Reply to HYPSM/Elite School Alums - What has been the downside of your degree?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]If you try to get a low-level job you’ll be seen as a flight risk

If you’re in certain environments you’ll be seen as an out of touch elite [/quote]

+1. And there is also the fact that you drink a lot of cool aid at school and then need to go out in the real world and prove yourself…and that’s usually when you realize that many people don’t care where you went to school or think you’re wealthy/connected/an elitist. [b]The latter is particularly unfair if you grew up LMC/MC and got in on your own merits.[/b] [/quote]

Couldn't agree more with the bolded. I have worked with, hired, interacted with a fair number of HYPS grads over the years. The following two alums, both white women, really challenged and changed how I judge these graduates:

The first one was a Princeton grad. She came from a low income family, her mom was an alcoholic. Apparently, they were often evicted during her childhood and even spent periods living in her mom's car when relatives couldn't take them in.

The second one was a Yale grad from a low income, immigrant family. Kid excelled in high school while working to support the family. Kid got a full ride, but continued to work throughout college to send money home to her parents. She even worked the Yale reunions, which involved cleaning rooms. She told me once that she knew since she was a child that she'd be responsible for supporting her family financially.

Both of these women were bright, driven, hard-working AND humble. They had zero issues with starting from the bottom and working their way up, showed no entitlement, were willing time and time again to do the grunt work.

I grew up MC and attended a top SLAC, and that was still a challenge and a climb for me. But it feels like these two women had to go through a minefield to get to Yale and Princeton. That's why, even though I have met my share of entitled HYPS alums, I judge each one on their own merit and try to put biases aside because at the end of day you don't know who is sitting in front of you - yes, it could be a Princeton double legacy from a wealthy family, or it could be Yale first gen, low income grad who will use this job not only to support herself but also her family.[/quote]

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