Not knowing the difference between UPenn and Penn State

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child’s first choice school is Penn. I had mentioned that it would be a reach for him and that usually 1 kid gets in from our school. At some point, I realized that they thought I was referring to Penn State. When I mentioned UPenn was an Ivy League school, they seemed confused. These are Americans. Do people really not know the difference????

Who are "they"?

I don't know anyone in real life, in 2026, who still confuses Penn and Penn State. People who claim they are confused tend to do it on purpose as a form of Penn bashing, especially this time of year after Penn ED decisions came out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A sign that the obsessions with prestige is a narrow community.

+1

OP is offended because her audience wasn’t sufficiently impressed by her weird attempt at bragging.

Sorry, lady, nobody cares.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I get that for some people, differences between colleges is not relevant to their daily existence. But if you are in a white collar job working with people who went to some of these schools, you should have a cursory knowledge of some of this.

Also, it is surprising that some people posting here don't know some of the basic differences because by opting into posting here, they are showing that they care about this topic. Though if they are using this as a way to educate themselves, credit to them for trying - you have to start somewhere.

Why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fairleigh Dickinson is actually a decent local school but we always referred to it as Fairly Ridiculous

I grew up near there and had some classmates go to community college at Union County College. We had a classmate go to Union College in upstate NY which is a prestigious LAC and they constantly had to answer questions about living at home to go to community college.

And of course, the fact that Rutgers is the flagship university for the state of NJ is mind-boggling for many people.

+1

Haha - I almost posted this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I get that for some people, differences between colleges is not relevant to their daily existence. But if you are in a white collar job working with people who went to some of these schools, you should have a cursory knowledge of some of this.

Also, it is surprising that some people posting here don't know some of the basic differences because by opting into posting here, they are showing that they care about this topic. Though if they are using this as a way to educate themselves, credit to them for trying - you have to start somewhere.

Why?

It is basic cultural literacy. One does not need to know the intricate details of these schools that so many people go into on DCUM. But having a basic knowledge of what they are, where they are, a general pecking order (again, not to the extreme that people go to here, just that Harvard>Fairleigh Dickinson). It's like if you went to a business meal and someone didn't know basic rules of etiquette. Not the real nuanced rules, but basic things like "don't eat spaghetti with your fingers" or "put your napkin on your lap." If your colleague says they are taking their kid to visit Duke, you don't necessarily need to know it is in Durham, but you should at least know it is a pretty good school in NC.

I'm sure I will take a lot of heat for this. But this is really table stakes. And I provided plenty of qualifiers to make clear that my bar is not that high.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A sign that the obsessions with prestige is a narrow community.

+1

OP is offended because her audience wasn’t sufficiently impressed by her weird attempt at bragging.

Sorry, lady, nobody cares.

This makes zero sense. Op was explaining that it was a reach and the kid would have trouble getting in. How is that bragging?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A sign that the obsessions with prestige is a narrow community.

+1

OP is offended because her audience wasn’t sufficiently impressed by her weird attempt at bragging.

Sorry, lady, nobody cares.

This makes zero sense. Op was explaining that it was a reach and the kid would have trouble getting in. How is that bragging?

If it wasn’t an attempt to brag, she wouldn’t be offended that her audience didn’t realize her snowflake had his sights set on an IVY…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I get that for some people, differences between colleges is not relevant to their daily existence. But if you are in a white collar job working with people who went to some of these schools, you should have a cursory knowledge of some of this.

Also, it is surprising that some people posting here don't know some of the basic differences because by opting into posting here, they are showing that they care about this topic. Though if they are using this as a way to educate themselves, credit to them for trying - you have to start somewhere.

Why?

It is basic cultural literacy. One does not need to know the intricate details of these schools that so many people go into on DCUM. But having a basic knowledge of what they are, where they are, a general pecking order (again, not to the extreme that people go to here, just that Harvard>Fairleigh Dickinson). It's like if you went to a business meal and someone didn't know basic rules of etiquette. Not the real nuanced rules, but basic things like "don't eat spaghetti with your fingers" or "put your napkin on your lap." If your colleague says they are taking their kid to visit Duke, you don't necessarily need to know it is in Durham, but you should at least know it is a pretty good school in NC.

I'm sure I will take a lot of heat for this. But this is really table stakes. And I provided plenty of qualifiers to make clear that my bar is not that high.

You sound like an insufferable t w a t. LOL to “table stakes” - the business terminology of insecure losers who would be taken for everything they’re worth at an actual poker table.

The two bolded statements are in no way comparable you fool.

And adults can decide for themselves how to use their napkins, Mom.

You sound like a SAHM in exurbia who has never worked a day in her life and didn't go to college or at least not a real one (and my definition of "real" is very broad).

