D12-Mt

Just tell them your going to Dartmouth and its in New Hampshire. Period. It's not that hard!!

missyp30

I feel awkward because people are either really surprised, think you are some type of genius (i.e "what were your SAT scores," my response, "none of your business") or they have never heard of it (i.e. where's that? New Hampshire...why do you want to go up there?). So i refrain from saying anything unless I have to. But when I must I say Dartmouth College...sounds less like your expecting a response.

But this is just me.

Dartmoose

I actually really enjoy the disparity in the recognition of Dartmouth's name between different groups of people. It ends up working in my favor, because the (generally) wealthier more educated people will be very receptive when I say Dartmouth (often asking for college advice for their children, etc), while others won't automatically assume I am arrogant for going to an Ivy League school. I can almost use it as a personality litmus test. (Is this someone I should make small talk with by talking about baseball, or the current elections...)

Consolation

Just say Dartmouth. Don't add that it's in NH unless they ask. It's sounds condescending to assume that people don't know where a school is, especially if it's a prestigious one.

I remember an Indian kid telling me that he was going to Princeton, adding "It's in New Jersey." Of course, I was well aware of Princeton and its location long before he was born. (And my father is an Ivy grad and I went to a Seven Sisters college.) He sounded to others--who found his reply embarrassing--as if he thought I was a rube who wouldn't have any familiarity with the Ivy League.

gellino

^That's funny considering that at Cornell hockey games they used to have a derisive chant of "Princeton's in New Jersey" as a way to demean the school.