<p>^^^^^Agreed, but it is oh so easy to fantasize about what it takes to succeed in any of a number of “glamorous” and well-paid jobs that one personally has not had any experience in pursuing.</p>
<p>What seems to happen in real life, though, is that the disgruntled physician knows what it takes to become a doctor (get good grades, do the appropriate EC’s, do well on the MCAT’s) but is not exactly clear about what it takes to succeed in other well-paid professions except perhaps to “market the child to get into the right school” (and not clear about which schools could be the “right school”) and tell the child to try to get good grades and “make connections”. </p>
<p>Actually, most students from our suburb (where even the most successful families in “secure” professions seem to be rapidly falling away from the top 1%) seem to be entering career tracks where one or both parents already “knows the ropes” from either a vocation or avocation and can give some guidance (even if the initial guidance is “don’t do this.”) Only a minority find internships through their school’s career office these days - most seem to depend upon parental connections. (Yes, I like to ask about this.) Hmmmmm…</p>