<p>You make my point precisely. It's all a matter of attitude rather than actual income. Some people flaunt their wealth and some don't. It's only recently that Boston Bramins did not buy hats but only "had hats."
I've been told of a very rich lady who was being courted to donate a very large amount of money. She showed up for a luncheon at a fancy restaurant with a brown bag. At dessert time, she pulled out a banana. She'd not wanted to pay an exorbitant price for it, even though she was not the one paying for the meal. And she did donate a very large sum of money and has a big building named after her.
Just recently, the Boston Globe ran an article suggesting that Boston was (finally!) embracing wealth and the the Brahmin ethos was fading. But the affluent (especially affluent foreigners) are even more likely to attend BU than Harvard.</p>
<p>With all due respect, I beg to differ
for I personally witnessed the limo
drop off. In addition, during basket
ball season I am on campus at least
once a week and those above
mentioned vehicles are parked outside
of Rockerfeller on the street.</p>
<p>p2bhd:
I've lived within a mile of BMC for over 15 years. I jog there, I attend public meetings there, and I have to go through or around the campus multiple times every day to get anywhere. I've never seen a student limo drop-off. Not saying it never happened, but to imply that it's a common sight is simply wrong. Rockefeller, at the corner of Merion Ave. and Yarrow St. is directly across the street from the Shipley School, and a short block from the Baldwin School, both of which have long relationships with BMC and use facilities such as Goodrich for graduations and other large gatherings. I will guarantee you that virtually any fancy cars you see in that vicinity belong to parents of one of the three schools. There are also several local limo services that service the Phila. airport, and they actually use old-fashioned limos. Whatever, your point about conspicuous displays of wealth works not at all at BMC.</p>
<p>Sometimes lack of pretense borders on obnoxious. Anyway that was not my point at all. It was the academic and longterm goals of the students. Some schools are very different.</p>
<p>Driver, spare me the pc crap. We want diversity, that's it. We are looking for a diverse campus. My niece went to Oberlin, nephew went to Carleton.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Driver, spare me the pc crap. We want diversity, that's it. We are looking for a diverse campus.
[/quote]
There are plenty of ways to express such intent without gratuitously insulting and labeling of the groups you wish to avoid--and clearly know little about--other than what you see on your sitcoms.</p>
<p>For the sake of brevity, I concede
to commiting a minute faux pas
in over generalizing relative to a
display of wealth at BMC. My bad! </p>
<p>Driver, check out the
red Mercedes sport convertible
across from Rockerfeller & the
Hummer up the street near the
yellow cross walk in your daily
travels.</p>
<p>originaloog: "The seemingly classless nerdiness of the culture appealed to him. I know that his 10 housemates run the gamet in terms of family finances and it make not an iota of difference to them. They are all happily living the pauper student life!"</p>
<p>I have to say that totally appealed to my son too. I will add however, that I think in general the atmosphere you describe is very much a "boy" atmosphere (something I'm pretty familiar with due to the all-boys HS). Perhaps the preponderance of boys at RPI has resulted in that atmosphere. Whatever, it is great and has been great in HS too.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Driver, check out the
red Mercedes sport convertible
across from Rockerfeller & the
Hummer up the street near the
yellow cross walk in your daily
travels.
[/quote]
Now that's what I call class-envy with specificity!</p>
<p>I will back Driver up on her observations on the student cars parked near Bryn Mawr College - I also drive by there on a daily basis(and will be doing so in a few minutes!). What's more, I see that the predominating style of many of the young women is the opposite of what you might call upscale. Much more of a Greenwich Village-y influence if you ask me. I'm sure there are all types represented there , but if you had to pick a defining culture, elitist and snobby would NOT be it.</p>
<p>I second her observations that the expensive cars belong to the parents of the Shipley and Baldwin kids. Most of the kids' cars I see parked there look like they are on their last miles. Bryn Mawr also rents out some of its facilities for weddings and affairs, as does Baldwin across the street, so that's also why you may see the occasional limo there.</p>
<p>But I will now have fun looking for that red convertible and the Hummer!</p>
<p>style of many of the young women is the opposite of what you might call upscale.</p>
<br>
<p>Heh. Honestly, Bryn Mawr is pretty non-judgmental when it comes to clothing choices -- everything from pajamas to saris is considered appropriate attire -- but I suspect that a woman coming to class with a $1000 handbag and $400 sunglasses would attract a fair amount of scorn (and possibly an earnest lecture about how many Afghan girls could be educated for the same price).</p>
<p>But if most of the minorities at H are there to prep for a life in law, consulting and I-banking you have false diversity. That was my point. the % numbers for those seeking the "life of the mind" are much higher at GCO than at H.</p>
<p>You are still evading the issue. The thread is about kids from affluent backgrounds, not kids who are seeking an even more affluent lifestyle! And that is MY point, and the point of THIS thread.
I have no idea whether there are fewer people seeking "the life of the mind" (ugh, poseur alert) at the so-called prestigious schools! My S's has 4 suitemates, and not a single one of them is headed to I-banking or law or pre-med.
The students attending Oberlin or Carleton or Grinnell, by and large, come from the same socio-economic status as those attending HYPS. And the figures I posted don't lie. If you want diversity, you are better off attending HYPS. Grinnell is generous with aid; I don''t know about Carleton or Oberlin, but I would wager they are not as generous as HYPS.</p>
<p>Not all "wealthy" students are the same... There is a label of rich white elite that connotes spoiled, excessive, spendaholics wearing Abercrombie and charging lunches at the Club.</p>
<p>Though my family is high income, we are humble. We drive cars until they die, we live in a modest, non-renovated home, and our kids (starting at about age 12) all worked for their own money (no allowance). </p>
<p>My D earned all her own spending money for college. Other than books & flights, she spent <$400 over the whole year! (She called me thrilled when she found a down coat for $24.99 at Marshalls!) She is very conscious of the expense of her education, and is grateful that we can provide this for her. </p>
<p>The last thing any of my kids would give off is a vibe of excess or entitlement. </p>
<p>Have they taken cool vacations and had great opportunities? Yes. Have they grown up in an affluent community? Yes. Do they worry about tuition, health care, etc? No. </p>
<p>But are they stereotpyical "rich white elite?" NO.</p>
<p>I make my rich white kids wear sackcloth and ashes--I don't care if all their preppy friends are wearing J Crew. They sleep on straw up in their unheated garrets, and they don't get any pudding if they don't eat their meat.</p>
<p>Driver, LOL! You mean your rich white kids are not vegans?</p>
<p>All this reminds me of a comment made by one of Gandhi's followers, assigned to ensure that his white dhoti was always spotlessly clean. I can't quote from it verbatim, but the gist is:</p>
<p>"It takes a lot of money to keep Gandhi in poverty."</p>