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Could you show me the state of New England on a map? LOL, just having some fun with you. Obviously we all knew what you meant.</p>
<p>While I have no doubt that there is a handful of students from wealth at Ole Miss or at almost any other flagship, the concentration of such students at Harvard, for example, is significantly greaterā¦actually, itās greater by leaps and bounds. The list of famous last names in my Sās class at Harvard is remarkableā¦not only those with tremendous wealth, but the offspring of national and global movers and shakers. Perhaps some parents like the notion of their offspring rubbing elbows with this subset of students?</p>
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<p>Funny! So where is your proof that your assertion is a trend? (careful, donāt throw out anecdotal āevidenceā or a story about a friend of someone you know).</p>
<p>And since you are lumping all immigrants together, what percentage of immigrants are you referring to? And does this apply to Canadian Immigrants? Mexican Immigrants? Bolivian Immigrants? French Immigrants? What exactly are you saying?</p>
<p>I donāt understand the logic of many CC posts.</p>
<p>Fact that is discussed: Successful families, that care about their kids, often want their kids go to top colleges.
Surprising discussion: This folks are ridiculous, because it is obvious that top colleges are not for everyone. </p>
<p>If successful, smart, and caring parents want their kids to succeed in best schools ā¦ I want to follow their example. Iād like to follow in the footsteps of smart and successful families. </p>
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<p>High tech entrepreneursā¦especially the hardcore techies donāt tend to flock to most of the Ivies. In fact, that idea would be laughable to most of the hardcore engineering/CS set Iāve worked with professionally. </p>
<p>Itās more schools like MIT, Caltech, Stanford, CMU, Berkeley at the very tippytop with a wider variety of local and other public and private colleges with strong engineering/CS/tech programs all over the nation. </p>
<p>Many immigrant parents believe that hard work, talent, and merit are valued in life.</p>
<p>Many immigrant parents (mistakenly) believe that hard work, talent, and merit are valued in school admission in best schools. Thus, they (mistakenly) assume that best kids are going to the best schools. It takes time to understand that American education system is different. </p>
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<p>TouchĆ©! Despite the possible claim that I meant āI am not sure if that is the case in states forming New England and the rest of the North Eastā I think that is best to show the map we use in our part of them United Estates: </p>
<p><a href=āhttp://www.zombietime.com/zomblog/wp-content/images2009/IMG_3882.JPGā>http://www.zombietime.com/zomblog/wp-content/images2009/IMG_3882.JPG</a></p>
<p>It lacks the granularity to show New England. Hence ā¦ </p>
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<p>Cobrat, arenāt you confusing high tech entrepreneurs and hard core techies who can handle a soldering iron and love to code ad nauseam. I believe that the world of high tech is less restrictive and that plenty of people who did not come from a narrow āhard coreā CS program are driving the business.</p>
<p>And, fwiw, I did not write about the ā¦ Ivies! I responded to a line that included "to Ivies or similar elite colleges. 
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<p>"While I have no doubt that there is a handful of students from wealth at Ole Miss or at almost any other flagship, the concentration of such students at Harvard, for example, is significantly greaterā¦actually, itās greater by leaps and bounds. The list of famous last names in my Sās class at Harvard is remarkableā¦not only those with tremendous wealth, but the offspring of national and global movers and shakers. "</p>
<p>You said <em>famous.</em> I think thatās the difference weāre talking about. Thereās plenty of wealth where the last name doesnāt signify who the person is (in the way that Rockefeller, Kennedy, Bush, etc. does). Think of all the names on buildings and the names of medical / law / business schools ā it took some serious money to rename, for example, Northwesternās medical school to Feinberg School of Medicine, but you or I wouldnāt hear the name Feinberg and think āOh! What wealth and power!ā the way we would if we heard about Rockefellers, Kennedys, Bushes, or names of prominent political families. Of course, every university has its equivalent parallel.</p>
<p>So I would just be careful in assuming the set of āfamousā and āwealthyā are the same thing. </p>
<p>"Many immigrant parents (mistakenly) believe that hard work, talent, and merit are valued in school admission in best schools. Thus, they (mistakenly) assume that best kids are going to the best schools. It takes time to understand that American education system is different. "</p>
<p>The great thing about America, then, is if one doesnāt believe Harvard, Yale, etc. admit the ābestā students, one can feel free to not apply or not have oneās kid apply. Even better, if the ābestā kids are winding up elsewhere, you can figure out where that elsewhere is and have your kid apply there. But funnily enough, no one ever seems to do that. Why is that?</p>
<p>Whatās wrong with parentās wish that your child will be āassociated with wealthā and, more importantly, associated with smart, intelligent people? </p>
<p>BTW, Ivyies wonāt accept many techies, they are looking for future leaders, not the smarties. </p>
<p>" I am sure you have missed most discussions about how to become a Wall Street IBer or a wealthy high tech entrepreneur."</p>
<p>Networks? Old money? Friends-of-your-fatherās-friends? Unfortunately, non of this is available to my daughters. Education (hopefully) is the only think that is available to them. </p>
<p>āMany immigrant parents (mistakenly) believe that hard work, talent, and merit are valued in school admission in best schools. Thus, they (mistakenly) assume that best kids are going to the best schools. It takes time to understand that American education system is different.ā</p>
<p>They also (mistakenly) assume that there is a handful of schools that are elevated above all, and that oneās prospects in life are horribly diminished once you get beyond the top 10 or so. Certainly you wouldnāt think like that, californiaa - right? </p>
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<p>Oh good, more hyperbole.
