As Hunter once astutely pointed out, if you ask a graduate student in Boston what they do (particularly a Christian one, though most of my friends in school also behave this way), and they respond vaguely by saying something like, "I'm in medical school," or "working on a master's," then the person probably goes to the Big H and feel uncomfortable dropping the H bomb. It's a silly practice, but I always try to err on the side of patronizing rather than hostile arrogance. Though trying does not always ensure success.
(standing in line for hot dogs at church with Susan, chatting with new girl)
New Girl: I'm in the 2nd year of a master's in public health at Northeastern.
Red Head Susan: Hey, she's doing the same thing.
Moi: Cool. I'm doing my master's at HSPH. So I'm right down the street from you.
New Girl: (looks confused) The pharmacy school? No, I'm doing a master's in public health.
Moi: No, me too. I'm at Harvard School of Public Health.
New Girl: (chooses awkward silence)
Moi: (over compensating) So you're a second year? Me too. What program are you in?
New Girl: (again confused) I'm in the urban public health MPH program.
Moi: I meant your concentration, like epi, or health policy?
New Girl: No, it's just general public health MPH.
(conversation drifts off here, so I try to talk about the hot dogs we're having for dinner)
Red Head Susan: You know what I miss from Japan? Those little hot dogs.
New Girl: (reanimated) Is that how you two know each other?! You both lived in Japan?
Red Head Susan: Well, no, we were freshmen roommates... I've lived in Japan.
Moi: And I've never been to Japan.
(at this point, we lose sight of New Girl and never see her again the rest of the night)
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Ashley: So I should be expecting her at [my church] next week?
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