Replies

These are exactly the type who grow up and are terrified of middle managers. While there are many exceptions, I know many Regis and Stuy graduates (the best of the best), and most tend to not be overachievers at all. Law and Medical professions are very overrepresented, and many (many) are scared of making waves or getting in trouble at work. Middle managers and administrative types do threaten their status quo: I worked at two major nyc law firms (again with many of the best and brightest) and the culture within them was astonishing: everybody so afraid of screwing up that nobody wants to do anything even remotely risky. These people tend to be fearful of HR people, i have to tell you.

Many are unhappy - in unhappy marriages and unhappy jobs but can't get out. It's sad, but it's really just the culmination of their life choices. Of course this isn't everyone - there are exceptions but the point is, attend as reunion and it's not the best & the brightest of the adult world, it is just the best & brightest 13 year olds all grown up.

Doing well in school does not necessarily mean the people have the skillset to excel in the career world. While many do develop that skillset, and most aren't particularly hurting, they aren't the worldbeaters that most figured they would be in their teens.

The people who do best in school don't necessarily do the best in life. That much was obvious to me in my young teens, though many, many people (especially those that talk highly about the values of meritocracy) can't deal with.

No, just doing well in school won't guarantee a wonderful life, but I think kids who graduate from schools like Stuyvesant and MIT have a significantly better chance of growing up to not be terrified of middle managers, than kids who graduate from average public schools and average state or private colleges. The wild extracurricular life of this particular clique is unlikely to neutralize that difference, especially since it likely to be limited significantly during college by a huge workload that the kids are serious about keeping up with.