What’s with DC attitudes about college and careers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Not everyone has to go to a T20. I'm stating why we feel it is helpful to do so in our case and that it is ONE way to work on critical thinking. There are many other great ways to do that but to condemn it (as OP has done) seems ridiculously short sighted. Education at prestigious schools has value.

[Anonymous]

OP, I get it. It makes me kind of ill. There are so many options for these well educated and well funded kids and for most of them, honestly, their only goal is to preserve and grow their wealth. I find it discouraging. Who is really passionate about consulting?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Not everyone has to go to a T20. I'm stating why we feel it is helpful to do so in our case and that it is ONE way to work on critical thinking. There are many other great ways to do that but to condemn it (as OP has done) seems ridiculously short sighted. Education at prestigious schools has value.

If democracy depends on highly-educated voters, T20 schools will always necessarily fail us. You simply cannot reserve education for an exclusive elite and also expect to influence the thinking of the majority of voters. The math will never work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I went to Greenwich HS in the mid-late 80s. Even then it was 100 times better than MCPS (can't speak for Sidwell though...)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I get it. It makes me kind of ill. There are so many options for these well educated and well funded kids and for most of them, honestly, their only goal is to preserve and grow their wealth. I find it discouraging. Who is really passionate about consulting?

+1
It’s sad.

[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?

I actually agree that it’s shallow to equate schools/majors with a person’s value, however I am rolling my eyes at this “it’s okay to strive because we’re nerds” but will judge others for doing the same if motivated by a desire you don’t value/agree with. Send your nerds to a state school and then come back with your confusion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I get it. It makes me kind of ill. There are so many options for these well educated and well funded kids and for most of them, honestly, their only goal is to preserve and grow their wealth. I find it discouraging. Who is really passionate about consulting?

OP here. This is what I’m saying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I went to Greenwich HS in the mid-late 80s. Even then it was 100 times better than MCPS (can't speak for Sidwell though...)

I grew up in Greenwich then - CJHS '84, GHS '87 - and still live nearby (Westport.) Greenwich is nothing like it used to be - so much more competitive, ill-mannered, and pretentious. I can't stand going there for anything (e.g., youth sports.)

[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.

+1

[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?

Why do you people like you generalize so much?

[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?

+1 maybe it was the crowd your hung out with

+1 my kids are in private school and do not have the attitudes OP expresses.

[Anonymous]

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.

Right? There really is no difference in lifestyle and long-range outcomes between the accountant at the local housing authority and the analyst at BlackRock.

[Anonymous]

So clear with this post that almost no one here’s been poor

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So clear with this post that almost no one here’s been poor

To add, imagine worrying about being “uncreative” when it comes to finding a job. LOL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I get it. It makes me kind of ill. There are so many options for these well educated and well funded kids and for most of them, honestly, their only goal is to preserve and grow their wealth. I find it discouraging. Who is really passionate about consulting?

Oh stuff it. Money is great! Money buys you experiences. Money buys you top health care. Money buys you highest quality 1:1 long-term care, for your parents and later you. Money buys you 1:1 services if your kid needs help. Money buys you $700 psychiatrists who don't take insurance. Money buys you life-saving neurosurgery for your dog who broke his back by being an idiot.

I could do this all night, and still not even get to "money buys you designer bags and the Hamptons." Having plenty of money buys you peace of mind that frankly is not available at the median salary for your city. You'd better believe we're encouraging DS to make money.