What’s with DC attitudes about college and careers

[Anonymous]

Why are so many people in this country promoting this new fascination with the poorly educated? Why is that something to aspire to?

I think the DC area is trying to hold onto whatever dignity we have left thanks to the poorly educated around the country who thought smart people are just snobs. Sexual predators with less education were the preferred way to go. We are all doomed when people like OP condemn striving for excellence and instead try to make it cool to stay under a very low bar.

My son will be attending a T20 school next year where he will hone his critical thinking skills. We are fortunate enough to be able to afford it and I cannot imagine raising a child who cannot think for themselves. That's how we got this very popular cult today who thinks dictatorship is good and democracy is bad!

[Anonymous]

OP - You are so glad you left and yet, you are clearly still trying to be part of the group.

Why do you care if you left DC behind?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, why would anyone want their kids to attend a good school and pursue a lucrative career path. Cannot think of a reason.

it's ok to do it, but only for the "nerdy" reasons, like OP. she is so much above it all, while doing the exact same thing.

Also, it’s the height of privilege to throw medical and law school under the bus, which for decades have been the standard way for smart, high achieving students to lift themselves up economically. How nice for some people to be so well off that they are able to pursue these things simply to satisfy their “nerdy” interests.

[Anonymous]

I agree it’s weird here. My southern friend is perfectly happy with their first kid going to school right down the road from their house and second Auburn. I am embarrassed to bring up that my teen has out of state applications in as it’s odd to them. My in-laws, also in a southern state, have adopted teens at home and they are working full-time and going to community college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree it’s weird here. My southern friend is perfectly happy with their first kid going to school right down the road from their house and second Auburn. I am embarrassed to bring up that my teen has out of state applications in as it’s odd to them. My in-laws, also in a southern state, have adopted teens at home and they are working full-time and going to community college.

I doubt your southern friend is part of the group at wealthy Atlanta privates as an example.

Look at those schools and 80%+ of graduates go to school out of state. That’s not much different (and probably higher) than VA private school families sending kids out of state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We lived in the DC area for the past ten years, but recently moved away after our kids finished high school. We and our kids have attended or currently attend highly-selective, private universities. You’d think that would make us snotty, but we’re just nerdy. That said, we are SO happy we left the DC area, which seems fixated on attending a top school and landing a job in consulting, high finance, or FANG. If not those, then it’s medical or law school. Why is DC so uncreative, so money-focused, and so prestige-centric? If you don’t fit the mold, the assumption is that you’re a loser. Why is that?

A little judgmental, don’t you think?. If you think DC is bad go see what’s happening with Competitive parents in NYC’s privates

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We lived in the DC area for the past ten years, but recently moved away after our kids finished high school. We and our kids have attended or currently attend highly-selective, private universities. You’d think that would make us snotty, but we’re just nerdy. That said, we are SO happy we left the DC area, which seems fixated on attending a top school and landing a job in consulting, high finance, or FANG. If not those, then it’s medical or law school. Why is DC so uncreative, so money-focused, and so prestige-centric? If you don’t fit the mold, the assumption is that you’re a loser. Why is that?

Hilarious!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We lived in the DC area for the past ten years, but recently moved away after our kids finished high school. We and our kids have attended or currently attend highly-selective, private universities. You’d think that would make us snotty, but we’re just nerdy. That said, we are SO happy we left the DC area, which seems fixated on attending a top school and landing a job in consulting, high finance, or FANG. If not those, then it’s medical or law school. Why is DC so uncreative, so money-focused, and so prestige-centric? If you don’t fit the mold, the assumption is that you’re a loser. Why is that?

A little judgmental, don’t you think?. If you think DC is bad go see what’s happening with Competitive parents in NYC’s privates

+1
This is absolutely not the most competitive area in the US.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, we're a DC-area family and none of the above holds true for us. Our kids attended public k-12 schools and are now at in-state universities majoring in the humanities. No plans for grad school. Maybe don't paint everyone with your broad brush?

