If I were to ask you to guess which university was higher in rank between Brown University and Seoul National University, I’m pretty sure I know a majority of your answers. I also know that most of you are wrong, with the Ivy League at 69 and the latter at 38, according to the Global 2026 QS Rankings. Surprising, isn’t it? And so, the purpose of this shock value hook is to hopefully get you thinking about how much our brand and media biases shape the way we see the world.
Today, everything is a business, and education is not an exception. Like any strong brand, prestige and visibility play a huge role in the perceptions we have of these institutions. So, when you walk around with the Trinity logo embossed on your sweater, you’re essentially wearing Ralph Lauren, while your counterpart from, say, University X, is stuck with Zara. Since I’ve been so intuitive till now, I’m willing to bet I know the college in Dublin that came to your mind. All of these analogies illustrate how disconnected we tend to be from reality to project the kind of status society values.
The point of investing in a liberal and privileged education is to rise above societal structures and create an equitable environment for people with lesser access. If it is we who internalise these patterns, we’re nothing but a group of well-funded, armchair activists who once attended a prestigious college. Trinity will always remain historic and grandiose, but we must elevate our thinking beyond these simplistic measures. It’s undeniable that a stroll through Trinity, soaking in centuries of architecture that honours generations of preserved knowledge, is an irreplaceable experience. Therefore, if we ever hope to make even a fraction of the lasting impact our college has, it will take individual excellence and a commitment to the larger community.
More importantly, the current political climate is becoming increasingly divisive and polarised, which emphasises the role of fostering an educational environment that is inclusive. A study on Elitism in Higher Education by Elize Brezis indicates that countries with a greater gap between universities tend to have higher inequality, social immobility and wage disparity. Furthermore, as these institutions shape individuals’ beliefs and values, perpetuating the current elitist attitude risks creating entitled leaders, CEOs, and voters who lack the critical awareness to make unbiased and educated decisions. This necessitates a deep, internal reflection by both students and faculty on the attitudes they hold toward other universities, as well as a careful consideration of the kind of educational environment they are actively creating within their country, determining whether they are promoting competition at the cost of equity, or cultivating a system that values access, collective growth and empowering all students.
To clarify, in no way am I suggesting we dial down competitiveness, jokes, or college spirit. As a fairly cutthroat athlete myself, I fully embrace a healthy dose of trash-talking and opponent-bashing. I only draw the line when these attitudes seep into your belief system and begin influencing how you judge the abilities of other students. Many students with tremendous abilities are enrolled in universities with lower prestige only because they lack the financial resources to do so. As a result, we must be mindful of others, conscious of the structures that may disadvantage them, and actively work toward our social responsibility to challenge mindsets and reshape norms.
I strongly believe we have the power to change the perception of Trinity students as pretentious or exclusive, and to challenge the notion that other colleges in Dublin are any less worthy. As those fortunate enough to have been elevated by such institutions, we carry the responsibility to uplift others and contribute to improving the educational landscape for everyone.
