What's with the constant put down here of hardworking kids as "Striver" kids"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:On DCUM striver refers to someone who is obviously smart, ambitious, hardworking and maybe a little calculating.

Somehow it is preferable to behave as if it all comes naturally and without breaking a sweat.

It smacks of privilege to me too.

Strivers aren’t necessarily smart, they’re often swots, but also usually conniving and will use and manipulate others to get ahead, and always obsessed with social climbing. Striver is NOT Protestant work ethic. Protestants have morals and are altruistic.

[Anonymous]

Racism. Feeling threatened by non-legacy Asian American kids who get better grades, higher test scores, and admission slots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm also interested in the definition being used here for "striver." I took it to be a put down by wealthy parents of kids whose future is more or less assured no matter how well they do in school - and to distinguish them from those who have to excel academically to get ahead.

That’s cute. Varsity Blues showed us a minor glimpse into how rigged and unfair life is against strivers. Connections, money and caste order trumps any striving. Of course you’ll cling to outliers and keep faith, but deep down you know it’s true.

?? I have no idea what you're talking about.

[Anonymous]

Strivers are very annoying. They're the type who get into Duke and are upset it wasn't Harvard. Nothing is ever enough for them despite unanimous praise and approval of the people around them. These types are what is wrong with capitalism, never enough despite having it all.

[Anonymous]

Nor do I, and my family IS Asian.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Racism. Feeling threatened by non-legacy Asian American kids who get better grades, higher test scores, and admission slots.

+1 - it's pathetic white grievance that is the flip side of their disdain for 'unqualified' URMs. They need something to put down Asians who work harder and with better results than their mediocre children. White people think merit should matter, but only to a point, because anyone who does better than them is also cheating the system. It's all a construct to justify why white kids should get everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm also interested in the definition being used here for "striver." I took it to be a put down by wealthy parents of kids whose future is more or less assured no matter how well they do in school - and to distinguish them from those who have to excel academically to get ahead.

That’s cute. Varsity Blues showed us a minor glimpse into how rigged and unfair life is against strivers. Connections, money and caste order trumps any striving. Of course you’ll cling to outliers and keep faith, but deep down you know it’s true.

?? I have no idea what you're talking about.

PP is talking about kids with 4.5 GPA, near perfect ACT and still did not get in an IVY.... which is normal... but they complain about the fact they were robbed ... because who did get in are connected and have money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I rail against people who design a kids' whole childhood (i.e.,their SUPPOSED interests, extra-curricular activities, summers) to line up with a pre-destined path that will push them into some future that is impressive to wealthy others. That allow their children to take so many AP's that it requires insufficient sleep, caffeine (or worse ) for children to get a GPA that puts them ahead of their peers in the eyes of HYP. It is not healthy, and it is not being done for pro-social reasons. It is being done to beat out others.

Very good post.

[Anonymous]

When I hear of it, I think of the stereotype from my college days of Asian / SE Asian pre-med students. Everyone at my school knew there was a subset who cheated in Organic Chemistry.

Here’s how I think of it-

Grit / work ethic = loves to learn, dreams of being a Dr to help people, studies day and night, goes to all the office hours and review sessions, really seeks to understand for the sake of knowledge.

Striver = wants to be a Dr because of the perception of wealth and status, works hard and studies but also looks for any advantage like being drinking buddies with the TA, getting prior semester tests to study from, and sometimes cheating.

Striving to me is not about the effort made, but the goal of the effort. Are you studying to master the material or to get an A for your GPA. Are you volunteering because the cause is something you believe in or because it will look good on your applications.

[Anonymous]

^ pretty sure there are white strivers and those using that term would put them down too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm also interested in the definition being used here for "striver." I took it to be a put down by wealthy parents of kids whose future is more or less assured no matter how well they do in school - and to distinguish them from those who have to excel academically to get ahead.

That’s cute. Varsity Blues showed us a minor glimpse into how rigged and unfair life is against strivers. Connections, money and caste order trumps any striving. Of course you’ll cling to outliers and keep faith, but deep down you know it’s true.

?? I have no idea what you're talking about.

PP is talking about kids with 4.5 GPA, near perfect ACT and still did not get in an IVY.... which is normal... but they complain about the fact they were robbed ... because who did get in are connected and have money.

Oh. O.k., thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Racism. Feeling threatened by non-legacy Asian American kids who get better grades, higher test scores, and admission slots.

+1 - it's pathetic white grievance that is the flip side of their disdain for 'unqualified' URMs. They need something to put down Asians who work harder and with better results than their mediocre children. White people think merit should matter, but only to a point, because anyone who does better than them is also cheating the system. It's all a construct to justify why white kids should get everything.

If you don't understand the difference between "striver' and "hard worker", it's a social skills issue. Might point to why someone got marked down for personality on your Ivy interview.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I hear of it, I think of the stereotype from my college days of Asian / SE Asian pre-med students. Everyone at my school knew there was a subset who cheated in Organic Chemistry.

Here’s how I think of it-

Grit / work ethic = loves to learn, dreams of being a Dr to help people, studies day and night, goes to all the office hours and review sessions, really seeks to understand for the sake of knowledge.

Striver = wants to be a Dr because of the perception of wealth and status, works hard and studies but also looks for any advantage like being drinking buddies with the TA, getting prior semester tests to study from, and sometimes cheating.

Striving to me is not about the effort made, but the goal of the effort. Are you studying to master the material or to get an A for your GPA. Are you volunteering because the cause is something you believe in or because it will look good on your applications.

This is a good explanation of the difference.

[Anonymous]

strivers take the SAT 7 or 8 times. Their apps look very contrived to meet what they assume the admissions committee wants to hear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I hear of it, I think of the stereotype from my college days of Asian / SE Asian pre-med students. Everyone at my school knew there was a subset who cheated in Organic Chemistry.

Here’s how I think of it-

Grit / work ethic = loves to learn, dreams of being a Dr to help people, studies day and night, goes to all the office hours and review sessions, really seeks to understand for the sake of knowledge.

Striver = wants to be a Dr because of the perception of wealth and status, works hard and studies but also looks for any advantage like being drinking buddies with the TA, getting prior semester tests to study from, and sometimes cheating.

Striving to me is not about the effort made, but the goal of the effort. Are you studying to master the material or to get an A for your GPA. Are you volunteering because the cause is something you believe in or because it will look good on your applications.

I think this post sums it up really well.