OP here. I should have specified that most of our exposure was to the wealthy inner suburbs of NOVA and Maryland. This probably isn’t the prevailing view in Burke, but it is in McLean.

It’s not just a problem unique to DC; wherever you go, there will always be groups like this.

The key is to expand your circle of people, connect with others, and seek out diverse perspectives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We lived in the DC area for the past ten years, but recently moved away after our kids finished high school. We and our kids have attended or currently attend highly-selective, private universities. You’d think that would make us snotty, but we’re just nerdy. That said, we are SO happy we left the DC area, which seems fixated on attending a top school and landing a job in consulting, high finance, or FANG. If not those, then it’s medical or law school. Why is DC so uncreative, so money-focused, and so prestige-centric? If you don’t fit the mold, the assumption is that you’re a loser. Why is that?

A little judgmental, don’t you think?. If you think DC is bad go see what’s happening with Competitive parents in NYC’s privates

+1
This is absolutely not the most competitive area in the US.

Also not the richest nor the best connected. DC / Bethesda is like a parochial little enclave by comparison.

[Anonymous]

It only feels like it is because DCUM is one of the most popular sites for these conversations and yes, most people are from this area.

Heck…OP doesn’t live here anymore yet here they are posting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are so many people in this country promoting this new fascination with the poorly educated? Why is that something to aspire to?

I think the DC area is trying to hold onto whatever dignity we have left thanks to the poorly educated around the country who thought smart people are just snobs. Sexual predators with less education were the preferred way to go. We are all doomed when people like OP condemn striving for excellence and instead try to make it cool to stay under a very low bar.

My son will be attending a T20 school next year where he will hone his critical thinking skills. We are fortunate enough to be able to afford it and I cannot imagine raising a child who cannot think for themselves. That's how we got this very popular cult today who thinks dictatorship is good and democracy is bad!

I mean for someone espousing critical thinking, I think you missed the point of the OP (I’m not OP btw). You can value education, encourage your kids to do the same, etc. It doesn’t automatically translate into getting into T20. It’s insulting to assume that kids attending non T20 won’t have a chance to “hone in” their critical thinking skills. Also-lots of people cannot afford a T20.

[Anonymous]

Let me get this straight...

You came to your computer late on a Saturday night to create a post to the effect of "Why are DC people so snooty about elite education? We left and it's different and we are so glad!"

The second sentence of this post is "We and our kids have attended or currently attend highly-selective, private universities."

You see the irony here, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We lived in the DC area for the past ten years, but recently moved away after our kids finished high school. We and our kids have attended or currently attend highly-selective, private universities. You’d think that would make us snotty, but we’re just nerdy. That said, we are SO happy we left the DC area, which seems fixated on attending a top school and landing a job in consulting, high finance, or FANG. If not those, then it’s medical or law school. Why is DC so uncreative, so money-focused, and so prestige-centric? If you don’t fit the mold, the assumption is that you’re a loser. Why is that?

"You'd think this would make us snotty...." -- please Ma'am.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We lived in the DC area for the past ten years, but recently moved away after our kids finished high school. We and our kids have attended or currently attend highly-selective, private universities. You’d think that would make us snotty, but we’re just nerdy. That said, we are SO happy we left the DC area, which seems fixated on attending a top school and landing a job in consulting, high finance, or FANG. If not those, then it’s medical or law school. Why is DC so uncreative, so money-focused, and so prestige-centric? If you don’t fit the mold, the assumption is that you’re a loser. Why is that?

A little judgmental, don’t you think?. If you think DC is bad go see what’s happening with Competitive parents in NYC’s privates

+1
This is absolutely not the most competitive area in the US.

+1
I'm a former Sidwell teacher who now lives in Fairfield County. DC has nothing on Greenwich, Darien, New Canaan, and Westport.