Most happy freshman so far

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also know a Vanderbilt student who whose parents donated enough for a spot for their poorly performing student. And it wasn't 8 figures.

Interestingly, I know 2 families who investigated the same at Michigan for their B/C students and were not successful. Michigan didn't budge.

Two vandy kids from our private with bottom 50% grades; applied ED. Deferred and admitted. There’s a “development” meeting parents had in Jan last year.

Yes, Vanderbiilt is the worst. I know a kid who was super mediocre who got in last year after parents ponied up a very large check.
And the child of 2 Instagramers I casually follow have kids who are freshmen and neither family emphasized academics at all in high school. Maybe the kids are scholars but nothing seemed to indicate this.

Vanderbilt is a weird school. They have a serious academic side but then they love FLASH AND CASH and will take all sorts of non-academic kids if they come with one or both of these.

Wake Forest is another one that will bend to a check. I know a family who gave them $100K+ for a last minute spot last year.

[Anonymous]

This thread is insane and weird - would your kids friends really be okay with all of these reports salivating over who is or isn’t happy? Parents did not act and think like this even a few years ago!

[Anonymous]

I know a number of kids who are socially happy at Vanderbilt this year and are looking to transfer FROM the school.

-Asians and other super academic kids who frankly ended up there because of the top20 ranking. Can't fit in socially, don't find the academics challenging, clubs impossible to join, etc. This is not entirely surprising BUT:

-Private school, mainstream, good looking white kids (I'm being obnoxiously frank about who they are) who traditionally should easily find their place (because it's familiar territory) aren't. I think the emphasis on wealth and materialism by a decent cohort is SO significant that even these kids can have a very hard time. And this is saying something. If you are at ease in a $$ private high school but can't find your place at a college due to wealth and snobbery it's something.

Certainly there are many exceptions to this--it only takes a few friends for most people to be happy--but I've heard this story from a number of kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know a number of kids who are socially happy at Vanderbilt this year and are looking to transfer FROM the school.

-Asians and other super academic kids who frankly ended up there because of the top20 ranking. Can't fit in socially, don't find the academics challenging, clubs impossible to join, etc. This is not entirely surprising BUT:

-Private school, mainstream, good looking white kids (I'm being obnoxiously frank about who they are) who traditionally should easily find their place (because it's familiar territory) aren't. I think the emphasis on wealth and materialism by a decent cohort is SO significant that even these kids can have a very hard time. And this is saying something. If you are at ease in a $$ private high school but can't find your place at a college due to wealth and snobbery it's something.

Certainly there are many exceptions to this--it only takes a few friends for most people to be happy--but I've heard this story from a number of kids.

Why are they looking to transfer if they are “socially happy”?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know a number of kids who are socially happy at Vanderbilt this year and are looking to transfer FROM the school.

-Asians and other super academic kids who frankly ended up there because of the top20 ranking. Can't fit in socially, don't find the academics challenging, clubs impossible to join, etc. This is not entirely surprising BUT:

-Private school, mainstream, good looking white kids (I'm being obnoxiously frank about who they are) who traditionally should easily find their place (because it's familiar territory) aren't. I think the emphasis on wealth and materialism by a decent cohort is SO significant that even these kids can have a very hard time. And this is saying something. If you are at ease in a $$ private high school but can't find your place at a college due to wealth and snobbery it's something.

Certainly there are many exceptions to this--it only takes a few friends for most people to be happy--but I've heard this story from a number of kids.

Why are they looking to transfer if they are “socially happy”?

OOPS! that was meant to be UNHAPPY.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spin off a previous post - that was bumped up - on what parents overhear from freshman Kids & friends (from high school) this week about the trail’s & tribulations of freshman year.

Have heard a lot this week about who’s thriving, who’s still searching for ppl and who’s already looking to transfer.

Anyone else want to dish? I’ll share but don’t want to go first (given how that other poster was treated for the reported eavesdropping).

I’m particularly interested in those kids who are having a fabulous first semester. Any clue as to why/what’s made it so successful?

Just heard about two female Colgate transfers. Miserable. Both of them.

And Vanderbilt has been confirmed as the place where you can buy your way in (eight figures, does it).