Wrong on all counts, babe. I’m just not impressed by your pedigree. Sorry!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I get that for some people, differences between colleges is not relevant to their daily existence. But if you are in a white collar job working with people who went to some of these schools, you should have a cursory knowledge of some of this.

Also, it is surprising that some people posting here don't know some of the basic differences because by opting into posting here, they are showing that they care about this topic. Though if they are using this as a way to educate themselves, credit to them for trying - you have to start somewhere.

Why?

It is basic cultural literacy. One does not need to know the intricate details of these schools that so many people go into on DCUM. But having a basic knowledge of what they are, where they are, a general pecking order (again, not to the extreme that people go to here, just that Harvard>Fairleigh Dickinson). It's like if you went to a business meal and someone didn't know basic rules of etiquette. Not the real nuanced rules, but basic things like "don't eat spaghetti with your fingers" or "put your napkin on your lap." If your colleague says they are taking their kid to visit Duke, you don't necessarily need to know it is in Durham, but you should at least know it is a pretty good school in NC.

I'm sure I will take a lot of heat for this. But this is really table stakes. And I provided plenty of qualifiers to make clear that my bar is not that high.

You sound like an insufferable t w a t. LOL to “table stakes” - the business terminology of insecure losers who would be taken for everything they’re worth at an actual poker table.

The two bolded statements are in no way comparable you fool.

And adults can decide for themselves how to use their napkins, Mom.

NP: I really hope your kid knows how to use a napkin. Really basic stuff. FFS. All these people here who are so busy having their kids study 24/7 but don't bother to socialize them, then complain about "merit." Unless you are going to be buried in a lab all day, knowing how to socialize like a normal human being is just as important as test scores and is critical to getting ahead in the world.

My kids know how to eat without dropping half their food in their laps. Sounds like your kids eats like animals!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I get that for some people, differences between colleges is not relevant to their daily existence. But if you are in a white collar job working with people who went to some of these schools, you should have a cursory knowledge of some of this.

Also, it is surprising that some people posting here don't know some of the basic differences because by opting into posting here, they are showing that they care about this topic. Though if they are using this as a way to educate themselves, credit to them for trying - you have to start somewhere.

Why?

It is basic cultural literacy. One does not need to know the intricate details of these schools that so many people go into on DCUM. But having a basic knowledge of what they are, where they are, a general pecking order (again, not to the extreme that people go to here, just that Harvard>Fairleigh Dickinson). It's like if you went to a business meal and someone didn't know basic rules of etiquette. Not the real nuanced rules, but basic things like "don't eat spaghetti with your fingers" or "put your napkin on your lap." If your colleague says they are taking their kid to visit Duke, you don't necessarily need to know it is in Durham, but you should at least know it is a pretty good school in NC.

I'm sure I will take a lot of heat for this. But this is really table stakes. And I provided plenty of qualifiers to make clear that my bar is not that high.

LOL, no. "I'm not familiar with the college options in Pennsylvania" is not comparable to "don't eat spaghetti with your fingers."

It's a big country, school choices are very regional for most people, and people who are not +/- 2 years from being in college don't care about rankings. I have colleagues who went to Harvard and colleagues who went to State U and we are getting paid the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I had to educate my mom, a CPA and former vice president of a company, that Penn was not the same university as Penn State. How could she be in a position of reviewing resumes and vetting employees. This is the general American public, unaware.

If educated employers can’t even tell the difference between UPenn and Penn State, how could “prestige” matter at all?

The only people it matters to are snobs or highly rejective employers who need SOMETHING to screen out social undesirables or get through 50k applications per job opening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I get that for some people, differences between colleges is not relevant to their daily existence. But if you are in a white collar job working with people who went to some of these schools, you should have a cursory knowledge of some of this.

Also, it is surprising that some people posting here don't know some of the basic differences because by opting into posting here, they are showing that they care about this topic. Though if they are using this as a way to educate themselves, credit to them for trying - you have to start somewhere.

Why?

It is basic cultural literacy. One does not need to know the intricate details of these schools that so many people go into on DCUM. But having a basic knowledge of what they are, where they are, a general pecking order (again, not to the extreme that people go to here, just that Harvard>Fairleigh Dickinson). It's like if you went to a business meal and someone didn't know basic rules of etiquette. Not the real nuanced rules, but basic things like "don't eat spaghetti with your fingers" or "put your napkin on your lap." If your colleague says they are taking their kid to visit Duke, you don't necessarily need to know it is in Durham, but you should at least know it is a pretty good school in NC.

I'm sure I will take a lot of heat for this. But this is really table stakes. And I provided plenty of qualifiers to make clear that my bar is not that high.