LOL.</p>
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<p>Iām not. In many technology, engineering, or computer related firms with a hardcore techie culture, itās the hardcore techies who are the ones founding these firms, in controlling senior positions, and in positions viable for advancement to the top of the firm hierarchyā¦not sales or marketing as would be the case in many other firms. </p>
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<p>I think thereās a difference across immigrant groups thatās based on economic status/education of the particular immigrant group. I can tell you that my relatives (parents/aunts/uncles) all Eastern European immigrants who were not college graduates but worked hard to put themselves into the middle class didnāt really have a clue about the differences among colleges.</p>
<p>Sure, they knew that Harvard was goodābut to themāHarvard was for rich people and they werenāt in that category. They were clueless about merit aid or scholarships/etc. To them ācollege was collegeā and it was just important that their kids got a college degree. My father loved to say that getting a degree was important because it meant āyou didnāt have to work with your hands.ā Given that perspectiveāthe state flagship or the state directional Us were the same as a private college. </p>
<p>PG - Iāll modify my comment a bitā¦assumed too much what some people consider famous. Well known in particular fieldsā¦not famous in a Kardashian sort of way. Very well connected and able to spread it around. I hear you that so and soās grandpa started an investment firm in Dubuque which supported the family for generationsā¦everyone goes to the University of Iowa. Thatās great for them, but that sort of largesse is limited and is held closely in the family. I do think many parents hope that their kids will rub elbows with the offspring of the ruling class and this is a very significant motivatorā¦it may not end up making much difference if the kid doesnāt have the social skills to do it, but Iāve talked with enough of these kids to understand that other than the excellent education, this is the other major motivator hereā¦and that very much comes from the parents. </p>
<p>Reading your posts over the years, you obviously want to convey that the quality of education at the top twenty or schools is equivalentā¦and it is. I agree completely! The reason for the obsession with HYP et al is not because of the education, itās because of the connectionsā¦or the perception that those connections will open doors. For many students, this wonāt make much differenceā¦but for a few it will, and thatās the motivator.</p>
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<p>This characterization is diametrically opposed to the impression I have in my community, from perusing CC, and from familiarity with other media outlets.</p>
<p>The impression I have is that people in many socio-economic groups believe a varying set of elite schools would provide ābetter starting field positionā in life for their kids, and they would therefore prefer that their kids have an opportunity to attend these schools. </p>
<p>I give immigrants and others credit for realizing that good field position can be negated by a fumble or an interception and that poorer field position can result in a long drive for a score or a Hail Mary.</p>
<p>Guess we just have different impressions of immigrants and other regular folks. </p>
<p>Hope some realize weāre discussing maybe three separate things in the same terms.</p>
<p>And, that there are varying levels of experience on this thread- some waiting for their kids to apply- and too much assuming. </p>
<p>BTW, Ivyies wonāt accept many techies, they are looking for future leaders, not the smarties. Well, nothing like another generalization. A little research can go a long way. </p>
<p>Nothing wrong with rubbing shoulders with the wealthy or looking for an empowering intellectual climate. A lot wrong with trying to collect status symbols. And thinking just being near some rich folks spreads their fairy dust on you. That just doesnāt sound smart. Whatcha gonna do if the kidās roommate is on finaid? </p>
<p>If you hang out on the sports recruiting sites, you can see the same process happening for kids who have been groomed for a D1 scholarship since they were in pee-wee ball. Iāll never forget the mom who demanded the coach of Sās AAU basketball team take her son on his team because āheās the real-deal, D1 caliber.ā The kid was 9 years-old, tall for his age, and had a problem not hitting his foot when he dribbled. He never made the high school varsity team. Pushiness is not limited to academic uber-parents. It comes in all shapes and forms. </p>