The youngest sibling has it worst.

[Cheetah]

Link to a an article about this research, but it's in Norwegian.

The research report in English (pdf)

To sum up, there seems to be a correlation between which number you are. The firstborn usually does it good, while the next children does it worse and worse, including lower education level, lower payment in a possible job, higher chance of not having a full-time job, increased probability of becoming a teenage-mother, etc.

The reasons for these things are still unknown though...

 

[Gainy]

My parents are both the youngest of 4, and they pretty much beat the pants off of their siblings with regards to salary

But thanks for the confidence boost! (i'm also the youngest)

 

[Cheetah]

I'm the oldest.

Don't worry, statistics are only statistics, not rules.

 

[Chieftess]

Well, I know my little sister copies everything I do... (and borrows my stuff). Then again, there's also an 11-year gap in age. She's in G&T (like advanced placement) classes, I was in Honors classes.

 

[Tank_Guy#3]

My opinion might be a little buyest (being that I'm the oldest), but I actually see my parents dropping more cash on my younger sister (family of 2 kids)than on me. I am getting no help with college while my sister is getting partial help.

 

[Fetus4188]

I'm youngest and have so far surpassed my sister in academics.

 

[Narz]

Hmmm, I wonder if there are suicide statistics for this. My friend recenting "went home", he was the 2nd born out of four and his family definitely treated his younger brother and sister with preference. I think it completely depends on how the parents treat the various siblings.

 

[Yom]

I'm the oldest, and I seem to match the statistics.

 

[Fetus4188]

I'm sure narz would like a line graph related to this data.

 

[Lozzy_Ozzy]

My litlle sister is a nuisance and has never learned her manners, she's spoilt and cannot even make a sandwiche at the age of 9! Me and my 4 older siblings were treated fairly harshly and were very self-dependant as my parents were on low wages, but now my mum has a well paid job my little sis is let off the hook . She's also starting to become less academically advanced and me and my older siblings were all quite clever in comparison...

 

[AceChilla]

Maybe it's because the older siblings are being held on a tighter lish (sp) by their parents. I'm the oldest and I had to fight to get permission to go out at 16, now my brother goes out since he was 14. I only had fireworks when I was certain age (don't know which) but my brother got it youngher.

Younger siblings are being raised less strictly so they that why they all mess up the rest of their lives.

That may be a little simplistic and exagerating, but you get the idea.

 

[Cheetah]

Well, I know my little sister copies everything I do... (and borrows my stuff). Then again, there's also an 11-year gap in age. She's in G&T (like advanced placement) classes, I was in Honors classes.

What is the system of classes in the US?

I am getting no help with college while my sister is getting partial help.

You know, that might be because College is a lot harder than the school you're sister is at. Or are you both in College?

 

[Bluemofia]

Funny this came up.

I am the oldest, my parents "say" they favor the one who gets better grades.

I get the best grades, and I am not picky of my food, overly want anything, etc.

My younger brother, bad grades, picky, overly wants stuff. And he seems to be my parent's favorite, even though it goes against their principals.

For my immediet family, It seems like they get dumber and dumber after the 1st born.

 

[Yom]

What is the system of classes in the US?

This doesn't exist for every class, but generally there's a regular, and advanced, and an AP version of some of the classes you take in 11th and 12th grade. Sometimes, there's just regular, advanced, and Honors, but AP (advanced placement) is more advanced than Honors, because you're effectively taking a university/college class (you study for a test that you take in May to get credit in university/college).

 

[Bluemofia]

For my high school it's Regular, Honors, and AP. If it is math, it is regular, regular honors, Excell, Excell honors, "PA", "PA" honors, "PA" AP.

Regular is doing what is sutable for their year.
Excell is doing 1 year ahead.
"PA" is doing 2 years ahead.

 

[viper275]

I'm the oldest, but my younger brother is smart, too. So this doesn't seem to apply for me for some reason, when I was his age I was doing just as well.

 

[HamaticBabylon]

In our culture, it’s the reverse. The older child has the burden of educating the younger brother/ sisters in the family. It’s a natural progression through time as the younger get older; they teach the younger members of the family. It’s well balanced, and only requires discipline and motivation. Also the same goes with clothes, the older child gives what does not fit him anymore to the younger members of the family, thus saving money and time.

 

[Syterion]

I beat my sister in almost every department except for French. I've got the same GPA as her, and she's two years older than me! She's only taking three AP courses too, and I'm taking three just next year, so I'll definitely have slaughtered her there. Not to mention I do more extracurriculars. Although she is the President of International club.

But I definitely think she is more reliable and less forgetful than me, with a slightly better work ethic.

 

[blindside]

In our culture, it’s the reverse. The older child has the burden of educating the younger brother/ sisters in the family. It’s a natural progression through time as the younger get older; they teach the younger members of the family. It’s well balanced, and only requires discipline and motivation. Also the same goes with clothes, the older child gives what does not fit him anymore to the younger members of the family, thus saving money and time.

What culture is this?

 

[CIVPhilzilla]

I'm older than my brother and do better. Both of my parents were the oldest and did better than their siblings.