<p>Does it bother you when people ask you where your school is located? </p>
<p>I wish my school was more prestigious. My family wouldn’t think I was stupid for going there if it was. They can’t fathom why I would choose a small, unknown college over the prestigious flagship university for my undergraduate studies. It bothers me a bit. It wouldn’t have mattered if I attended the best LAC. They probably can’t tell the difference between Alma and Amherst. I hope the real world will be more knowledgeable. Don’t even get me started on my major…</p>
<p>They really hate the idea of me majoring in physics or anthropology instead of engineering or business.</p>
<p>Where ya goin, and no it shouldn’t bother you too much. You should be glad you saw past all the hype and chose a school that you think will be perfect for you.</p>
<p>Same with me. It was a big fight with parents when I turned down large university + engineering, to go to a LAC many don’t know to study, well, I initially thought Physics, but I’m kinda branching out into music and art, as well. Try as much as you can to convice them.</p>
<p>I personally would not prefer a small, isolated, LAC, but thats just me. If you are enjoying it, just live your life and you will be successful.</p>
<p>Sometimes, it is annoying. Fortunately my parents are supportive…if it were them criticizing my decision, that would be much more annoying.
For the most part, though, instead of getting frustrated with those who don’t know my school, I enjoy encountering people who are familiar with my LAC–it always makes me like them a little better. ’
It’s also quite a consolation to know that I will be receiving a great education.</p>
<p>The people who matter, employers and grad schools know the top LACs and respect them at the same level as top universities. My parents are both Harvard grads and after looking at small LACs with me say that they think that the undergrad education is definatly on par with their experiences.</p>
<p>it annoys me when i tell people where im going to college (claremont mckenna college, which is actually ridiculously good) and they have no idea what im talking about and think its a crap school</p>
<p>Exactly! Especially, in India, NO ONE KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT LACs! (Not that they’re very well known in the US, but it’s much worse here.) I’ve gotten “You can try transferring to Harvard” and “Oh, well, two year colleges are not that bad.” WTH?!?!!?!? Just because they haven’t heard of Oberlin doesn’t mean it’s a community college! <em>explodes</em>. Yes, I am incredibly annoyed. Also, the looks people give me when I tell them I’ve turned down UCLA for Oberlin… argh!</p>
<p>The real world WILL NOT be better - especially if you end up after graduation far away from your alma mater. If you’re in a different region of the country, you’ll probably find very very few people who have any idea about your school.</p>
<p>Sometimes it’s irritating if people assume it’s a community college or something like that. At Bates, there’s a facebook group - “Never heard of Bates? That’s okay, you would have been rejected anyway.”</p>
<p>That happens basically to anyone who is not going to “best” local university. I get weird looks because I passed up Clemson(which is viewed as better than ANY school) for Boston U.</p>
<p>My favorite comment that I got was, “Brandeis? That’s funny, I would have thought you could have gotten into UGA or at LEAST Georgia State!” Oy…</p>