inherent in institutions.
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