What it's like to be poor in an Ivy League(or any elite/respectable private college)

[MaterS]

Any advice for students applying for jobs who do not have a drivers license?

[Hanna]

In a place where that matters, or where it doesn’t matter? That’s a non-issue in Manhattan or downtown DC, Chicago, etc.

[OHMomof2]

My social circle is very ses diverse. I guess that’s odd.

[ucbalumnus]

@Sue22

I know most of the people I interact with on a daily basis are similar to me in educational background and income, with some but not much variation up and down the SES scale. A lot of that is a function of living in the suburbs. When I lived in the city my neighbors were much more varied in terms of income, race, and social background.

Is it really a city/suburb thing, or does it have more to do with the age of the neighborhood and its history (housing prices, appeal to various SES groups)? A newly developed neighborhood may be more SES-homogeneous, except for the subsidized lower income housing units when such are included, based on the price range of the housing offered therein. An older neighborhood where housing prices and the nature of the local economy have changed over the decades may be more SES-diverse, but with a correlation to the residents’ age and length of time living there. I.e. an area that was once a middle-income blue-collar neighborhood may now be an upper-income white-collar neighborhood, so it may have older middle-income blue-collar residents mixed with younger upper-income white-collar residents.

[ucbalumnus]

Started a separate discussion on SES-homogeneity/diversity of social circles:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/1768358-ses-homogeneity-diversity-of-social-circles.html

[outlooker]

I’m concerned about this too. I’m applying to Dartmouth this fall. My father only makes $55k, so I’m obviously from a poor background. I know I would get lots of financial aid if admitted, but I don’t how much I would enjoy living like that for four years.

[boolaHI]

@outlooker Hmmn, I get your drift entirely. Almost 30 years ago, I left to college, poor and of color (AA) and my mom, a single parent, handed me five 20s at the airport and told me to make it last…

Another way to look at it, would you prefer being poor at an equally poor school? Sure it will be different, and at some points difficult, but your education is not solely in the classroom. Make the most of it, and embrace it all- you will be just fine.

[outlooker]

@boolaHI I understand. I’m not as poor as you seem to be while leaving for college. We’re a family of 4 and my dad is the only one who works. He makes about 55k, which is poor, but not extreme poverty level. Hopefully I can afford to wear nice clothes and electronics; but I would have pretty much no spare cash after that.

[boolaHI]

I formerly held an academic position at Yale and mentored many young men very similar to you. So, while there will be the occasional pompous dolt, many kids, even those solidly middle class have the same worries…bottom line, regardless, your about to have the best 4 years of your life.

[romanigypsyeyes]

Unless you live in an extremely high cost area, 55k is not poor. In fact, it’s about the median household income in the US. That means about half of all households live on that or less.

Not trying to minimize your experiences, but trying to put them into perspective.

[Hanna]

“I don’t how much I would enjoy living like that for four years.”

There’s something to be said for a school in the woods like Dartmouth where people don’t do a lot of dining out, clubbing, Broadway shows, etc. I’m sure people manage to achieve conspicuous consumption through their cars, ski equipment, whatever, but not like they do at schools in NY/Boston/DC.

[ucbalumnus]

@outlooker

I’m not as poor as you seem to be while leaving for college. We’re a family of 4 and my dad is the only one who works. He makes about 55k, which is poor, but not extreme poverty level. Hopefully I can afford to wear nice clothes and electronics; but I would have pretty much no spare cash after that.

That level of income is about the median household income in the US.

However, at some of the best known private colleges, about half of the students do not get financial aid, which often means household income over $200,000. Just use your money wisely and spend it only on what is of value to you, rather than spending for status symbols to impress others.

[ucbalumnus]

@outlooker

I’m not as poor as you seem to be while leaving for college. We’re a family of 4 and my dad is the only one who works. He makes about 55k, which is poor, but not extreme poverty level. Hopefully I can afford to wear nice clothes and electronics; but I would have pretty much no spare cash after that.

That level of income is about the median household income in the US.

However, at some of the best known private colleges, about half of the students do not get financial aid, which often means household income over $200,000. Just use your money wisely and spend it only on what is of value to you, rather than spending for status symbols to impress others.

[1or2Musicians]

I think an urban area would be harder for sure. I was a working class kid-not at an Ivy but at a LAC that had similar demographics. I think it definitely helped that it was a small town and almost everyone stayed on campus most of the time.

Best of luck to you.