You think the British class system is a bit of a thing from the past, then you start looking into university’s and realise oh here it is, it’s still alive and kicking

[Ohhereiswhereitis]

like it’s just become a bit more hidden

Many graduate schemes nowadays recruit blind so nobody sees where you went to university.

I think I read that Cambridge are changing the way they consider applicants as the markers they used had largely the same privileged kids gaining places (kids at selective state schools/middle class areas like the Cambridge Hills Rd 6th form). Anecdotally everyone we know who is at Oxbridge either has a parent who was there, a parent who is a teacher or their siblings were there. All middle class, educated households, usually comfortably off.

Moving forward I think they’ll be looking at Polar and Acorn data.

For over thirty years, we've had access to a world of endless information through the internet, yet countless people still choose not to research how to get into top universities, pick the best courses, build thriving careers, land great jobs, or pursue meaningful paths that allow them to do what they love while earning a decent income. Instead, they blame the rich and wealthy for their own lack of motivation to secure their futures. The rich and wealthy will do whatever it takes to maintain their status, while the middle class and poor become keyboard warriors instead of focusing on creating comfort in life. I'm not even talking about wealth here, just the simple comfort of living. Some go even further, blaming and cursing their parents, grandparents, and even great-great-grandparents, focusing on how their lives are now instead of making a change.

First thing I was asked at uni: what does your dad do?

Says it all

Yes I do totally agree with that

The terms are short, and there's nothing stopping a student from working outside of term.

You missed a trick there love

My relatives, and many of my friends too, who emigrated from Ireland to the UK made it their business to figure out what it took to get a child into Oxbridge / RG universities, and were accused of having 'sharp elbows' if they revealed their academic focus and how seriously they took their children's education. They had the last laugh when their offspring were admitted to various leading universities.

They always got the impression that they were expected to 'know their place', that encouraging their children, giving them aspirations, and researching the application and interview process in order to guide them when schools did not or could not, was cheeky fuckery.

Why on earth would you think the British class system is a thing of the past? It’s very obviously still alive and kicking.

The only place the class system is dead is on Mumsnet, where everyone has soldly working class roots, is the first member of their family to go to university and has at lest one Oxbridge degree…

Cambridge Uni terms are very short though so everyone works in the holidays. That’s what I did as someone whose parents could not necessarily afford to sub me. I had various jobs in shops, bars and hotels every holiday throughout uni.

TBH it takes a pretty high level of privilege to think that the class system is a thing of the past. Anyone who’s at the sharp end of it is in no doubt whatsoever that it endures.

Agree

The theoretical principle is called Educational Capital and it was coined by Pierre Bordieux.

@smallglassbottle what is stopping him from getting into politics ? I don't really know but a relative worked in Westminster via the civil service and you can also work on teams for people ?
What does he hope to do now ?

The issue is wealth inequality, not class inequality. You have very wealthy WC and poor MC.

But which class is more likely to be wealthy? I thought it dc were more likely to own a home if their parents did or go to private school if one of their parents did?

No, for the millionth time, all the recent social mobility research shows that it is wealth inequality that counts, not class.

Can you link to this? And how is it separating class from wealth?

The only place the class system is dead is on Mumsnet, where everyone has soldly working class roots, is the first member of their family to go to university and has at lest one Oxbridge degree…

Why are posters so keen to deny its existence or say it's irrelevant?

For over thirty years, we've had access to a world of endless information through the internet, yet countless people still choose not to research how to get into top universities, pick the best courses, build thriving careers, land great jobs, or pursue meaningful paths that allow them to do what they love while earning a decent income.
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Instead, they blame the rich and wealthy for their own lack of motivation to secure their futures.
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The rich and wealthy will do whatever it takes to maintain their status, while the middle class and poor become keyboard warriors instead of focusing on creating comfort in life. I'm not even talking about wealth here, just the simple comfort of living.

Agreed. But it’s the easier option to blame external factors rather than take responsibility, so human nature prevails. I see / hear it all the time. That’s not to say we all have equal starting points - of course we don’t.

Not sure it's the class system, rather that children of graduate parents have been raised to see university as a natural progression to a profession. If it's been talked of as an option since they were small, it's no big deal.

I was the first in my family to go to uni, against my f's wishes and he actively tried to stop me. It was a battle but I scraped in.

My ds has planned university since year 7. He knows where he wants to go, the degree he wants to take, the grades he will need and how we will deal with the fees. Sensibly he also has a backup plan.

For over thirty years, we've had access to a world of endless information through the internet

30 years ago, I hadn't even been on the internet...most didn't have access over 30 yrs ago. 😆

pick the best courses, build thriving careers, land great jobs, or pursue meaningful paths that allow them to do what they love while earning a decent income.

but a decent income is often not enough to build wealth these days.

of course the class system is still up and running. I do wonder if the Uni thing will start to change though. Unless it’s very academic or something like dentistry I really can’t see its worth the money any more. I’m seriously considering advising my kids to do an apprenticeship, look at trades etc which will horrify their grandparents.

That’s life.

(😆) Agreed but that was the original quote. It’s at least 20years. The point being - a long time.

@OxfordInkling which college did you go too apparently some have more money