My peers who were in the arms race were, as far as I knew, doing what they said they were doing, and suffering the consequences

Yes. I was already in higher ed at the time, and this is exactly what I'd have said, too-- that in the mid-90's, most of the kids who were being pressured/groomed were REALLY doing what was on their resumes.

Now, though? Not always. It's been an escalation that I watched with dawning horror while I was in the classroom and laboratory, and one that I've continued to witness living in a university town-- some parents have jumped the shark to such an extent that they really-- and I mean, really-- don't care about the means anymore as long as the outcome is as planned.

Before, they were willing to sacrifice their own kids, but not their principles or anyone else's kids. Now? All bets are off for some of them.


Schrödinger's cat walks into a bar. And doesn't.