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

[Anonymous]

Coworkers (yes)
Family (yes)
Friends (maybe a few, if we're connected on linkedin).
Neighbors (probably not)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. It’s really unfortunate that people judge people by their school, but they do. There is an unwritten assumption that smart AND ambitious people find their way to the top.

If you are smart, but not ambitious, then you probably ended up at a lower-ranked college, got some merit, work a federal government job, and drive a Honda. If you’re ambitious, but not super smart, you probably ended up at a no-name school, but started a business or became a salesperson, and drive a Tahoe. But, if you’re smart AND ambitious, you probably went to a top-30 school, became a top professional in your field, and drive a Mercedes/BMW. Totally stereotypical, but it has some truth to it.

Or a Tesla/high-end hybrid or electric.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of smart people are not ambitious. They get credentials to obtain jobs that pay better-than-average, have stability, and give them freedom to think about things, including their own ideas. The best fit is oftentimes a high-level technical role in the federal government.

Yeah, I agree with this. I think smart people often value freedom over money and will organize their life to make this happen. Know tons of MIT people and they either have a stunning amount of freedom, or a stunning amount of money (or both, if they sold a company.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of smart people are not ambitious. They get credentials to obtain jobs that pay better-than-average, have stability, and give them freedom to think about things, including their own ideas. The best fit is oftentimes a high-level technical role in the federal government.

I know you are tired of explaining yourself to those around you but we also tired of your attempts at convincing us of your intelligence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I made a lot of friends through my son but didn't necessarily know where everyone had gone to school. Then, when our kids were applying to college, it became a topic of conversation. I found this super interesting and learned a lot about schools all over.

Actually I am just now learning where some long time friends went to college now that my kid is applying. It just never came up before.

[Anonymous]

I know the ones who went to Duke and Notre Dame because they won't shut up about it.