@bclintonk "Me: “No, Haverford. It’s a small liberal arts college in Pennsylvania, just outside Philadelphia.”
Interlocutor (no longer impressed, face going blank): “Oh . . . . never heard of it. Well, how did she end up way out there? Do you have family in Pennsylvania or something?” (probably thinking “too bad she couldn’t get into the state U,” but too polite to say it)."
^This!^
Doctor: (Just finished telling me about his D1 going to Wisconsin.) So, where is your daughter going to college?
Me: The University of Pennsylvania
Doctor: Why is she way out there? That’s a long way to go for a state school. Why would she go so far?
Me: We visited a lot of schools, and she thought it was the best fit for her.
Doctor: It seems like a lot of hassle to be that far away, plus the extra expenses of travel and out of state tuition.
Me: Smile and nod.
I had the clear impression that he thinks that she had to go there because she was not able to get into a closer State U. However, I don’t feel the need to defend the school or inform people about it unless they ask about the school, I just answer the questions. The one exception is when occasionally someone decides to lecture me about Jerry Sandusky. Then I will explain it to them.