<p>I would think that academic 1%ers are most often oldest or only children. Economics aside, these are the kids who benefit from the most contact with their parents. I think that is a more likely factor in success. Someone on this thread said academic 1%ers were the children of economic 1%ers and quite honestly I am sick of the whole 99% obsession, but aren’t those the kids who are raised by ESL nannies? So many parents read outliers and have held their kids back a year or two or three to give them some sort of advantage in school in sports or whatever. So is ninth grade easier when you are 17 instead of 14? nyway I am going off topic. Only or oldest children, I think, is the answer.</p>