Actually, no that's not how it works, unless we have different definitions of getting ahead. Sure it might work that way for some, but not most. I had a single parent who has about as much connections as Randal the Vandal. I graduated with full loan debt. I do wonderful at the moment and have supported many a friend through their hard times. I know plenty of people who have done well from nothing, and have done poorly in life after having a 'silver spoon'. It's more a product of (a) your value system instilled by your parents and (b) who you are lucky / unlucky enough to hang out with as friends. And that is how it works in reality, an even more basic idea.