Good grades are no longer good enough to get you in a good college. Now, you need AP classes and extracurricular activities as well, or else you get waitlisted for a second rate school. (one problem with modern society)
Second, to afford a good college, either the kid works all through school, or the parents have enough saved up to pay for school (another fundamental problem)
But in today's ultra competitive professional workplace, anything less than a graduate degree from a really good school will cause you to fall short of achieving that high income, suburban (or downtown high income area) lifestyle.
Anyone see a vicious circle here? I moved to North Oakland/Berkeley California a few years ago and I have to say, Im no hippie type, but living here I am seeing that they may have something there, makes some sense to say no to that crazy busy high achieving lifestyle.