Now that grades have become meaningless, parents need to pay to make their child "well rounded". In 2004ish, when I was applying to professional schools the shift was starting to "character" and "well rounded" students, as marks were perceived to be too influenced by economic status.
In reality, the exact opposite was true. The kids who were stars in debate clubs, youth sports stars, or the arts, simply had parents who'd paid for their children to be in these activities at an elite level. None of the people I knew who became doctors, lawyers, dentists, or even teachers had any kind of elite talent in these fields. And participating in these activities didn't make them any better in their respective professions.
Yes, rich kids have an advantage in academics (tutors, schools, knowing their basic needs are taken care of...etc..) but it's not an insurmountable one like the focus on activities is. Especially in Canada, where there's no legit high school sports program, like the USA. This isn't a system where a talented and poor kid can show up and work his **** off and become a football star. In Canada, it's pay to play at the elite levels. You aren't becoming a star hockey player unless you have very involved and wealthy parents. The public high school sports system in Canada is almost non-existent.
If you want your kids to be successful, you need to pay for them to have elite level coaching at ages 12-16. With the focus off academics and standardized tests, there's no way around that.
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