In a world where Tila Tequila, Spencer Pratt and Bret Michaels dominate, higher education doesn’t exactly seem like a priority. In its infancy reality TV gave us gems such as Jessica Simpson’s statememt: “Am I eating chicken or tuna?” in reference to the Chicken of the Sea tuna can she was holding. Only certain people get away with saying things like that, but they are responsible for creating a negative stereotype of idiocy that surrounds reality TV.

Despite these stereotypes, Cornell boasts a handful of alumni who are members of this exclusive group — ranging from the Class of 1975 to 2007, on shows as varied as The Apprentice and MTV’s Real World/Road Rules Challenge.