<p>SBMom, you've got it half-right. It was dual-edged jape, aiming at both those who have never heard of it here on the West Coast and those who think its name would stop a conversation in any event. </p>
<p>I can't think of any schools that would stop a conversation for me. However, about four would make me twitch an eyebrow and want to follow-up if the conversational thread would allow: Oxbridge, Beijing, IIT, CalTech, and maybe...but not necessarily along the lines they'd expect, Harvard.</p>
<p>When you really think about it, the schools that stop conversation here in New England are the ones that people have never heard of, or are sometimes uncomfortable discussing. </p>
<p>It may be that the other party does not want to show ignorance, somehow admitting that they have no idea where the school is, so they just nod and quickly change the subject. In some parts of conservative New England there are still those people who are "uncomfortable" talking about some of the smaller (often times single sex) LAC's, that .."you know, umm, attract a "different type"".... again, the conversation stops.</p>
<p>The typical American's jaw does not drop when you mention your college or university. The typical American has a "show me" atitude and thus isn't caught up in this elitist nonsense. Interesting, I remember that as far as name recognition goe, in Europe, Columbia University is among the highest--partially because of its location in NYC></p>