You know where you go

"A small liberal arts school in New Jersey."

"Rutgers."

"Butler College."

"I don't."

Let's play a game! What do the above statements have in common? Why, of course, they are all unusually common responses of Princeton students to the question, "Where do you go to college?"

Off campus, Princeton students seem to have developed a rather strong stereotype among the general public. We are pretentious, collar-popping, pastel-flaunting, patronizing little pricks, kind of like the stereotype students on campus have of a certain eating club that starts with "C" and rhymes with "wattage" (just kidding). OK, so that's a little harsh for the stereotype, but along with intelligence, sportiness, and excellence, Princeton students are undoubtedly stereotyped with some degree of elitism.

Some of us choose to embrace this image and profess so quite openly. A significant percentage of us, however, becomes extremely self-conscious and humble when off campus and amidst peers who attend schools with lesser prestige. Though certainly proud of being a good 'ole Tiger, there is a natural desire to balance pride with modesty.

Honestly, though, telling people you go to Princeton can evoke some rather awkward reactions. "When I'm at parties at other schools or when I'm home, and I start talking to people at other schools, and they ask where I go to school, I just say Rutgers," explained Greg Haislip '07. "It's so much easier. If I say 'Princeton' they look at me differently and say, 'Oh.' Then they stop talking."

Around adults, it's pretty easy. All young people want adults' respect. Saying you go to Princeton is essentially the easiest way to kiss an adult's butt. Instead of being considered the annoying kid who used to speed down Main Street blasting Eminem at 3 in the morning while the neighborhood was asleep, you've now become a dignified, young adult with a bright and shiny future. Congratulations. Too bad they couldn't see you walking back from The Street last Saturday. Now that's dignity.

There are ways to tell peers that you go to Princeton without being a total jerk. Obviously, you don't need to yell out "Princeton!" and pump your fist when asked the question (though that would be hilarious).

Sometimes a muffled, eye-contact-avoiding reply does the trick. Others prefer to use a calm, subdued, matter-of-fact reply. Some just laugh, respond quickly and change the subject. Then there are those who salvage the opportunity. Alex Thorn '07 jokes, "In Tennessee, even hot chicks are impressed when I tell them I go to Princeton."

He's a lucky kid. That does not work if you're from New Jersey like me. Girls just frown and say, "Oh, really? That kind of sucks that you go to school in Jersey."

Get the best of the ‘Prince’ delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe now »

Personally, I think we need to cut the garbage. Don't be a jerk, but be proud. It seems that everyone takes pride in what they have and wants others to know it. Really good looking people don't smear tar on their face and grow beer bellies so that people don't notice their looks, do they? The Yankees don't just let the Red Sox win because they win so much, right? Tall people don't try to compress their bones so that they don't stand above everyone else, correct? So why should telling people where you go to college be any different?

It shouldn't. Stick out your chest a little bit, grin wide, make eye contact, and speak clearly. You've got something to be proud of. You're a Tiger. You go to Princeton. Neel Gehani is a sophomore from Summit, N.J. You can reach him at ngehani@princeton.edu.