kelseyg

I'm a student and I usually don't know where most of my professors and teachers go to school. I don't know where the people I intern with went to school or where my coworkers went to school. Every so often it comes up when they learn where I'm going to school, and it doesn't change my opinions about them.

I'm not being idealistic - I know some very intelligent people who went to a range of schools, from state to LAC to ivies. I'm not suddenly more inclined to like a mediocre worker who attended an impressive school or be unimpressed with an intelligent person who attended a local college. Just as I wouldn't be more impressed by someone who was a member of one fraternity or the other. I can't imagine I'm an outlier.

Edit: I'm not saying it doesn't affect the conversation at all. For instance, I really like Reed College. If I found out someone attended there I'd say, "Oh - cool, was that a great experience?" I don't suddenly say, "Oh my gosh, you attended Reed?!? You must be much more intelligent and suave then I had previously suspected you of being from our time together."