<p>The rich want to believe that life is a meritocracy, but in reality there is a lot of self-justification there. The poor, who have had less opportunity, should definitely be given a leg up. The fact that they have accomplished what they have in light of their backgrounds is a testament to their potential. </p>
<p>My friend is 17, living with just herself and her 21 yr old sister. Her parents are poor missionaries in Azerbaijan who do not speak English and have no means of supporting them. She and her sister are entirely self-subsisting. When all others on the drill team were getting their parents to pay for $3000+ flights to the national competition, she had to put in extra hours and get a second job to be able to afford the tickets. And in spite of all this, she manages OK grades. However, she is one of the very hardest-working people I know, and her life is a constant struggle. Despite the fact that her stats are not nearly as great numerically as an applicant like myself, they are impressive when taken into the proper socioeconomic context.</p>
<p>Let’s not delude ourselves by thinking that everything is a meritocracy. That’s only what rich people say when they don’t want to confront the reality that there are many who do not have the same opportunities as them. </p>
<p>And for the record, I come from an upper-middle class background.</p>