You sound like an insufferable t w a t. LOL to “table stakes” - the business terminology of insecure losers who would be taken for everything they’re worth at an actual poker table.

The two bolded statements are in no way comparable you fool.

And adults can decide for themselves how to use their napkins, Mom.

NP: I really hope your kid knows how to use a napkin. Really basic stuff. FFS. All these people here who are so busy having their kids study 24/7 but don't bother to socialize them, then complain about "merit." Unless you are going to be buried in a lab all day, knowing how to socialize like a normal human being is just as important as test scores and is critical to getting ahead in the world.

My kids know how to eat without dropping half their food in their laps. Sounds like your kids eats like animals!

What a dumb response. I don't care how neatly you eat. If you don't put a napkin in your lap, you are a neanderthal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I get that for some people, differences between colleges is not relevant to their daily existence. But if you are in a white collar job working with people who went to some of these schools, you should have a cursory knowledge of some of this.

Also, it is surprising that some people posting here don't know some of the basic differences because by opting into posting here, they are showing that they care about this topic. Though if they are using this as a way to educate themselves, credit to them for trying - you have to start somewhere.

Why?

It is basic cultural literacy. One does not need to know the intricate details of these schools that so many people go into on DCUM. But having a basic knowledge of what they are, where they are, a general pecking order (again, not to the extreme that people go to here, just that Harvard>Fairleigh Dickinson). It's like if you went to a business meal and someone didn't know basic rules of etiquette. Not the real nuanced rules, but basic things like "don't eat spaghetti with your fingers" or "put your napkin on your lap." If your colleague says they are taking their kid to visit Duke, you don't necessarily need to know it is in Durham, but you should at least know it is a pretty good school in NC.

I'm sure I will take a lot of heat for this. But this is really table stakes. And I provided plenty of qualifiers to make clear that my bar is not that high.

60% of Americans don’t have a college degree. Why are they obligated to learn the social nuances of the (fake) “pecking order” of colleges they don’t attend that have little relevance to their daily lives as basic ‘cultural literacy’

My DC attends a T75 that is not a household name in the DMV. The usual interaction is “where is that” followed by a brief description and then “oh that sounds nice.”

That’s all that is needed. If you are happy with your kid’s choice it will be conveyed successfully.

If you are a snob trying to use college choice as a bludgeon to show your family’s alleged superiority that will come across too.

[Anonymous]

IYKYK

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I get that for some people, differences between colleges is not relevant to their daily existence. But if you are in a white collar job working with people who went to some of these schools, you should have a cursory knowledge of some of this.

Also, it is surprising that some people posting here don't know some of the basic differences because by opting into posting here, they are showing that they care about this topic. Though if they are using this as a way to educate themselves, credit to them for trying - you have to start somewhere.

Why?

It is basic cultural literacy. One does not need to know the intricate details of these schools that so many people go into on DCUM. But having a basic knowledge of what they are, where they are, a general pecking order (again, not to the extreme that people go to here, just that Harvard>Fairleigh Dickinson). It's like if you went to a business meal and someone didn't know basic rules of etiquette. Not the real nuanced rules, but basic things like "don't eat spaghetti with your fingers" or "put your napkin on your lap." If your colleague says they are taking their kid to visit Duke, you don't necessarily need to know it is in Durham, but you should at least know it is a pretty good school in NC.

I'm sure I will take a lot of heat for this. But this is really table stakes. And I provided plenty of qualifiers to make clear that my bar is not that high.

60% of Americans don’t have a college degree. Why are they obligated to learn the social nuances of the (fake) “pecking order” of colleges they don’t attend that have little relevance to their daily lives as basic ‘cultural literacy’

My DC attends a T75 that is not a household name in the DMV. The usual interaction is “where is that” followed by a brief description and then “oh that sounds nice.”

That’s all that is needed. If you are happy with your kid’s choice it will be conveyed successfully.

If you are a snob trying to use college choice as a bludgeon to show your family’s alleged superiority that will come across too.

Agreed that not everyone needs to know this. But Every. Single. Poster. here is obsessed with their kid working at Goldman, MBB, Jane Street (the only fund they have actually heard of), etc. If your kid wants to work at these places and succeed, they need to know this stuff.

Everyone here thinks that because their kid takes 19 APs and took Calc as a freshman and scored high on standardized tests they deserve to be running the world based on "merit." Nope. You need to be able to socialize with and interact with the big boys.

And note that the opposite is also true. If in this situations you come across as a pretentious, obnoxious snob who is constantly name dropping, that won't go over well either. Just because you know these things doesn't mean you need to constantly be advertising it.

I know this is painful to hear. But it is reality. I am admittedly a bit of a snob. But I'm also a realist.