Schools of the Stars Trivia Quiz

Answer: Yale University

Located in New Haven, Connecticut, Yale University is regarded as one of the most prestigious amongst the Ivy League schools in the U.S. and it has hosted countless alumni since being established at the beginning of the eighteenth century.

George W. Bush is just one of many Presidents to graduate from Yale. Both Bush Sr. and Bush Jr. and William Taft graduated with their undergraduate degrees while Bill Clinton and Gerald Ford attended Yale's prestigious law program.

In the film sphere, Jodie Foster graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Literature (back in 1985) while Vincent Price took his B.A. in 1933 (in History). Other award-winning alumni here include Angela Bassett, Jennifer Connelly, and Edward Norton.

Answer: Harvard University

These three might be amongst the more notable famous figures to head through Harvard's programs if only because their circumstances are quite unique. Al Gore and Tommy Lee Jones, despite following different paths in life, were both roommates during their four years at Harvard, both graduating in 1969. Notably, Gore would go on to win a Nobel Peace Prize and Jones would win the Best Actor Oscar in 1993 (for "The Fugitive").

Conan O'Brien, known for his late night talk shows, podcasts, and TV specials, graduated in 1985. During his time at Harvard, he also acted as President of the famous comedy magazine "The Harvard Lampoon". He graduated in 1985.

Answer: Princeton University

Another major Ivy League destination, Princeton University is one of the oldest such institutions in the United States and comes with a great amount of prestige for higher learning. Opening as the College of New Jersey in 1746, it's unsurprising that it's been home to Nobel Laureates, Turing Winners, and U.S. Presidents (amongst others).

While Barack Obama graduated from both Columbia and Harvard, his wife, Michelle Obama, graduated from Princeton (for her B. A. in Sociology) before joining him at Harvard Law School.

Jimmy Stewart graduated Princeton with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture, attending due to family tradition but becoming enamoured with acting during his time there. David Duchovny, of "The X-Files" fame, got his Bachelor of Arts there as well, graduating summa cum laude in 1982 (before getting his Masters in English Literature at Yale shortly after).

Other notable alumni include Brooke Shields, Ethan Coen, and F. Scott Fitzgerald (who never graduated).

Answer: Vassar College

Located north of New York City in Poughkeepsie, New York, Vassar has long been known as one of the preeminent liberal arts colleges of the Eastern U.S. and it's been the alma mater of a number of famous faces. Amongst its graduating actors, Meryl Streep was class of 1971 (before getting her Masters at Yale), Lisa Kudrow got her Bachelor of Arts in 1985, and Justin Long was class of 2000.

A number of people you might know also attended Vassar without graduating, instead moving on to other institutions. Anthony Bourdain left to attend the The Culinary Institute of America, Jane Fonda moved on to The Actors Studio in New York City, and Anne Hathaway transferred to New York University.

Answer: The Johns Hopkins University

Perhaps one of America's oldest and most prestigious research institutions, especially with regards to science and medicine, The Johns Hopkins University is situated in Baltimore, Maryland and has been the home to numerous Nobel prize winners, especially with regards to biomedical advances. But they aren't the only graduates that the facility sees.

With regards to names and people you might know, Woodrow Wilson was the first U.S. President to graduate from Johns Hopkins, receiving his PhD there in 1885 (and he'd win the Nobel Peace Prize in 1919).

On the media side, Wolf Blitzer became a reputed CNN news anchor in the early 1990s, remaining a key figure on the channel for decades after. He received his Masters at Johns Hopkins. Filmmaker Wes Craven (who made "A Nightmare on Elm Street" and "Scream") also graduated there with a Masters in Philosophy and Writing.

Answer: Duke University

Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke University isn't an Ivy League school, but it is often regarded as one of the higher-tier educational facilities for graduate studies. Comprised of three undergraduate schools and ten graduate facilities, it has a history of taking in nearly all disciplines in some way, and with that it's always had a wide alumni base.

Richard Nixon, who would become the U.S. President, graduated from Duke with his law degree in 1937 (he did his undergraduate at Whittier College in California).

Actor Jared Harris graduated from Duke with a B.F.A. in 1984 while TV and film actress Annabeth Gish got her BA there in 1992. They join other notable alumni including former "American Idol" judge Kara DioGuardi and "The Masked Singer" judge Ken Jeong.

Answer: Boston University

A major research university located in the heart of Downtown Boston, Boston University (aptly-named, I know) has educated everyone from politicians and civil rights leaders to actors, writers, and musicians.

Faye Dunaway graduated from Boston University in 1962 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, going on to win an Academy award in 1978 while Julianne Moore did the same, graduating in 1983 and winning her Oscar statuette in 2014. Jason Alexander, of "Seinfeld" fame, graduated in 1981. They all share the alma mater with Geena Davis, Hong Chau, Marisa Tomei, and children's author Robert Munsch, amongst others.

Answer: University of Chicago

Based in the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, the University of Chicago was founded by John D. Rockefeller back in 1890 and has since grown to become one of the foremost research facilities for nuclear science and molecular engineering. But they're more than just science; they've also seen famous figures of arts, media, and social science pass through their halls.

Astronomer Carl Sagan, who also wrote novels and monumental nonfiction works, started his studies at the University of Chicago when he was only 16, earning his Masters there in 1956. Kurt Vonnegut Jr. (of "Slaughterhouse Five" fame) got his Masters there in 1971. Famed minimalist composer Philip Glass graduated with a BA in 1956 as well.

Other notable alumni from the University of Chicago include Ed Asner (who dropped out), billionaire Larry Ellison (who also dropped out), and mystery author Sara Paretsky, who received her Ph.D there in 1977.

Answer: Stanford University

Found in the San Francisco Bay Area, Stanford University is one of the older institutions to gain prominence on the U.S. West Coast, especially in the latter half of the twentieth century when it became a massive research hub affiliated with nearby Silicon Valley.

It's not just tech alumni and Turing Prize winners though; Stanford boasts Supreme Court Justices, astronauts, business moguls, and media celebrities as well. Sigourney Weaver got her BA there in 1972 before getting her Masters at Yale; Issa Rae graduated with her BA from Stanford (in African and African-American Studies) in 2007; Sterling K. Brown got his in 1998.

Celebrities who attended but failed to secure degrees include Tiger Woods, Adam West, Reese Witherspoon, Ted Danson, Jennifer Connelly, and author John Steinbeck (who won the Nobel Prize in Literature),

Answer: University of California, Berkeley

The first campus in the University of California system (being followed by Davis, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, amongst others), Berkeley is amongst the top-regarded U.S. schools.

Oscar-winner Gregory Peck graduated from Berkeley with a BA in 1942, originally attending for a pre-med degree but finding more passion in acting. Interestingly, Chris Pine graduated with his BA in 2002, going on to star in the JJ Abrams "Star Trek" remake alongside fellow alum John Cho, who got his BA from Berkeley in 1996.

Steve Wozniak, who dropped out of Berkeley to build Apple with Steve Jobs, returned there to complete his CES degree in 1986.

They all join fellow alumni Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Saul Perlmutter, Rube Goldberg, and farm-to-table chef Alice Waters. Quite the eclectic bunch!