Why are people in the northeast so ignorant of Stanford?

<p>Ok, so whenever I mention Stanford to people (I'm in NY, btw) I get one of 3 reactions: </p>

<p>1) 60% of people:"Oh, that's good, so you can commute."
NO people, I didn't apply to Sta*M*ford community college or whatever the hell college in Stamford, Connecticut you are thinking of. When I correct them and say "The one in California", they look at me with blank stares. </p>

<p>2) 30% of people: "Ooh, that's a good school, right? In Cali? Is it like an ivy or something?" This response isn't as bad. These people recognize the name Stanford and know where it is but they just don't quite understand that it is a peer with HYPM. Also, they don't have any real knowledge of what the ivy league is since they don't know that it's limited to only 8 northeast schools. </p>

<p>3) 10% of people: "Wow, stanford?!? Damn, that's a really tough school (to get into)." Thankfully, there are some people up here who know that Stanford is worthy of being spoken of in the same breath as Harvard, Yale, Princeton and MIT. These people tend to know a lot more about colleges in general though than most people. </p>

<p>So, is this just a northeast thing? What about the South, Midwest, etc etc? Have other people in the Northeast also had similar experiences or is it just me? Do other colleges like the rest of HYPM have similar issues in other parts of the country? What do you guys think? It seems that Stanford is only recognized in the west.</p>

<p>Disclaimer: I can almost see the responses like "why do you care about prestige anyway?" or "Get over it, it's not a big deal."
The truth is, it doesn't really bother me and at most it's just a minor annoyance but I felt that this would be an interesting topic to discuss. I'd still be in love with stanford even if no one at all has ever heard of it.</p>

<p>hhahaha, "I bet your parents will like having you close by".</p>

<p>"Dayumm"</p>

<p>lol, it took me a while to figure out what that was, do people in the northeast really say damn like that?</p>

<p>Oh, and about the topic, yeah so I agree with Big Boobies, it really depends on what type of school you go to, and the people you hang out with. 100% of the people at my school knows about Stanford, but if I ask kids from a public school near my school, they will probably give me a blank stare.</p>

<p>By the way I live in the Midwest. Chicago to be exact</p>

<p>Same, Detroit here.</p>

<p>I love Stanford....</p>

<p>And good if no one's heard of it :)</p>

<p>Well around here, very few people get into Ivy's so it's like "Dayumm wow congrats!" you know? Or it's the exact opposite and they have no clue whatsoever. Maybe it is just a Northeast thing? Probably 'cause we're always in a rush haha.</p>

<p>One of my friends got into MIT (and matriculated) last year. His AP Stats teacher asked him, "now is that Michigan or Massachusetts?" (we're from the midwest)</p>

<p>Just ignore ignorant responses.</p>

<p>Alabama here, and trust me, it's just as bad. Sure about 55% know about Stanford and react accordingly, 35% kind of know that it's a big deal..but are usually "well there's a good backup if you don't get into Harvard"..but there's definitely atleast a sizable 10% that give it no merit whatsoever. In fact, there's a college down in Birmingham a few hours away, Samford, that people often confuse it for: </p>

<p>"Oh that's nice it's a very good school i hear"
"yep, i'm looking forward to it"
"short drive too!"
"uhhhhhhh...."</p>

<p>^ HAHAHA nice. I know a girl who is going to Emory next year and one of her less-intelligent friends wants to be in Atlanta too and they both agreed that she should go to GA Tech (thinking its a technical school) to start off. I thought it was kinda hilarious. btw we live in SC</p>

<p>In response to the title of the thread: </p>

<p>We are not.</p>

<p>edit: at least everyone I have ever talked to about Stanford in my region fell into the 10% you're talking about. In fact, most in our region believe it's even harder than the ivies to get into since its on the west coast.</p>

<p>Yeah. My parents made me call all my relatives. And I told my uncle I got into Stanford and he said,</p>

<p>" Oh, that's good. So how are you? </p>

<p>.... i didn't even get a congrats because had no clue what stanford was..haha</p>

<p>Maybe because Stanford is such an easy school to get into. Doesn't everyone who applies to Stanford get in? I'm from the Northeast so...</p>

<p>^^</p>

<p>Stanford an easy school to get into? They acceptance rate for RD will be around 5%.</p>

<p>Good game.</p>

<p>I guess my sarcasm didn't translate well did it?</p>

<p>The usual response when I tell people I'm applying to Stanford is "Oh, isn't that Ivy League?"</p>

<p>..which for MDers is a respectable response, I guess.</p>

<p>I saw a thread about this recently, but when you ask the average person to name the Ivy League schools they will probably say this:</p>

<p>"Uhh... Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, MIT, uhh... Duke, Columbia, and uhh... Penn State? right? Penn State??"</p>

<p><em>facepalm</em></p>

<p>^I've heard Stanford and MIT mentioned as an Ivy, too. </p>

<p><em>facepalm</em>x2</p>

<p>Yeah that is one nice thing about Alabama, most everyone knows Stanford is at least an Ivy League school..... (sarcasm)</p>

<p>That's why we use the initials HYPS :)</p>

<p>Why was HYPS used?</p>

<p>People in Michigan also ask me if it's an Ivy, even someone who got into an Ivy.</p>

<p>They do know it's a top school and one very hard to get into.</p>

<p>Most people I talk to are under the impression that it is an ivy league school. Then, when I tell them that its not one, they reply along the lines of, "well, it's pretty tough to become an ivy." Lol. I don't mind though :-P</p>