Guy lied about which university he went to

I'd say he's just a bit insecure as long as he's not jealous of you going out/having friends/your clothes etc. This tiny white lie wouldn't bother me

Oh I worked with (and had to live with, for complex reasons!) a woman who went to Cambridge Poly - no shame in that. She loved it when people said 'when you were at Cambridge' and never corrected them, but once I caught her eye and she gave me the stinkiest look. It's quite sad.
I am not too bothered about people's education but I honestly wouldn't be able to deal with the...lack of clarification. It's not very honest and would bleed into other areas. There is simply nothing wrong with having gone to a college vs a university, or having left school and done whatever. If someone felt they had to lie (or not clarify) then they obviously have chips that I am too tired to deal with, so it's an LTB for me.

Yes, so people would assume you went to University of Liverpool because you say you “went to Liverpool” . Bit naughty really. There’s three or four universities in that city, after all.

Sounds like you’ve got the Ick. Not sure there’s any coming back from this

We are way past that age @Chatonette

and he’s from that city,

I did work training aged 16-18, then I was out working at 18. I wouldn't trust this guy either.

But then I don't seem to have the massive chip that you do 😆

If someone lies about the little things then they will lie about the big things, imo.

I'd just be impressed that I knew someone who went to university or college or even did A levels. Good for you that you didn't have to get a job at 16.
Poor guy, obviously knows he needs to come up with something suitably impressive. I wish him well. You need to get from up your arse.

Wasn't that noticed in his CV or application form? Did you mention at the interview that you'd been there at the same time?

I know someone who said he went to Southampton uni who actually went to Solent. His family kept up the lie & it got worse, his 2.2. became a 2.1. Be cautious.

I once interviewed a candidate for a job and he brought up having gone to a specific small university and having graduated from there in subject x, year 2002.

Unfortunately for him so had I and I definitely knew he was never there.

He seemed a great candidate for the job otherwise but I didn't hire him as I had no idea what else he was fibbing about.

My ex mother in law tried this in court. She claimed to have taught ‘at Oxford’ and didn’t object when the judge called her an ‘Oxford Don’ or teacher at Oxford University. She had actually taught a summer class at Oxford Brooks University… she never even taught ‘for’ that Uni, just rented space there one summer! The judge was corrected and unimpressed….

Liverpool John Moores isn't. That's the point.

But Liverpool’s a red brick?

You still don’t know exactly where he studied? 😂😂😂 Have you not met his uni friends yet?

I’m thinking University of Liverpool vs Liverpool John Moores, or Oxford University vs Oxford Brookes. Yeah, not cool. Are you sure he didn’t just reside near the other uni?

I'd be wary it's not the only example of spin he will use.

Excellent point...some people are ashamed over things when younger that weren't within their control.

(it's not an even playing field, some parents know how to advise and set their children up to be popular mainstream types.

Other parents may just not know what to do, so set their children up to be Othered).

Group dynamics with (some) judgemental people being exclusionary and rejecting can be pretty cruel.

However, like you say after a certain life stage people should be finding their own identity.

Hopefully this guy will earn money and get his career going and move on and find better social groups and learn that no-one decent gives a shit about things like this.

But probably a mismatch for the OP for now.

Where did you go to uni? If it was a known good one, I reckon he may have panicked a bit and felt insecure by comparison. Not a great look though.

I just say Cambridge then Warwick. They normally follow up with which college. Both are university of … though. Why don’t you just ask eg you said you went to … - did you go to … both look like good places to study.

I get what you mean @Snoopy104 and actually have similar vibe from my boyfriend. He told me he went to the same university as I did, albeit at a different time, but I’m not sure…

My dad went to Oxford Brookes university as a mature student (40 and single dad to my brother and I). He would tell people he went to university in Oxford. They would always assume it was Oxford university and immediately look impressed!

Cut to the chase and forget all the bollocks about universities/polytechnics and whathaveyou.

He lied. Is it a red flag?

Answer: Yes. At the very least it's a sign that he's insecure.

If it was the 'uni of life' and the 'school of hard knocks',

That's where I went, perhaps I know him!

Depends how he said it. For example if he said he went to university in Leicester and you made the assumption that it was Leicester Uni and he actually went to De Montford, then YABU.

If he said he went to Leicester Uni and he went to De Montford, then that's different and YANBU. It's a silly stupid lie and if he'd lie about this, then what else could he lie about?

No-one really cares what Uni someone went to, so odd to lie about.

Internalised snobbery and insecure. It would put me off.