Do you know where your friends, extended family, coworkers, neighbors, others, went to college?

[Anonymous]

It seems like there are many who think college is something that will follow you around forever and also many who think it's something no one will ever know. Do you know where your friends, extended family, coworkers, neighbors, others, went to college?

[Anonymous]

I know for a handful of them, but not that many (with the exception of family that you included on your list). That’s why I find it weird people here are so obsessed with it.

[Anonymous]

Friends: Most of them, but it’s not the first thing that comes up when meeting a new person. It’s something learned over time.

Family: Most of them at about the cousin level.

Coworkers: Small office, so yes, but again, it’s not the first thing that comes up.

Neighbors: One guy sits out on his deck and watches Penn State games, so yes for him, but heck no for everyone else.

Others: Unless I can infer it from their license plate surround, no.

[Anonymous]

Unless I was involved in interviewing for a position and therefore saw candidate resumes, I have no idea where the vast majority of my colleagues went to school. I’d say there are a couple that came up in conversation, usually if someone asked about weekend plans and they were attending a reunion. I can think of maybe three of those and honestly I’m not sure I’m remembering correctly where they said, because those convos were years ago.

I know where my friends from HS went, and of course the couple of friends from college that I’m still in touch with. I know immediate family and immediate in-laws, but I don’t even know where most family at the aunt/uncle/cousin level went to school.

Social friends not from work, I know where two of them went.

After getting my first “real” job out of college, my degree or where I attended have never been important, nor has it been important or relevant to me where anyone else went.

[Anonymous]

In many cases, yes.

[Anonymous]

Friends: 90% Yes
Family: 90% Yes
Coworkers: 80% Yes
Neighbors: 30% Yes
Others: ??% Maybe

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Friends: Most of them, but it’s not the first thing that comes up when meeting a new person. It’s something learned over time.

Family: Most of them at about the cousin level.

Coworkers: Small office, so yes, but again, it’s not the first thing that comes up.

Neighbors: One guy sits out on his deck and watches Penn State games, so yes for him, but heck no for everyone else.

Others: Unless I can infer it from their license plate surround, no.

Yes to all this (except large office, so I only know about people in my immediate group).

[Anonymous]

Yes

[Anonymous]

I know for coworkers because I'm involved in hiring. With friends it usually comes up eventually but not always. Most neighbors I don't know, unless we're friends outside of being neighbors. I know for aunts and uncles but most of the people at my generation didn't go to college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It seems like there are many who think college is something that will follow you around forever and also many who think it's something no one will ever know. Do you know where your friends, extended family, coworkers, neighbors, others, went to college?

In all honesty, I don't ask, and have not been asked ( and I have an advanced degree and a professional certification). Only my boss knows because it's in my personnel records.

[Anonymous]

No

[Anonymous]

Close family and longtime friends I do just because of longevity. Neighbors and coworkers only if it has come up in conversation and often that’s due to something sports related. I don’t sit and discuss where people went to college in general. Once you’re past 30, other than in the context of interviewing, why does anyone care or talk about college.

[Anonymous]

I would say I know this most about people who did undergrad or grad school at big football or basketball schools, because small talk about the game or rivalry is an easy way to interact with someone you only know slightly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Close family and longtime friends I do just because of longevity. Neighbors and coworkers only if it has come up in conversation and often that’s due to something sports related. I don’t sit and discuss where people went to college in general. Once you’re past 30, other than in the context of interviewing, why does anyone care or talk about college.

To judge you. It's like knowing how much someone's house costs via Zillow.

[Anonymous]

Usually. It’s a key data point