Do you non-Ivy Leaguers feel inadequate?

Originally Posted by grimslade

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Can I nominate this for the dumb threads forum? .

It does have a Coho type question doesn't it?

Originally Posted by JLibourel

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As a Balliol man and a Greatsman, it's hard for me to feel "inadequate" to compared to anyone as far as formal education goes. However, I hold formal education in considerable disdain.

Compared to a good plumber, who can do useful stuff like clear clogged pipes and probably makes about three or four times as much money as I do, I feel very inadequate.

I agree with this 100%. I went to state schools for both undergrad and law school and do not feel inadequate because of my non-Ivy education. But, it is a bit humbling not being able to do even the "simple" things tradesmen can do.

Originally Posted by RJman

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"If it's Brown flush it down!" -- Cornell saying.

I thought that was a California saying, circa '74-'82.

Originally Posted by RJman

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"If it's Brown flush it down!" -- Cornell saying.

"Safety school!" -- Brown jeering at the Cornell football team. It doesn't rhyme, but the truth hurts .

A bit off topic, but is football really a big deal in the Ivy League?

Originally Posted by mafoofan

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"Safety school!" -- Brown jeering at the Cornell football team. It doesn't rhyme, but the truth hurts

.

And Ivy Leaguers wonder why people think they're full of themselves.

Originally Posted by Brad

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A bit off topic, but is football really a big deal in the Ivy League?
No. Except when light-footed presidents stop by on their way to Vanderbilt.

Originally Posted by grimslade

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And Ivy Leaguers wonder why people think they're full of themselves.
That's just MF.

Originally Posted by Brad

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A bit off topic, but is football really a big deal in the Ivy League?

Err, not at my school--unless we were playing against another Ivy. Even then, it's not about the football, but more about school rivalry.

Originally Posted by grimslade

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And Ivy Leaguers wonder why people think they're full of themselves.

Originally Posted by RJman

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That's just MF.

Aww, lighten up! What happened to not being sensitive about where one went to undergrad? It's all in good fun. Surely, you lobbed insults at your rival schools. I think Cornell kicked our ass that day, anyway.

Originally Posted by RJman

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No. Except when light-footed presidents stop by on their way to Vanderbilt.

Gee couldn't handle us. He was swamped by the genius. Also, he probably felt inadequate (poor sap went to some state school for undergrad, you know).

Ruth Simmons rocks.

Originally Posted by mafoofan

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Gee couldn't handle us. He was swamped by the genius. Also, he probably felt inadequate (poor sap went to some state school for undergrad, you know).
Oh geez.

Originally Posted by nbutter

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Ruth Simmons rocks.
+1. Well, she was a French major, after all.

Originally Posted by mafoofan

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Err, not at my school--unless we wer playing against another Ivy. Even then, it's not about the football, but more about school rivalry.





Aww, lighten up! What happened to not being sensitive about where one went to undergrad? It's all in good fun. Surely, you lobbed insults at your rival schools. I think Cornell kicked our ass that day, anyway.

I was just ribbing. But memo to whoever listed Northwestern as an "extended Ivy": Get real.

You should not feel inferior. The reality is that ivy league grads are in almost no way superior to anyone, including graduates of state colleges. The scene/quote from the book/movie A Civil Action best sums it up when Jan Schlickman says that the Harvard Law firm with the oriental carpets and the expensive furniture is a way of bullying and intimidating those not part of it. Ivy league grads are not smarter, they are not better, they are really in no way superior, except in a lot of cases their parents were probably wealthier than yours. But you will never ever find in Ivy leaguer admit they've got nothing on a state college graduate-- why should they? This myth is something that has carried them since they were 18 and probably will for much of their life.

Ivy league grads love to cite that certain banks, firms, companies only hire ivy league grads because it makes those that aren't part of the club feel as if they aren't good enough or at the very least intimidated.

But really, there is no reason to feel inferior. In my own experience, I went to a New England boarding school where I knew several people that went to each Ivy. By and large most of the Ivy leaguers were moderately intelligent people with wealthy parents who had helped pad their child's resume with expensive extracurriculars (think year abroad in China at 17), legacies, or a sport like squash. People can feel free to disagree with me, but I take pride in the fact I didn't go to an Ivy. I guess given a chance I might go to Yale, but I can only imagine what a colossal prick I would be today.

Originally Posted by CTGuy

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You should not feel inferior. The reality is that ivy league grads are in almost no way superior to anyone, including graduates of state colleges. The scene/quote from the book/movie A Civil Action best sums it up when Jan Schlickman says that the Harvard Law firm with the oriental carpets and the expensive furniture is a way of bullying and intimidating those not part of it. Ivy league grads are not smarter, they are not better, they are really in no way superior, except in a lot of cases their parents were probably wealthier than yours. But you will never ever find in Ivy leaguer admit they've got nothing on a state college graduate-- why should they? This myth is something that has carried them since they were 18 and probably will for much of their life.

Ivy league grads love to cite that certain banks, firms, companies only hire ivy league grads because it makes those that aren't part of the club feel as if they aren't good enough or at the very least intimidated.

But really, there is no reason to feel inferior. In my own experience, I went to a New England boarding school where I knew several people that went to each Ivy. By and large most of the Ivy leaguers were moderately intelligent people with wealthy parents who had helped pad their child's resume with expensive extracurriculars (think year abroad in China at 17), legacies, or a sport like squash. People can feel free to disagree with me, but I take pride in the fact I didn't go to an Ivy. I guess given a chance I might go to Yale, but I can only imagine what a colossal prick I would be today.

This attitude is no improvement over the snobbery of some Ivy Leaguers--both are sadly removed from reality. The truth is that Ivy League schools are good schools that many people want to go to; they can afford to be selective. It only makes sense that the students will generally be more academically talented. For you to dismiss Ivy League students as nothing but richer versions of non-Ivy students is conveniently presumptive in your favor, and, frankly, ignorant.