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Whenever I go to information sessions/tours at Ivy or east coast schools (Johns Hopkins, Georgetown, etc.) the school official always asks all the students to "introduce" themselves.

So, I sit and listen as student after student lists three names, a number and an academy. Something like this....."Hello. My name is Patrick Joseph McNamara III and I attend Manchester Academy" or "I'm David Allen Henry IV and I go to Exeter Academy."

Then I, in my t-shirt and flip-flops (I'm from California) stand up and say "Hey, I'm Eric from California" and sit down. I even had one particularly snobbish mother ask me to take my cap off during one of the info sessions because "it's improper to wear a hat indoors."

All of this is making me think twice about going to an east coast school.

Has anyone had else this experience?

By Carolyn (Carolyn) on Sunday, September 07, 2003 - 02:24 pm: Edit

I'm originally from the east coast and now live in California. I can tell you that you will suffer some culture shock at first. Many people on the east coast are a bit more picky about social customs, like removing one's ball cap in public places like restaurants, meetings, etc. than here on the west coast. But then, so are most businesspeople, even here in California, so you might be well-served by adapting to some of those customs. Some people on the east coast are undeniably more serious than the people here in California, however. And, of course, you won't be wearing shorts and a tee shirt to school in the middle of the winter. ...that said, the students at college campuses everywhere are pretty laid back no matter where you go (with a few exceptions).

By Valpal (Valpal) on Monday, September 08, 2003 - 12:52 am: Edit

Back in the late seventies, one of my friends in College was a kid from Southern California whose father was the CEO of a major corporation. The School is located in Upstate New York, six hours north of NYC, and believe me, it gets cold in the winters. My friend was famous campus wide for his shorts and tee shirt uniform, which he sported year around. His only deference to the cold, was to wear athletic shoes (without socks), rather than his usual sandals. Of course, he vehemently denied ever being underdressed for the weather. Despite the fact that this made him look like the village idiot, he was a sweet, fun loving personality who enjoyed great popularity.

Yeah, my experience with students from the North East was that they were much more inclined to stand on ceremony, were somewhat class conscious, much more socially reticent, and generally speaking, more difficult to get to know well. However, once they allowed you into their intimate circle, they often proved to be as kind hearted and generous of spirit as the next guy (that "guy" being, some of the types I was use to in The South).

Your post made me laugh, Trojan, because I use to note the same "three names, a number and an academy" phenomenon at my college. Names like, "Chandler Duncan Peterhouse III" were common then too. They take their social standing quite seriously at such schools. The long-handled name is just the beginning.

By the way, the afore mentioned California kid had a very pedestrian name, something like, Eric King (no middle name, no numbered appendages). LOL!