Why are so many Mumsnetters like this and how representative are they of parents in general?

[Ilvergate]

Why are many of the posters on here so well -informed and pushy about the educational system for the benefit of their kids? (Not necessarily a bad thing).

Ie they seem to know so much about Oxbridge from admissions details like what to prioritise and how to perform at interview; private vs grammar schools etc details; knowing about the best tutors for their kids; being well-informed about A-level choice and GCSE choice etc.

It’s almost like they went to Oxbridge themselves or work there!

I must admit I have grown to resent my parents because of this. Neither of them went to university; neither knew anything about A-levels/GCSEs in terms of being able to give me advice about which to choose or which university to apply for; neither could give any Oxbridgey advice to me; I went to a state school even though there was a local grammar school that was well-performing that I perhaps could have gained a place at but my parents were clueless about the 11+ etc.

Obviously they want/wanted the best for me but it has been more a case of me having to specifically ask them to get a private tutor if I needed one rather than them actively seeking one; or, if at the time of the 11+ I had been aware of it, it would have been a case of me telling them about it and asking them to help me acquire the tools to prepare for it rather than them guiding me.

I’m just wondering are the posters on here representative of the majority of parents in the country or are they just special? Were their parents the same for them or are they being different for the sake of their children?

These days it is so much easier to research these things, and to come to sites this like this and get up to date, even if you don't have that type of experience yourself. But even then, you need to know what you don't know in order to ask, and lots of parents don't. That doesn't make them bad, stupid or uncaring.

"But you need to know what you don't know, in order to ask"

Exactly. Thankyou @AgeingDoc for explaining that to those who think all families / parents are like themselves.

I think there's at least as many people here obsessed by knocking Oxbridge with lazy stereotypes as people obsessed with getting their dc into Oxbridge.