I’m working class and went to Edinburgh Uni. When I got there, I was instantly aware that some of my peers were from extremely privileged backgrounds - but I never entertained the idea of feeling inferior. If someone judged me for going to state school or for my accent, that would be their issue, not mine. My mentality was: can I compete with these students on an academic level despite their obvious advantages? When it became apparent that I could, that gave me belief and strength.
This guidance from Edinburgh Uni about “not being a snob” towards working class students is patronising and pathetic. It makes working class students look weak and inferior, and is just another example of identity politics - something that Edinburgh Uni seems to be rife with these days.
As for the working class students who are crying about being judged, my advice to them is this is this: stop being a victim and get to work. You can choose to feel judged and victimised, or you can ace your studies and then go out into the world and achieve something. Which you can be proud of, knowing that you didn’t have the starting advantages others did.
I’m working class and went to Edinburgh Uni. When I got there, I was instantly aware that some of my peers were from extremely privileged backgrounds - but I never entertained the idea of feeling inferior. If someone judged me for going to state school or for my accent, that would be their issue, not mine. My mentality was: can I compete with these students on an academic level despite their obvious advantages? When it became apparent that I could, that gave me belief and strength.
This guidance from Edinburgh Uni about “not being a snob” towards working class students is patronising and pathetic. It makes working class students look weak and inferior, and is just another example of identity politics - something that Edinburgh Uni seems to be rife with these days.
As for the working class students who are crying about being judged, my advice to them is this is this: stop being a victim and get to work. You can choose to feel judged and victimised, or you can ace your studies and then go out into the world and achieve something. Which you can be proud of, knowing that you didn’t have the starting advantages others did.