April 22, 2008
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Cult School
My oldest brother attended for a time a certain famous school. I won’t tell you the name but it’s in the New England area and it has a technical focus. Yeah. That one.
Sometimes people ask me outright where he went to school and yo know I’m not going to lie so I tell them. The reaction I get is immediate. It’s usually something along the lines of “Oh wow.” or “He must be REALLY smart.” Yadda. Yadda. Yadda. It gets even worse when I tell them the subject he was studying there.
And yeah he IS really smart. But that’s besides the point. The thing is… when I tell people where I went to school the reaction is somewhat different. It’s something along the lines of:
“Where?”
Haha. Nobody’s ever even heard of my school. I have to explain where it is located. Can you imagine someone saying “I went to Stanford” and having someone ask them “And where is that located?” Nope. Never. Not gonna happen. But my school? I often have to explain where it’s at. People don’t know. People haven’t even heard of it. It isn’t in the public consciousness.
So when I’m applying for jobs most people’s eyes just glance right over the school name when reading my resume. Even though I put it first so it stands out more, they are more likely to remark more upon the subject I was studying or other minor trivial details on my resume than about the school I attended. For a time I put my SAT scores on my resume (though you’re not supposed to do that) and I got far more comments and praise about my SAT scores than I got about the college I atended. And SAT scores are utterly meaningless. But with regards to my school of choice, mostly I just get that “Where?”, “What’s that?” “Never heard of it” kind of an attitude.
But sometimes, there’s these oh so rare occassions when you meet someone and you’re talking to them normally and then they say it casually like it doesn’t matter, dropping it into the middle of the conversation while on their way to other subjects.
“And I see you went to Swarthmore.“
And there’s this funny little glint in their eyes. They give that special little inflection when they say the word. And then I know. This person is one of them. The mysterious cult. Those few proud entities who know the true meaning of the school. The secret that all the rest of society is kept in purposeful ignorance of. The dark society. Those who hail from that place where only the very brave and very liberal dare to tread. Can’t you sense the power behind that name. The deep history lying in its bones. Swarthmore.
Uh oh. I’ve already said too much. They’ll be after me soon. The Swatties are not a force to be trifled with. If you don’t hear from me soon, you know what happened to me. Spread the word! Don’t let them take over. I trust the fate of the world in your hands!
Comments (11)
the college i went to is not very well known either to the outside world, but people know it if they are looking for good engineers from the west coast and know that it’s powerful even though it’s a mere CSU. anyways that’s besides the point. this was a good story, i think there are a lot of people out there that are under apperciated for not going to a well known school. ^_^
Well, when you first told me where you went, I had no clue where it was! So, my bad… then again, you didn’t know my school, either so we’re even *nods* But, yea, that’s a good story. I didn’t really like my school… come to think of it, I didn’t really like any of my schools. Haha.
i think i’ve heard of it? does it help? lol. <3
How very esoteric.
I’m intrigued.
@raindrops23 - Absolutely. The difference between schools is not as big as people think. Honestly I’ve learned much more through the internet than I ever did at school.
@rianahntr - Yup, we’re even.
Obscure school attendees unite! I have a love/hate relationship with my school. It was certainly a unique experience, and I don’t really think I took adequate advantage of it. Oh well.
@methodElevated - Trust me. Some things you’re better off remaining in ignorance of…
@MuseErato - You are well informed…too well informed….
::backs away slowly::
You’re one of them aren’t you! Damn I didn’t think they’d catch up to me so soon!
Great name! Nifty new icon, too
Thanks you
@qccan - No thanks necessary. You are awesome and you totally deserve to win whether you want it or not! Good luck in the final rounds! Yaaayy!
I could google it if you’d like.
Thanks for voting!
::stares at nephyo silently. nods his head.::
I happen to think small being part of a cult-like schools
makes things more interesting. I have friends that went to Williams College and
William & Mary and there’s a certain mutual appreciation you develop with
people you go through that similar “small school” life experience.
You pointed out the best part that it can be used to make a jujitsu first
impression. That is… rather than have everyone and their mom say “Oh you went
to Harvard”. (Everyone more or less says the same thing, so it doesn’t buy you
much.) You get to react with “Oh God, you’ve heard of my school?” (Allowing you
insight into your new found acquaintance.)