<p>Haha I have spent much time trying to repress my barbaric table manners (a holdover from the generations my ancestors spent in the slums of Warsaw, for sure) in front of fourth-generation Harvardians who more or less came off the Mayflower studded with diamonds and pearls.</p>
<p>I don't necessarily dislike this sort of high society-- in fact, these are the kinds of families that make it possible for middle-class students to attend Harvard, anyway, so if anything, I am appreciative-- but I do feel uncomfortable in it and around it.</p>
<p>unalove, it's why I didn't apply to Harvard. But I have the perception that Yale is a bit more quirky and less snotty - not sure why, or whether it's accurate at all. But the fact they admitted someone like me and that their faculty is, for the most part, very very progressive gives me hope that things are changing. Being a yacht club for the rich won't serve elite schools any good as an image for much longer, I think.</p>
<p>Half of the people I know at Harvard are pompous rich kids. The other half are as low-key as could be. Given that I come from an area where pompous rich kids are as plentiful as earthworms after a storm, I would be comfortable in saying that one will find a lot of great people at Harvard who either don't have money or don't flaunt it. (Yale, too-- not even my Harvard/Yale friends can make distinctions between the two schools, other than the one they don't go to stinks).</p>
<p>Pomposity aside, Chicago is a much better school for me than Harvard or Yale. Though I did consider both Harvard and Yale and would probably be happy at either had I went, I never applied.</p>
<p>I do think it is natural to want to be in an environment where we feel like we belong. </p>
<p>I go to a high school in a nice area but I have yet to see a Prada purse or Gucci shoes outside of stores or cultural events in town.</p>
<p>I definitely would never spend thousands on a Prada purse, and I have definitely puzzled about some of the stereotypes I have read on these boards. </p>
<p>Nevertheless, I am not angry that others might have that desire to dress with an eye for high fashion. </p>
<p>I trust whereever I choose will have enough people so that I will find an enclave of associates. I certainly won't shun the girl in her Gucci loafers or the guy in his polo even though I don't dress that way.</p>
<p>It's not so much about flaunting of the material stuff as the general culture of privilege many of these kids come from. It can be a very very grating difference when someone doesn't fully realize how much of a disconnect there is between their experiences and yours.</p>
<ul>
<li>I hate it when people generalize, especially about the character and social attitude of an entire school, based on a few pieces of anecdotal information, </li>
</ul>
<p>and yet,</p>
<ul>
<li>I know quite a few wealthy, smug pricks going to the Ivies and very few at UChicago.<br></li>
</ul>
<p>Maybe it's because we know that if we're showing off expensive stuff on the south side we'll get our asses jacked.</p>
<p>unalove, I don't feel real comfortable either. My family is just real normal and middle of the road. My son has a friend whose parents are very wealthy ... at least three homes worth several million and an airplane type wealthy. The mom and I were talking one day, and she told me (while looking down her nose) how happy she was that her son and my son were friends, because she wanted her son to have friends from every economic strata. I'm pretty sure that I haven't spoken to that stupid, stupid woman since that day. I guess while I'm on this rant, I'll say that it really bugs me when children act like their parents' money is theirs.</p>
<p>It's only because I love your posts that I mention this--</p>
<p>in the interest of accuracy, no one came off the Mayflower studded with diamonds and pearls. The Plymouth Colony was the poor one. Massachusetts Bay was richer, but even they didn't flaunt their riches.</p>
<p>Seriously, I have been SO IMPRESSED by all your posts. Thanks for your insights.</p>
<p>Hahahaha, thanks for the info, but my mistake was intentional. I thought it would read something like, "Even though the entire Mayflower colony was working-class and rather poor, these people found a way to come off of the boat with diamonds and pearls."</p>
<p>And I must admit that I think that my own feelings towards the wealthy are to my own loss. I do, to be fair, know a lot of wealthy people who don't seem to even acknowledge their wealth, these people did what they loved with their life, and incidentally generated enormous amounts of wealth for themselves. And then I also know wealthy people who decide to call me in the middle of the night to announce to me that they are in the possession of an iPhone. egh.</p>
<p>I guess what also should be considered is the "rich kid personality" besides the actual wealth. It is possible to act like a rich kid in attitude without being one financially.</p>