[andrewchoi]

Speaking as a lower-income student who went to an Ivy League university, appearing more similar to those in power is an entirely different thing than becoming an "arse-licking sycophant".

I'd argue that going to a so-called "elite" institution is more akin to learning a language by immersion.

[ionforce]

There was a whole article about this recently... I forget where, probably the NY Times. Have you read it? Quite illuminating for me. Didn't even realize there was this whole issue/culture about being low-income + Ivy.

[andrewchoi]

I have; it was a very solid portrait of one portion of the low-income/high-achieving cohort.

What most of these articles fail to mention is that there are three aspects to the traditional socioeconomic diversity narrative: low income, race/ethnicity, and familial educational achievement. As an Asian American whose parents both had PhDs, I've been in the unique position of having only one of the three factors affecting me.

[leoc]

The height of this was probably reached in Britain, where minor details of language and behaviour https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U_and_non-U_English http://www.helsinki.fi/jarj/ufy/24991_s113_150Ross.pdf were an infallible giveaway as to who had or had not been to public school.

[ak39]

"appearing more similar to those in power" ...

So you must possess the talent of Tom Ripley?

[andrewchoi]

I don't think that's true; it's really more about learning the lingua franca of a different world. Style, hobbies, etc. I didn't know what "rowing crew" was until I got to college, and to be honest, I still have no idea how lacrosse is played.

[walshemj]

Lacrosse / Field Hockey is for those who cant handle playing Rugger.

I recall one of my first Bosses who went to the same public school as one of Pres Obamas roommates at Harvard said the school sports are Rugger, Rowing and Drinking Beer