<p>But the point is if two people have the same amount of talent but one is richer than the other, the rich one is more likely to succeed unless the poor person has a ton of drive. Plus in a lot of lower class families there are a lot of family problems and issues that can stop someone from reaching their dream unless they really really want whatever they’re after</p>
<p>As if there are not familial problems in upper class families…</p>
<p>If we want to start drawing generalizations, here’s one… Lower class people tend to have more drive.</p>
<p>principalviola, I never said that upper class families do not have family problems. But in lower class families if a kid wants to pursue their dreams and go off and do their own thing, not knowing if they can ever reach their goals, it is often hard because they have pressure to stay home and get a job at say Mcdonalds to get income that can go to the family.
And it is mostly true that people in lower class families have more drive because everything they want they have to earn, and it is not handed to them on a silver platter</p>
<p>a stray adult lurker’s comment:</p>
<p>It pleases me greatly to read this latest debate. Not because I am reading things I agree or disagree with, but just because there are so many thinking young people on this board, who - for the most part- have reasons for having the opinions that they do. </p>
<p>(…and I bet you’re all having fun with it too.)</p>
<p>My brother and I used to debate (argue) endlessly as kids. We would have heated discussions about anything at all (even when we agreed). My mother would get so upset and ask, “Why can’t you two be NICE to eachother!!!” To which we would yell, “But we’re having FUN!!!”</p>
<p>I guess I should give up my home, job, and bank account so that my son will be more deserving of his place in prep school and have more drive.</p>
<p>hahaha, we’re not talking about all upper class people, it’s more about the upper class that we as kids see portrayed in the media.
Because trust me at my bs there are plenty of rich kids who have a ton of drive.</p>
<p>Wow, you guys blew this out of proportion. TomTheCat, you sound pretty contentious. Izzy was stating her opinion. She wasn’t trying to sound elitist.</p>
<p>This is a good debate to be having… </p>
<p>Of course EVERYONE must concede to my amazing opinions… You guys just have to…</p>
<p>I think that Izzy is right. I mean, if you know that you will attend BS at the age of 7 then you can pad your EC’s and prepare for the whole process. I don’t see how that sounds elitist?</p>
<p>I think admission officers can see padding, they have done it for years…? Though I already conceded to the fact that if you know that you do not need FA you can go headstrong and right into the process. </p>
<p>Other than that…</p>
<p>I doubt they can see padding. Take for example, if started playing the sitar at age 7, and you had 6 years of experience. How will the admissions people know whether you are passionate about it? They won’t.</p>
<p>I agree with benevolent4them.</p>
<p>Interviews… The thing is YOU are not an admission officer so you do not have the insight (neither do I) to see how they see it. But I assure you, if you do things for the sake of padding, they will see it.</p>
<p>Many full FA students such as those who come from programs like Prep for Prep and ABC are prepared by these programs for years. It is typically a multi-year process where they are targeted several years before applying. < So there’s an example that debunks the “FA Student Not Prepared” myth.</p>
<p>In my very unscientific observations, once at BS, FA candidates are truly appreciative of the opportunity they have been given, strive and keep their nose clean. Many silver spoon types do not (although as gobigred states there are many privileged kids who are very motivated). It does seem like the majority of kids expelled are FP not FA.
Interesting discussion…</p>
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<p>That is because most FP people do not understand the great opportunity they have…</p>
<p>^^Exactly. Some, but not all, take it for granted. And a few really don’t want to be there anyway but since great grandpa, grandpa and dad all went there…</p>
<p>That could just be because the majority of BS students are FP.</p>
<p>Even so, for them to get expelled…</p>
<p>A study showed (this study examined Ivy + Stanford, Duke, MIT, Amherst, and Williams… I think) that students on FA tended to do a LOT better than full pay ones.</p>
<p>It may be that sometimes full pay students feel entitled, but we should be careful not to make generalizations. That’s how this whole thing got started.</p>
<p>Yup, hence my “some, but not all” comment. ;)</p>
<p>I agree - you can’t generalize because everyone can think of examples to support both sides of the argument.</p>