Google recruits everywhere. I have lots of friends that have interviewed at Google.
Will going to Harvard surround you with like-minded people to learn from and work on projects with? Sure, but probably not as many as some other schools.
I didn't intend to start a debate about the merits of Harvard's engineering department. I was just using it as an example of a school with an obvious (perhaps the most obvious) brand name reputation.
Agree with the point, except that the true answer is MIT or Caltech, Harvard really wouldn't push you ahead to any HR guy worth his salt at a tech company.
Will going to Harvard surround you with like-minded people to learn from and work on projects with? Sure, but probably not as many as some other schools.