<p>^^ All that makes sense except the fact that for the most part the majority of full pay kids are not in the second quintile anymore, they are in the highest.</p>
<p>The socioeconomic diversity that some schools talk about is mainly on paper. The majority of full pay students come from a very rarified level, economically speaking. This is not the 1%, its the .01%. In a city like NY, or a suburb like Greenwich, etc, an income of 250K does not make you affluent. With that income, you can not pay for private school, day or boarding. </p>
<p>The fact is that in the ‘70’s and through the 80’s schools were socioeconomically not as diverse, but kids had parents that had very diverse professions. There were lawyers, bankers, doctors, restaurant owners, journalists, etc. They were all full pay because those salaries were fairly equal and schools were affordable that way. The FA kids were primarily kids of immigrant parents and/or racial diversity. Nowadays many of those professions cant afford private schools. Primarily because of the gap between salaries of certain professions and the rest. Schools are able to fill their seats with bankers’ kids only.<br>
In terms of lipservice of kids should learn among kids of different backgrounds etc – look at composition of the boards and look at the composition of parents associations. At parent events, look at where the majority of full pay parents sit, the parties they hold and where they take the kids. Yes there will always be individual stories of kids being invited on fabulous vacations and integrating with the entire student body. However for the most part there is a separation and its not going away.
In terms of the original post - do not feel guilty taking a scholarship. If your kid wants to go to a BS and has something to offer that BS, you should be proud to have such a chance. That is if you truly need it, and not if this is a case of “my second home will need a mortgage”.</p>