<p>Like, by being brain zany?</p>
<p>@brainzany</p>
<p>What are you expecting? Would your idea of an intelligent discussion be something like, “Why, yes, I know many poor Harvard grads. How disappointing. I’d expect more of them – Harvard’s supposed to make you rich!”?</p>
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<p>Okay, I will. OP was wondering why all Ivy grads aren’t on track to make big bucks. The implication being that the larger the number on line 37 of your 1040 form, the more successful and fulfilled you are as a human being. The problem is that admissions is selecting people with these ridiculous, altruistic notions about increasing the depth of human knowledge or implementing this knowledge to benefit others. Idiots. Until Harvard admissions realizes the an H degree should lead to a big-ass house and a Lambo in the garage, we will continue to see these not-for-profit ninnies letting their degrees go to waste.</p>
<p>It’s really funny how some people simply cannot comprehend why anyone would want a degree from a good university if not to become filthy rich. I come from a relatively poor background, and even I can barely resist making a classist crack about social climbers here.</p>
<p>Like a lot of other H grads, I work in education…this is no way to get rich.</p>
<p>JK.</p>
<p>I forgot about the Harvard grad I knew in Teach for America. That’s impressive in itself since it’s a competitive program.</p>
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<p>What, no one would ever want to go to Texas? Or work for a non-profit? That’s the whole POINT - that there is a range of opportunities, and obviously for this woman, a non-profit in Texas was what she wanted. </p>
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<p>In my industry in general, there are plenty of Harvard (or other Ivy) grads, and they work alongside, for and with other elite school grads and often people who were “mere” state school grads as well. If you think there is some kind of assurance than H (or an Ivy degree) puts you at the top of the ladder, think again. It just gets you in the door – after that, it’s your own performance and frankly no one pays attention to where you went to school. </p>
<p>Your whole premise is rather odd. Why would those who attended H be any different from the students any place else in having a wide range of potential career paths and areas of the country that interest them?</p>
<p>[Two</a> named Truman Scholars | Harvard Gazette](<a href=“http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2011/04/two-named-truman-scholars/]Two”>Two named Truman Scholars – Harvard Gazette)
Maybe this article will better answer texassoccer84’s question. Many of these kids genuinely want to make a difference in the world.</p>
<p>I met a Princeton physics grad who was working as a waiter.</p>
<p>I have turned down a consulting job offer to work in education. I’m not unique among my Harvard classmates, I don’t think.</p>
<p>Jumping into this discussion late, but I think I understand what OP is getting at. </p>
<p>For those like me who observed Harvard from “afar” all their lives (until D was admitted), there is a stereotypical vision of Harvard grads as the children of the rich, powerful and famous, who graduate and then, due to family pressure and societal expectation, go on to fill Daddy’s shoes by trying to make a $million before they hit 30.</p>
<p>Once you are on the inside (or semi-inside as a parent), you learn that today, the majority of Harvard students are from modest backgrounds, or at least have parents who make less than $180K per year, since 70% or so are on FA.</p>
<p>It is my impression (which could be wrong) that Harvard students who come from financially modest backgrounds do not necessarily feel the need to strike it rich - they were raised in lower, middle or upper middle class families and are probably perfectly comfortable with that lifestyle, especially now that they know that such a lifestyle can breed the most sought-after college candidates in the world - i.e., themselves.</p>
<p>That is my theory, anyway.</p>
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<p>I don’t really agree with that assessment. I think it is just as likely that those that are raised with money may be less likely to strive for it. I don’t have any familiarity with the super-rich, the people who summer in the Hamptons and all that, but I know a lot of people that were the children of doctors and professionals that were more concerned about academic achievement than cashing in.</p>
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<p>Did this happen in Portland? It is said to boast some of the best-educated waiters in America.</p>
<p>See [Portlandia</a> - Series - On Air - IFC.com](<a href=“http://www.ifc.com/portlandia/]Portlandia”>http://www.ifc.com/portlandia/)</p>