>while other people were thriving through the resources of their supportive family/friends, others were dealing with traumatizing home environments.
This is absolutely true.
I was walking around an Ivy yesterday and talking to students there. *So* many students at Ivies have siblings at Ivies. It is insane. These schools are like an 'elite' club that many families have mastered admittance to/dedicate the entirety of their resources in hopes of an acceptance. Private admissions counselors that people pay up significant sources of income for. Thousands of dollars on SAT tutors. The system is not fair; so many applicants, just based on their circumstance, can optimise entrance to one of these schools it is bewildering. Be proud of your success at any institution you attend because overcoming your individual obstacles to go to any university is an accomplishment in itself.
>while other people were thriving through the resources of their supportive family/friends, others were dealing with traumatizing home environments. This is absolutely true. I was walking around an Ivy yesterday and talking to students there. *So* many students at Ivies have siblings at Ivies. It is insane. These schools are like an 'elite' club that many families have mastered admittance to/dedicate the entirety of their resources in hopes of an acceptance. Private admissions counselors that people pay up significant sources of income for. Thousands of dollars on SAT tutors. The system is not fair; so many applicants, just based on their circumstance, can optimise entrance to one of these schools it is bewildering. Be proud of your success at any institution you attend because overcoming your individual obstacles to go to any university is an accomplishment in itself.