Abstract
Our analysis on data from a unique survey of schools shows that a presence of an extra classmate who is applying for gymnasia affects one's self-confidence. The biggest negative impact we noted was in case of self-confidence of girls in mathematics.
Decline in confidence (from the level in the fourth grade, that is before preparing for entrance exams) is about 7% of the student with at least two classmates who applied. As a control group, we use the class where no one has applied.