The T-20 obsession comes down to class, right?

[Anonymous]

My nephew had a 1500 (or higher) on the SAT, incredible grades in STEM classes, and he's an Eagle Scout. He lives in Arizona. He went to Arizona because he got a full-scholarship. One parent works for a non-profit and the other is a government scientist. He also loves to mountain bike. He has no connection to the Northeast or Northern California. Arizona made the most sense.

There are lots of students like my nephew who have the stats to enroll in the T-20, but don't, for a variety of financial and personal reasons. Many of my colleagues started at state flagships, graduated from top law schools, and won federal clerkships. None of them grew up in wealthy households. Solid middle class. It doesn't seem that not going to a T-20 for undergrad forecloses opportunities later.

Is this T-20 obsession a 1 percenter thing? Is it about impressing the law firm partners? Or the ladies at the country club? Or is it about replenishing those who think of themselves as elites?

I just started reading this board, and the sturm and drang over admission to this small set of schools is BANANAS.

[Anonymous]

It’s the opportunity/connection for us. My kid got in unhooked -Ivy. His Major really benefits from the school (not stem).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My nephew had a 1500 (or higher) on the SAT, incredible grades in STEM classes, and he's an Eagle Scout. He lives in Arizona. He went to Arizona because he got a full-scholarship. One parent works for a non-profit and the other is a government scientist. He also loves to mountain bike. He has no connection to the Northeast or Northern California. Arizona made the most sense.

There are lots of students like my nephew who have the stats to enroll in the T-20, but don't, for a variety of financial and personal reasons. Many of my colleagues started at state flagships, graduated from top law schools, and won federal clerkships. None of them grew up in wealthy households. Solid middle class. It doesn't seem that not going to a T-20 for undergrad forecloses opportunities later.

Is this T-20 obsession a 1 percenter thing? Is it about impressing the law firm partners? Or the ladies at the country club? Or is it about replenishing those who think of themselves as elites?

I just started reading this board, and the sturm and drang over admission to this small set of schools is BANANAS.

You're just realizing this?

[Anonymous]

Of course it is all about social mobility.

[Anonymous]

Welcome and buckle up. 😆

[Anonymous]

Not really because the top schools give a ton of fincancial aid. Most of them are need-based and some give automatic full tuition to families that make 200K or less.

Also, 1500 and great grades in STEM is not enough for top 20. Especially not for a STEM major in top 20. You have to have great grades in everything plus have activities where you have made a real impact. 20-30 you can have great grades in everything and just have more regular activities. And so on. Top 20 has an overwhelming number of high stats students and can choose among them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course it is all about social mobility.

But the parents on this board who are freaking out the most send their kids to private schools. Seems like they don't need to move up because they are already there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My nephew had a 1500 (or higher) on the SAT, incredible grades in STEM classes, and he's an Eagle Scout. He lives in Arizona. He went to Arizona because he got a full-scholarship. One parent works for a non-profit and the other is a government scientist. He also loves to mountain bike. He has no connection to the Northeast or Northern California. Arizona made the most sense.

There are lots of students like my nephew who have the stats to enroll in the T-20, but don't, for a variety of financial and personal reasons. Many of my colleagues started at state flagships, graduated from top law schools, and won federal clerkships. None of them grew up in wealthy households. Solid middle class. It doesn't seem that not going to a T-20 for undergrad forecloses opportunities later.

Is this T-20 obsession a 1 percenter thing? Is it about impressing the law firm partners? Or the ladies at the country club? Or is it about replenishing those who think of themselves as elites?

I just started reading this board, and the sturm and drang over admission to this small set of schools is BANANAS.

It’s a highly educated parent expectation and an immigrant parent obsession. The angst is driven by the latter of the two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course it is all about social mobility.

But the parents on this board who are freaking out the most send their kids to private schools. Seems like they don't need to move up because they are already there.

