Even Harvard graduates' plans are affected by family money (beyond being able to attend Harvard)

For sure. A former student of mine (brilliant! sensitive! caring! ethical!) just graduated from H and is teaching public high school in the Bronx right now (and he’s from a financially disadvantaged family). I’m proud of him for doing what he feels is right (and I agree he’s doing good in the world), but he’s made the decision to have very tight finances for the foreseeable future. Of course I’d love it if jobs like his were better compensated, but he’s pursuing this path with full knowledge of the reality in the US and I’m proud of him.