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Comment by grardb | Hacker News Reader

As a Rutgers alumnus who was involved in the scene when college hackathons started really taking off (2009-2013, attended 40+ hackathons), I can say that this anecdote doesn't reflect my experience at all. Had you attended HackRU instead of HackPrinceton, I can guarantee you that the app ideas would be pretty much indistinguishable from those at other universities.

As for thinking differently, I can't speak much to that, but I've met quite a number of rich people with average and below-average thinking capabilities.

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To clarify, I'm not talking about IQ. There's no connection between IQ and (financial) success. It's how and what they use what they have.

There's a difference been thinking about and having lunch with Aunt X and Uncke Y the successful biz owners and the new Marvel movie and associated video game.

There's a difference between being smart about your body (read: food and exercise) and indulgening in anything advertised on TV. Spend a day in Princeton, there is a noticeable lack of excess weight and obesity.

Why? Because they think (and act) different.

Rich people usually control their weight better because they have more money to have better food and perhaps personal cooks/access to better restaurants with better food. They act differently because they are rich. Not because of any sort of bullshit mEnTaLiTy concept.

It's chicken egg thing.

Or at they rich because they act differently?

Come on, if you had the money it's 10x easier to "let yourself go", right? Yet how often does that happen?

Your thoughts drive your decisions and actions. That's not bullshit. That's life. Suck it up cupcake :)

It's my comment above yours.

I went to RU as well so I know what that edu and campus experience is like. I grew up in central NJ so I am familiar with Princeton. I went to public school. I had friends who went to private schools (e.g., Hun).

There IS a differnce, and it ain't just income.

You're absolutely right. It's a small sample size. Nonetheless the contrast was stark and obvious. Network, environment and role models all matter. They are things a lack of money can't buy.

If you’re open to fielding some questions about the area (and its academics), can you drop me a line at gmail using my username?

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