Why were the Colgate kids miserable?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:wow what high school kicked out the bully? usually they do nothing and the victim leaves

Given this and how celebrity kids are usually protected, tells you how bad the behavior must have been.

She was at very prestigious Harvard-Westlake but graduated from Crossroads. Yet *somehow* Vanderbilt still admitted her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here are my kid's friends. I was with them all at a dinner at my house.

BC: x 4 kids, all made a point of saying that they really like their fellow classmates but say there is "very little to do" socially and they are bored. Most (3 of 4) are thinking of transferring.
Michigan: love the game day culture but boy, they are drinking A LOT. Feels like everyone they know drinks a ton every Saturday. Have found it difficult to make friends beyond the superficial. Confident that this will improve.
Northwestern: very unhappy socially. I'm not sure why. Vocal about wanting to transfer.
Cornell: found their pack, STEM kid working very hard for grades in the 50s and 60s.
UVA: x 3 kids, happiest of the bunch and I'm not just saying this to annoy the DCUM posters. UVA also comes up as the most frequent destination of "where I want to transfer to" (see NU kid above and BC kids).

4 kids who already know each other are together at BC and find little to do socially? Really? That's a little hard to believe. There is an entire city at your finger tips and they already have friends to call and explore with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread is insane and weird - would your kids friends really be okay with all of these reports salivating over who is or isn’t happy? Parents did not act and think like this even a few years ago!

+1
I have no doubt these “accounts” are totally fabricated anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is insane and weird - would your kids friends really be okay with all of these reports salivating over who is or isn’t happy? Parents did not act and think like this even a few years ago!

+1
I have no doubt these “accounts” are totally fabricated anyway.

I agree - these either have to be fabricated or it's really odd that anyone would have this level of detail about their kids' friends' or their friends' kids' experiences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:wow what high school kicked out the bully? usually they do nothing and the victim leaves

Given this and how celebrity kids are usually protected, tells you how bad the behavior must have been.

She was at very prestigious Harvard-Westlake but graduated from Crossroads. Yet *somehow* Vanderbilt still admitted her.

Getting expelled or suspended is typically a problem no matter the school name.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is insane and weird - would your kids friends really be okay with all of these reports salivating over who is or isn’t happy? Parents did not act and think like this even a few years ago!

+1
I have no doubt these “accounts” are totally fabricated anyway.

I agree - these either have to be fabricated or it's really odd that anyone would have this level of detail about their kids' friends' or their friends' kids' experiences.

I have a pretty good sense of my kid's experience and those of her peers. My kid is very open and chatty and shares both the good and not good. I also have a strong group of mom friends with kids at different colleges and we are open and honest with each other. I hear about the challenges and sometimes disappointments of club interviews, auditions, rush, getting invited/or not to parties, housing challenges, etc. After 18 years of living together, I think many parents know if their kid is happy or not - by what they say and also by what they don't say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is insane and weird - would your kids friends really be okay with all of these reports salivating over who is or isn’t happy? Parents did not act and think like this even a few years ago!

+1
I have no doubt these “accounts” are totally fabricated anyway.

I agree - these either have to be fabricated or it's really odd that anyone would have this level of detail about their kids' friends' or their friends' kids' experiences.

I have a pretty good sense of my kid's experience and those of her peers. My kid is very open and chatty and shares both the good and not good. I also have a strong group of mom friends with kids at different colleges and we are open and honest with each other. I hear about the challenges and sometimes disappointments of club interviews, auditions, rush, getting invited/or not to parties, housing challenges, etc. After 18 years of living together, I think many parents know if their kid is happy or not - by what they say and also by what they don't say.

Mine too. Its a small private schools. These kids have known each other for up to14 years. Yes, I know A LOT.
Especially from the girls.

[Anonymous]

Creepy.

Although, I am currently on an Edith Wharton kick and the level of petty scrutiny and judgement by the biddies in her novels reminds me of this thread. I guess it was ever thus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Creepy.

Although, I am currently on an Edith Wharton kick and the level of petty scrutiny and judgement by the biddies in her novels reminds me of this thread. I guess it was ever thus.

And for biddy-scolding biddies, which author should we consult?