But that was the point. The extracurricular race was a result of the Chinese thing. Or the fact that 2 of the most known musicians, Lang Lang and Yo Yo are both Chinese?
When you look at the NY Philharmonic, the violin players under 35 are all asian ethnicity.
A friend who went to China for a couple of years, was asked by middle income families to help them choose instruments, since she went to Julliard. They were all willing to spend money on good equipment because their kids had to practice and be really good. No just taking some piano lessons like I did.
Americans don't push like that in the same way. I think it is a minority. They are competitive in team sports in middle America but that is about getting to Ohio State to play football. I never met anyone west of the Hudson who was obsessed with extra curriculars to get into Ivys. Not that they don't exist but not pervasive like China. There was an article posted here long ago that talked about the preschool day in China for 10 million preschoolers. It was more jam packed than a typical day for a high school kid in America, with music and language classes and sport activities.
Someone I know just got a job with McKinsey. Entry level associate with an MBA. Top school MBA. 135000 salary with 35000 signing bonus. Plus bonus plus mercedes. Now being a strategist with McKinsey is not everyone's cup of tea, but you could pay your mortgage with that. Her resume was quite awesome, but the rest of her new associates were pretty much the same. There are some really outstanding people out there.
Hence the income gap which continues to widen. The amazing people on one side and the average on the other. Hence, why would anyone want to be on the average side with bills to worry over?
