How can having a great college on your resume be embarrassing? When you didn't deserve to be there, in the first place. I had gotten into two perfectly respectable colleges. I did not get into my first choice and the wailing from my bedroom would have broken any mother's resolve. "I'll ask Daddy to make the call ".

" You will?", I asked, regaining my composure. My father had contributed heavily to his school. Not so much in dollars, though he was as generous as he could be. He contributed by working for his class with fundraising activities, homecoming responsibilities, being a presence in times of need and working the phones. At my mother's direction, my father would finally cash in on his "sweat equity", something he never had to do for my sister. I always knew his school was my ace in the hole. Did my getting in elbow out someone worthier? I am living with that too.

I went to my father's alma mater based on assumptions I later found out to be false: one needs more than a liberal arts BA on which to build a career and employers do not care about the college from which one graduates. I thought just coming from an A-list college would be my ticket to prosperity and acceptance. Now, I think most people would be hard pressed to locate my school. Since I have always worked and my jobs have been lowly, the fancy college appendage never opened doors for me. My mother even suggested I leave my college off my resume. "They'll make you Chairman of the Board!", she said in fear that I would be hired beyond my capabilities.

My father, an authentic alum would visit me occasionally on campus. I hated that. There was room for both of us but I did not at the time think so. I felt like an imposter. My classmates with the grades and SAT scores earned their place. I was the Irish American all-girls convent school graduate. Although my classmates accepted me and invited me to their  homes on high holidays, when I left college, I broke ties with them. Academically, my career was lackluster to say the least. I held on and graduated for which I can take credit. Many "legitimate" first years who entered with me did not graduate.

If I had it all to do over (many my age play this game), I would have gone to humble U and focused on a career. A fancy school alone does not a career make.