Did you opt in or out of the UMC admission game? Do you regret it?
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Anonymous
Noooo. We prepped back in the day. We didn’t do Khan, but we took practice tests and bought those fat Princeton Review books. Some kids went to prep classes. |
Anonymous
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I don’t think this is all or nothing.
We paid for a test prep course for our kid to gain confidence. We did not hire a counselor as it was not in our budget to do both. No decisions were made on activities for college. We probably could have gotten advice that would have helped along the way (course selection) but learned too late that our large public high school just didn’t do any of that kind of advising. I think like most things - this can be a balance based on your kid, your budget and your supports. |
Anonymous
Ron DeSantis? Parents met at Youngstown State...he went to Yale. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_DeSantis#:~:text=His%20mother%27s%20family%20name%2C%20Rogers,Western%20Pennsylvania%20and%20Northeast%20Ohio. |
Anonymous
Also Sonia Sotomayor and Clarence Thomas and Barack and Michelle Obama |
Anonymous
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We'd need a stack of CEO bios to get this done but bet it's researchable.
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Anonymous
Midwesterner here. Grew up in 80s. Did not prep for tests. The PSAT was my test prep. Didn’t know anyone who prepped. |
Anonymous
This. Went to publish HS is a very middle class town in NJ. All the kids in AP and advanced classes did Princeton review. They held the program at our high school. |
Anonymous
The one who dies with the most toys wins. That’s the game we’re playing PP, but feel free to keep chirping from the cheap seats in the peanut gallery. |
Anonymous
Grew up in Jersey. Same here. Don’t know one single person who prepped. Catholic school (if that matters). |
Anonymous
I grew up outside of Philadelphia. Class of 1992. Did not prep (not a minute). Don't know anyone who prepped. This was a highly ranked private school. |
Anonymous
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Grew up in Haddonfield, NJ. Very top public school. Class of 1990. Nobody prepped.
I think the difference in replies may be in part between people who took the test closer to 1990 or after 2000. I'm sure by 2000 or soon after that prepping was normal in most UMC areas. Also, I think the DMV was prepping long before others. (shocking  )
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Anonymous
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I have 2 seniors this year. We let them take the lead 95% of the time. We helped by planning tours when we were on vacation/spring breaks/etc starting their sophomore year, chunking up tasks (because the process was overwhelming to kids with ADHD), proof reading essays, and proof reading the Common App with them before submitting.
They did 1 8 hr SAT prep class that was part of a school fund raiser No college admissions counselor No forcing them to do activities they weren't interested in just for the sake of padding their resume. Both have gotten into all 6 schools they applies to (still waiting on UMD) - not top 25 ones, but that isn't who they are. Kids should go to colleges based on who they are. Not who their parents want them to be. |
Anonymous
I graduated in 1992 and everyone I knew did long (multi week) prep classes. This was at a highly regarded private HS in the south. |
Anonymous
+1 |
Anonymous
Same here. Did not know anyone who prepped. My parents gave me zero help in applications or preparation. That said, the 80s were a very different time. A high 1300s / low 1400s SAT with unexceptional ECs could get you into an Ivy. |