Or, coyly, “I went to school in Cambridge.”
“Oh, really? MIT?”
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“When I was in school in Boston…well not actually Boston, just outside of Boston…” 
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I find Harvard graduates often answer the question “Where did you go to college?” with “Boston”.
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OP, if you are concerned about prestige and rankings, I think most in here would consider Davidson to be a top-25 LAC. It’s a highly regarded school.
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This thread reminds me of a neighbor who used to refer to Cornell as her daughter’s safety school. They were double Harvard legacies and their daughter is a great kid, very bright, and doing very well at RPI.
But to the HYP obsessed - three steps below - after your other Ivies, top LACs like Williams/Swat, then your Michigan/Viriginas…and the Davidson.
I feel bad for his kid if they don’t achieve the goal…unnecessary pressure from a parent IMHO.
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Exactly, argues for a nuanced approach here! These are all the soft skills kids need to learn…
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Not sure I agree, although “steps” are subjective. With a 14.5% admit rate, Davidson is harder to get into than either Michigan or Virginia (at least based on the class of 2027). I also think these schools attract different applicant pools in part because of the significant differences in their student body sizes and offerings.
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Pick your tiers…I’m being tongue in cheek - like the original quote that promoted this response.
Clearly, OPs kid is interested in Davidson but OP finds it beneath them.
Sounds like OPs issue…not Davidsons.
Agree with you 100% on that front!
It’s tough to have a parent with that mindset, particularly in the current hyper competitive landscape for college admissions. A modicum of humor AND humility goes a long way.
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That works for Harvard grads. But how is it that graduates of the other two never anticipate that they will almost always be asked, “Where in New Jersey?” or “Where in Connecticut?”
Agree and based on who gets in RD and unhooked from our area, it is harder to get into Davidson than it is to Michigan OOS, similarly competitive as UNC OOS, and definitely harder to get in to Davidson than Uva(in state). OP doesn’t yet realize what a top school it is !
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My spouse and I both went to HYP. WE were the ones pushing our high schooler to look past a school name and consider other well-regarded schools. Our high schooler wanted none of it, but at my insistence we did a campus tour of Davidson on the way from Durham to the CLT airport. WE have been the ones pushing our high schooler to consider it. We view Davidson as a very good school, but our high schooler is dead-set on being at HYP.
We all still view the ad agency president’s post as risky (humor often falls flat, and bragging about something is never a good idea, even in jest). Our high schooler also was just turned off by various things seen on campus and sees Davidson as ranked #16 in US News, which is certainly very good, but our high schooler is aiming for #1.
Hope he likes his safety.
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You are funnier than you know.
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You seem to hold the comment not made by Davidson against Davidson.
I can find lots of things to hold against H, Y, and P.
btw - there is no such thing as a #1 school.
You, my friend, are easily persuaded by a magazine.
I’d say the magazine has done a great job marketing to you.
PS - I don’t know the major but you should be adding Wisconsin, the school that has produced more Fortune 500 CEOs than any other, nearly triple Yale and Princeton.
That’s a factual #1 list vs. opinion - one I’d want to be on the top of.
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I love this thread so much.
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This perspective might introduce Williams into consideration. Princeton, as well, is looking good. Harvard and Yale may need to be left to less ambitious aspirants, however.
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I agree! Posting just to hold onto this thread a bit longer. I figure it’s my duty as my alma mater’s second most famous alumnus, right behind…oh, I don’t know.
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My hope, actually, is that the Finch Brands exec himself will visit CC and chime in, breathing new life and excitement into this thread.
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