“I’d rather be a dirt poor kid at Harvard or Yale than at Indiana U or UTexas-Austin because I think how much money you have matters more when more money can get you better housing or access to frats and sororities”
Well said. It’s not a picnic either way, but this is an easy call for me. It makes a world of difference that everyone lives on campus, the rooms all cost the same, and everyone has to have a 19-meal dining plan.
I did know/know of two rich people who had dorm rooms AND rented apartments near campus to have an extra private space. One was Natalie Portman. The vast majority of kids who could afford to do this did not do it; it wasn’t the culture.
“I wonder if people socialize outside of their income levels.”
Hardly anyone in America socializes outside of their social class. People who have moved classes and whose families didn’t are practically the only ones. People are friendly across classes, but when you look at who they invite to their parties…it’s very rare.