It’s about maintaining it for the next generation. If Larla and Larlo end up at the state flagship they will mix with the wrong crowd, not get into the right country clubs and then before you know it the family is part of the proletariat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My nephew had a 1500 (or higher) on the SAT, incredible grades in STEM classes, and he's an Eagle Scout. He lives in Arizona. He went to Arizona because he got a full-scholarship. One parent works for a non-profit and the other is a government scientist. He also loves to mountain bike. He has no connection to the Northeast or Northern California. Arizona made the most sense.

There are lots of students like my nephew who have the stats to enroll in the T-20, but don't, for a variety of financial and personal reasons. Many of my colleagues started at state flagships, graduated from top law schools, and won federal clerkships. None of them grew up in wealthy households. Solid middle class. It doesn't seem that not going to a T-20 for undergrad forecloses opportunities later.

Is this T-20 obsession a 1 percenter thing? Is it about impressing the law firm partners? Or the ladies at the country club? Or is it about replenishing those who think of themselves as elites?

I just started reading this board, and the sturm and drang over admission to this small set of schools is BANANAS.

It’s a highly educated parent expectation and an immigrant parent obsession. The angst is driven by the latter of the two.

Mostly agree, but also think there’s a strong element of East Coast snobbery/class striving. You won’t find nearly the same degree of obsessiveness with perceived prestige in other areas of the country.

“The Lowells talk only to the Cabots and the Cabots talk only to God.”

[Anonymous]

It's the immigrant parent obsession.

If you're at a top private high school, many parents are completely relaxed about sending their kid to place like Colby or Boston College. I know DCUM think they're all nuts but our experience with 3 kids has been the opposite. Parents are very nonchalant about where their kids land. Often the Ivy gunners are, yes, the immigrant famlies in the bunch.

Meanwhile, on Reddit so many freshmen are trying to transfer up from Emory or Rice or Vanderbilt, etc. "My parents are still so embarrassed that I'm not at an Ivy."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s the opportunity/connection for us. My kid got in unhooked -Ivy. His Major really benefits from the school (not stem).

+1 for us as well

For STEM/nursing/accounting type majors the school does not matter that much but for humanities/social science it really does. Unfortunately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My nephew had a 1500 (or higher) on the SAT, incredible grades in STEM classes, and he's an Eagle Scout. He lives in Arizona. He went to Arizona because he got a full-scholarship. One parent works for a non-profit and the other is a government scientist. He also loves to mountain bike. He has no connection to the Northeast or Northern California. Arizona made the most sense.

There are lots of students like my nephew who have the stats to enroll in the T-20, but don't, for a variety of financial and personal reasons. Many of my colleagues started at state flagships, graduated from top law schools, and won federal clerkships. None of them grew up in wealthy households. Solid middle class. It doesn't seem that not going to a T-20 for undergrad forecloses opportunities later.

Is this T-20 obsession a 1 percenter thing? Is it about impressing the law firm partners? Or the ladies at the country club? Or is it about replenishing those who think of themselves as elites?

I just started reading this board, and the sturm and drang over admission to this small set of schools is BANANAS.

Physical location plays a much greater part of college decisions than anyone wants to admit. To this day, 86% of college students attend a college within 500 miles of home.

If Harvard picked up and moved to Phoenix...guess what, a ton of Arizona kids would be going nuts trying to get into Harvard. As it is, as much as they may want Harvard, it's 3,000 miles away and just not in the conversation.

[Anonymous]

One word - insecurity

Immigrant families with no connections and social support; bad economy; volatile political environments; AI threats; …

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's the immigrant parent obsession.

If you're at a top private high school, many parents are completely relaxed about sending their kid to place like Colby or Boston College. I know DCUM think they're all nuts but our experience with 3 kids has been the opposite. Parents are very nonchalant about where their kids land. Often the Ivy gunners are, yes, the immigrant famlies in the bunch.

Meanwhile, on Reddit so many freshmen are trying to transfer up from Emory or Rice or Vanderbilt, etc. "My parents are still so embarrassed that I'm not at an Ivy."

The problem is this doesn't play out in the real world. Go look at Big3 matriculations or top NYC private schools...tons of Ivy and other top 20 admits. Something like 50% of Sidwell's 2025 class attends a top 20 school.

Most of these kids are Americans.