Anonymous
Post 09/22/2025 12:50     Subject: What is a greater leg up?
It depends on the situation. I don’t see sports as anything to aspire to for the vast majority of kids. My brother is a math wizard who has made tens of millions in the finance and tech industry. Your brain is always yours.
Anonymous
Post 09/22/2025 12:35     Subject: What is a greater leg up?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The wealthy connected kids, not even a question.

I grew up in a lower middle to middle class suburb with lots of very bright kids with tons of potential. Most could've gone to upper tier colleges if they really tried, but didn't end up on that pathway for whatever reasons, likely because it wasn't a priority for them. The ones who did have academic talent and went to Ivy Leagues and top tier colleges are working nice jobs at respectable organizations or brand name companies, but nothing too crazy. They've landed in the same position or lower than lazy rich kids with good connections.


500k is really not that much. I absolutely agree that rich well connected parents like kushners, Trump, bush, Kennedy, of course.

We have a seven figure income and decently connected meaning we know people to get our kid an internship or an interview. We are not buying a building to get our kid off the wait list at Wharton.


The kids I mentioned didn't have any connections. Even what you're describing is still privileged and gives kids a leg up, even if significantly less so than the kid whose dad can buy a building.


My kid’s foot in the door is not that much of an advantage if the kid is a mediocre dud. Sure, we could ask a friend or acquaintance to look at my kid’s resume. Our oldest interned at dH’s colleague’s company this summer and they loved DS and invited DS back. My kids are good students and athletes in addition to growing up in a privileged family. I do not consider ourselves rich. I always tell my kids they are not rich because they have to work one day.
Anonymous
Post 09/22/2025 12:21     Subject: What is a greater leg up?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The wealthy connected kids, not even a question.

I grew up in a lower middle to middle class suburb with lots of very bright kids with tons of potential. Most could've gone to upper tier colleges if they really tried, but didn't end up on that pathway for whatever reasons, likely because it wasn't a priority for them. The ones who did have academic talent and went to Ivy Leagues and top tier colleges are working nice jobs at respectable organizations or brand name companies, but nothing too crazy. They've landed in the same position or lower than lazy rich kids with good connections.


500k is really not that much. I absolutely agree that rich well connected parents like kushners, Trump, bush, Kennedy, of course.

We have a seven figure income and decently connected meaning we know people to get our kid an internship or an interview. We are not buying a building to get our kid off the wait list at Wharton.


The kids I mentioned didn't have any connections. Even what you're describing is still privileged and gives kids a leg up, even if significantly less so than the kid whose dad can buy a building.
Anonymous
Post 09/22/2025 12:17     Subject: Re:What is a greater leg up?
Wealthy connected kids have a leg up. Just look at the mediocre white guys who continue to fail upwards.
Anonymous
Post 09/22/2025 12:15     Subject: What is a greater leg up?
Kushner perfect example of an idiot born into a filthy rich family
Anonymous
Post 09/22/2025 12:13     Subject: What is a greater leg up?
Anonymous wrote:The wealthy connected kids, not even a question.

I grew up in a lower middle to middle class suburb with lots of very bright kids with tons of potential. Most could've gone to upper tier colleges if they really tried, but didn't end up on that pathway for whatever reasons, likely because it wasn't a priority for them. The ones who did have academic talent and went to Ivy Leagues and top tier colleges are working nice jobs at respectable organizations or brand name companies, but nothing too crazy. They've landed in the same position or lower than lazy rich kids with good connections.


500k is really not that much. I absolutely agree that rich well connected parents like kushners, Trump, bush, Kennedy, of course.

We have a seven figure income and decently connected meaning we know people to get our kid an internship or an interview. We are not buying a building to get our kid off the wait list at Wharton.
Anonymous
Post 09/22/2025 12:08     Subject: What is a greater leg up?
Anonymous wrote:The wealthy connected kids, not even a question.

I grew up in a lower middle to middle class suburb with lots of very bright kids with tons of potential. Most could've gone to upper tier colleges if they really tried, but didn't end up on that pathway for whatever reasons, likely because it wasn't a priority for them. The ones who did have academic talent and went to Ivy Leagues and top tier colleges are working nice jobs at respectable organizations or brand name companies, but nothing too crazy. They've landed in the same position or lower than lazy rich kids with good connections.


Not everyone wants to run the world. And most wealthy connected kids don’t accomplish anything out of the ordinary.

Jeff Bezos one of the richest men in the US grew up middle class, was super smart and an entrepreneur early on. Guys like Bezos come from everywhere, they are extraordinary as much as they are weird.
Anonymous
Post 09/22/2025 05:29     Subject: What is a greater leg up?
There are way more mediocre rich kids in the world and we need more of them
Anonymous
Post 09/22/2025 04:49     Subject: What is a greater leg up?
The wealthy connected kids, not even a question.

I grew up in a lower middle to middle class suburb with lots of very bright kids with tons of potential. Most could've gone to upper tier colleges if they really tried, but didn't end up on that pathway for whatever reasons, likely because it wasn't a priority for them. The ones who did have academic talent and went to Ivy Leagues and top tier colleges are working nice jobs at respectable organizations or brand name companies, but nothing too crazy. They've landed in the same position or lower than lazy rich kids with good connections.
Anonymous
Post 09/22/2025 03:00     Subject: Re:What is a greater leg up?
Anonymous wrote:Op - I am just thinking about this because my kids are all average or slightly above average for academics and definitely average at sports. They work hard but definitely are not going to college for sports and highly doubt they will get crazy scholarships for their academics.

But they have parents who are invested in their success and have a high HHI ($700k and up) and have generational wealth from family as well.


You’ve got no problems. There are plenty of colleges for the average student because they are the majority. Hopefully you’ll be able to full pay without any problems. As for sports they can play for fun, that’s what 90% of kids should be doing anyway.
Anonymous
Post 09/22/2025 00:40     Subject: What is a greater leg up?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Mediocre rich kids>smart athletic middle class kids


+1


+2
Anonymous
Post 09/21/2025 22:23     Subject: Re:What is a greater leg up?
Anonymous wrote:Op - sorry bad explanation. By extraordinary talent I think I mean more like talented/gifted and going to college for sports. Not once in a generation talent (LaBron James or Simon Biles).
Then I choose the money. Generational wealth is extremely freeing. Imagine being able to live indefinitely in a lower CoL country without working. Sounds like a dream
Anonymous
Post 09/21/2025 22:18     Subject: What is a greater leg up?
Anonymous wrote:Being an extraordinary talented at a sport(s) or academics OR being average at sports and/or academics but having parents who are wealthy (HHI $500k and up)?
Depends on what you mean by "extraordinary".
Anonymous
Post 09/21/2025 21:14     Subject: What is a greater leg up?
Anonymous wrote:Mediocre rich kids>smart athletic middle class kids


+1
Anonymous
Post 09/21/2025 20:43     Subject: What is a greater leg up?
Anonymous wrote:I guess it depends on what you mean by extraordinarily talented. DH and I are both doctors. We have smart kids and an income over $500k, but LaBron James definitely has a leg up over any of our kids.


He is a very tall man indeed.