My school also bragged bout 100% of grads going into a 4 year college, and the number going to ivy (like 30 in my class, I think?). I only knew it was a privilege thing because I had moved and still had lots of friends in my old state/town and had previously gone to a more normal school.
One major issue with this luxury education thing is that it’s trickling down to lower class people, as most rich person trends do. And it just kills me that kids without a lot of money or familial wealth are taking on far more debt than necessary to go to the fanciest school that accepts them. I wish there was more discussion among parents on what they actually want. Because if the goal is to ensure that their children stay wealthy and make a lot of money…school is 100% not the answer for that.
Yes, Harvard Business School and Wharton connections, I know, but there are a prolific number of wealthy people (all the ones in my family- and more of my relatives are wealthy than not) who go to very modest state schools, especially for undergrad. If you look at CEOs and super movers and shakers it’s like…that fancy brand name truly is not the factor. And on the flip side I know a ton of people who went to super elite schools and are still unable to support themselves without regular cash infusions or “gifts”.
The other thing I see is that this really hurts wealthy people which in turn hurts less wealthy people even more. I think the amount of anxiety that surrounds this way of living is absolutely absurd. It’s what creates adults who are making more than 98% of the country and who feel like failures. There is no celebrating any accomplishment because it’s never as good as what so-and-so did. This lack of perspective in so many cases becomes a total scarcity mindset, and scarcity is antithetical to generosity.
I also think scarcity breeds other fears. Because if you’re unstable, “barely making it” and less than everyone around you…that’s precarious. You are almost in danger. That makes other political things feel more frightening. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the only people I know who are so terrified about what’s happening in the United States (a country so globally desirable to live in people still risk their lives to come here) that they are looking into emigrating to another country…are rich people. They think they won’t be able to make it here, so…who do they think will make it? If we can’t make it no one can! And things are not nearly so dire as to need to flee the country, I mean, really.
The other common thing I see is people separating themselves from the wealth of their families. So like, calling themselves a “poor professor” when they actually make about $130k combined with their spouses, and have family money on both sides. I also see it with lower income spouses who keep finances “separate”. They get all the benefit of talking about what they can’t afford, even as they reap all the benefits of having access to massive wealth. I’ve heard the argument that it’s “my family’s money, not mine!” but like…come on. That is so shady, lol, when you have benefitted and continue to benefit from all that “not yours” money. It’s a massive flotation device waiting for you whenever you want it, and it’s also not having the burden of supporting others because they can support themselves. It’s like there’s no understanding that if your family is wealthy…you are part of that, if your spouse makes a ton of money…you are also rich.
One indicator of poverty is lack of proximity to wealth. Poor people don’t know anyone with money. No one. Everyone they know is struggling. If most people you know are “comfortable” and lots of your relatives are straight up “rich”, uh…you are rich too. It’s also a convenient way to sidestep eventual inheritances, IMO. And that’s often expressed in rich circles as, “I don’t expect to get anything! I don’t plan with that in mind.” But like, that doesn’t make that money not exist, and you will most likely get it. So…
I’m glad to have a place to talk about this because I feel a lot of frustration that this isn’t something openly discussed in socially conscious circles. I think it’s so important for meaningfully changing the world for the better. And I truly don’t understand the level of resistance to accepting that yes, I am rich. It should be seen as joyful and a massive opportunity. Money is just a tool and it can be used for purposes good and bad, but if you pretend you can’t do anything because you don’t even have the tool, like…that’s so self-victim-y. Like how many people could live the way they actually want to right now (slower, maybe one person part-time or not working, less stressful, more balance) but are totally convinced they can’t because they need more. And how many families would improve, including children’s lives, if leaning into wealth was more socially acceptable, and discussed in terms of what we owe the world but also the massive amount of choices we have. So many wealthy people act like they’re practically indentured servants with no choice, and it’s like, not a very admirable attitude.
And @meerkat I think it is totally a bragging thing, and also the reverse. Like I heard other kids saying stuff like, “well she’s not that smart, so she went to Lehigh” or talk about how certain Ivies were easier to get into (Cornell, Brown, Penn) than others (Yale, Princeton, Harvard). I think for parents in an area like that, if your kid goes to a school that to most of the world is still prestigious but isn’t tier 1 or 2, the sense is kind of: what happened? Where did you go wrong? It’s like the parents jobs. And I always wondered if some of it was partly wanting your kids to only be around other rich kids, because that’s mostly what those schools are like. And then they too can marry someone rich and continue the cycle or wealthy. IDK if that’s true, but I’ve wondered that especially since in some of these communities the expectation is still that the woman stops working when kids come. So it’s like, all this pressure for an ivy education and then after her masters or doctorate, it’s time to start on kids and begin prepping them for preschool interviews which are a legit thing. If career isn’t the point is it all just a rich social club?
already, I did not at all see it coming in that way! I’m totally into the production quality of this and have a feeling I’ll be glued to my screen for the next 2 hours 
I’ve been watching Junior BakeOff and needed something to prevent me from binging the whole thing today lol
lots of EDs too, and I think they are somewhat related.
not good for my mental health for sure.