For 99% of people, it's just an easy thing to ask. Same as if they're younger they just ask what grade they're in. A little more interesting because you might know someone who's gone there, or visited the area or whatever to move the conversation along. Just chitchat.

For 1% it can be competitive or information gathering. Like if your kid got into a school they aspire to for their kids, they want to know how your kid did it.

It’s just small talk. We can then talk about the town the school is in or their weather or their sports team or whatever. It’s just a conversational hook.

Anonymous wrote:its an easy conversation

+1 What else should we ask about their kids who are in college?

Probably because you’re not carrying the conversation?

conversation starter. nobody cares about other people's kids

I know someone with two kids at HYPS and she doesn’t even want to answer anymore because people think she’s bragging (even though they asked)
Ah, to have such problems

Easy conversation. No one actually cares

Ask your kids hobby?

I ask major

Nothing else about your 18-22 year old kid is interesting.

its an easy conversation

Anonymous wrote:They are just makiing conversation, showing an interest. It is polite. They do not care if you say Harvard or NOVA. They will also not rember 10 minutes later.

I think it always provokes a further discussion if the response is HYPSM otherwise, agree, it’s just polite conversation. I do think it is used to judge sometimes though amongst high achieving parents

They are just makiing conversation, showing an interest. It is polite. They do not care if you say Harvard or NOVA. They will also not rember 10 minutes later.

Because you spent the last 10 years bragging about little Timmys school and classes and extracurriculars? What was s/he working on if not admittance to a good institution?

Whenever you meet new people or talk about your kids being college age, inevitably the person needs to know where they go to school.
Do we all feed into this and then get judged (or appreciated) depending on where they go?

I find myself doing it, and it’s asked of me all the time.

No wonder rankings have become so “important”