<p>Quote:</p>
<h1>But the fact that they’re walking around with their regalia is what often bothers the “have-nots.”</h1>
<h1>So, what’s the solution? That the have-nots should not go to pricey privates populated by the affluent? They should stick to community college or state colleges? </h1>
<p>No. There’s much less of an issue at pricey privates that meet need. Those schools will probably have more low income and middle income kids. </p>
<p>My concern has been with attending pricey privates that don’t meet need because those schools will often have a large number of very affluent kids…otherwise who is paying the tuition/gaps? (I mentioned a certain private that I would never suggest to a low income kid.) Yes, those schools meet need for some (how hard is it to “meet need” to someone with a $45k EFC…throw him a student loan. The same with the few high stats students who’ve been awarded a large merit scholarship). Those “average need met” stats are bogus because they only include those who enroll. They don’t include those who were accepted and were given huge gaps. So, that suggests that most of those who enrolled had the means to pay. </p>
<p>No one is saying that the poor should just go to CCs and state schools. And no one is saying that there’s a way for a low income kid to completely avoid feeling what he may feel. A lot of the discussion has simply been about whether such feelings exist and why they exist. Some seem to think that the feelings don’t exist. </p>
<p>And, frankly, since many/most flagships don’t meet need, those schools can also become bastians of well-heeled students. Most lowish income kids don’t get enough FA to attend.</p>
<p>My point about affluent kids today having many more ways/opportunities to show wealth is true (and I’m not talking about these kids being rude or anything like that.) That doesn’t mean that years ago there weren’t any ways to show wealth. Sure, many of us may have been a little green when a richer friend showed up with a nicer car or went on a fab summer vacation. But, there wasn’t this constant show of pricey stuff that’s out there now. Few had mani/pedis when I was in high school or college (don’t know anyone who did this), no one had designer purses, etc. Yes, some had nicer cars and maybe an item or toy or two that was expensive, but it was NOTHING like today with phones, laptops, iPads, mani/pedis, spray tans, highlighted hair, designer clothes, purses, shoes, boots, and jewelry.</p>