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<p>Of course not. No one has ever said it’s absolutely necessary. It’s a luxury good. Some of us like, and are willing to spend our money, on luxury goods when it comes to education. I, myself, couldn’t really care less if, for example, I’d get a better return on my investment by sending my kids to our state flagship compared to their private schools. OTOH, if finances were such that the state flagship was all we could afford - well, then that’s what would have to be.</p>
<p>For kids who came from upper middle class, it is not as important to have the pedigree of good education because more often than not they have parents (friends and relatives) to have them land that first job. For kids who came from lower class, with a great education would be their only calling card for that good first job. My siblings and I got our first jobs because of our education. With our kids now, we know enough people to help them to get the first internship or job.</p>
<p>Not all people of any class have that mentality.^^^My kids got their own jobs, with no help from me or their father. And, they aren’t poodles.:)</p>
<p>my kid didn’t have any help from us either, but we could have helped if needed. Even if she had gone to a lower tier school, I could have gotten her resume in front of the right people. It wasn’t the case for me and my siblings.</p>
<p>Parent1986 - so you wouldn’t help your child if you were in the position to help?</p>
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<p>Nor did I say that anyone had ever said that it’s absolutely necessary - although I can recall a lot of conversations in these parts that if they never said this, came pretty darn close.</p>
<p>Kleibo, I think it is more complex than most people think, and can’t be reduced to connections from a school or parent.</p>
<p>What’s “necessary” and what “I want for my children if possible” are 2 different things. It’s not necessary to go to a private elite (or high-end state flagship) to have a good career / education - but it helps. Likewise, it’s not necessary to go to a high-end public magnet or private hs school to have a good education - but it helps.</p>