For what it's worth I went to Cambridge (UK) and didn't really build a network of useful friends and contacts. You often have to work at that stuff and I was a bit of a geek / not extra social. You can always do it deliberately later through something like MBAs, YC etc. I had a friend who had a good time and made lots of high power contacts doing the UCLA Executive MBA later in life. The brand recognition of the name is handy - people assume you are bright in a way they wouldn't if you go to a no name place.