I really thought that after senior year in high school, no one cared. Does this impact your view of someone? What context would you even ask? Do you present this yourself, in a conversation–as in, where YOU went to school? Why or why not?
It doesnt impress me, they are trying to impress themself
I went to one of the top high schools in the state, and most of the people I remember were a bunch of snotty-ass rich bastards, so no, somebody namedropping that he went to my alma mater wouldn’t impress me. Then the college I went to changed its name after I graduated, so even if I felt like namedropping, nobody’d know what I was talking about.
High school or college?
High school - I don’t care.
College - …I still don’t care.
Grad school - Now it matters. A little.
living_in_hell - Just to carry on from the other thread, there is a huge difference between someone announcing unasked where they went to school, and someone answering the question. Yes, I do get asked all the time, in a friendly social context. Most recently it was by my physical therapist. We were chatting about East Coast vs. West Coast weather. I am curious, in this context, how do you think I should answer the question, “Where did you go to college?” so as not to be “impressing myself” or receive a snide putdown of my school in response?
Yes, I do get asked all the time, in a friendly social context.
Really? Wow–I am surprised by that. I don’t even remember the last time someone asked me where I went to school(s)…I guess it just never comes up in conversation. Note: I never said if I did or did not go to a “prestigious” school… 
My HS alma mater-Meh
My (eventual) college alma mater-Wish it was more prestigous.
Anecdote-During my workstudy days, alma mater (current school) came up constantly, I was actively ashamed of my school.
Here’s a little known fact: SAT scores don’t matter once you spend a semester in college…transferring is always an option. And as an adult, people don’t really care. 
How old are you? How old is the name dropper?
After age 20, nobody shivs a git about ANYTHING high school. Really.
Around age 25, college name dropping can be marginally impressive to some people.
After 35, unless your college is the most impressive thing you’ve ever done, nevermind.
If you are an Ivy League grad and you drive a Lexus at 35, ehhhh.
If you are a dropout and driving a Lexus at 35, that’s a wee bit more impressive.
Unless you are dealing. Then NOTHING is impressive.
~VOW
You never know. At the time my parents went to school, my father’s alma mater was considered “second-tier,” a place you went to only if you couldn’t get into a really good school (and it was a relatively new school at the time, having been founded only about 50 years previously). My mother’s alma mater was much more prestigious and well-respected. Fifty years later, my father’s school is considered to be one of the best in the country, instantly recognizable and respected, while my mother’s school is basically forgotten, known only in its region – a situation which still bugs my mother (who graduated from the place in 1957!)
Brilliant! 
“Themself?” Where the hell did you go to school?
My brother went to Harvard, as well as many people I know. It never impressed me in the least, but it does bother me when people name drop now. I really couldn’t care less and if I was hiring for my employer, it would be totally irrelevant what school someone went to. I have a friend who turned down Harvard to go to small (but good) school in CA. When he tells people now they look at him like he was crazy.
Interestingly I’ve heard from many different people that Harvard kids are never supposed to acknowledge they go to Harvard. My brother said that on his orientation trip they were told to say “a school in Boston” when people asked them what college they were from. I guess there had been issues in the past, although I can’t imagine what…My brother is a little uncomfortable acknowledging he is a Harvard alum and prefers people not to know-in his line of work it would be held against him.
I was admitted to Harvard and turned them down.
I got a call from the guy who interviewed me asking if I was crazy. I told him I wanted to study engineering and I’d gotten an offer from a different school with a better program.
I know one other person in the “turned down Harvard” club. We had a good snicker once about people who flaunt their academic credentials.
It depends. Harvard, no, but MIT, maybe.
Hamster-You seem to have had a valid reason. ecoaster-Was your friend in a similiar situation, or just unwilling to deal with people’s opinions, thus undercutting his future?
Woa–where did all those posts go?? That is odd.
Well I talk about my school a lot, which people around here may have noticed. I do it in real life too, not really to show off, but to not look appear a poser, which is marginally more mature. I am not subtle about being a huge Michigan fan, but I mostly prefer to drink in neighborhood, blue-collar bars. And there is a bit of look down on the pretentiousness of people who are Michigan fans but didn’t go there to school, But if you went there then it’s all cool.
I could be above it all I guess, But I just find it simpler to try to work in That I did go there when I am talking to someone during a game when I start to see the “your a poser” look. "
I suppose I could Google all of this, but (as a Canadian) I’ve never known what any of this means.
What does all of this mean? (Alma Mater?) And why would it matter anyway?