It's been 10 years since our oldest graduated from high school. The most successful are

[Anonymous]

The most successful young adults who are now 27 or 28 years old were the top students in their high school class, no matter where they went to undergrad. From Ivies to tiny liberal arts college to fairly regional public universities, they all zoomed through undergrad, sometimes in three years, many went to grad or professional school, and they all have great careers. It seems all of them are married.

The handful of middle of the pack students and student-athletes who surprised everyone when they got into elite T20s regressed to their mean and have totally normal careers, at best.

It seems smart ambitious highly-motivated teens become smart ambitious highly-motivated adults. And if your teen is not those things, Tiger Mom'ing them into an elite college probably isn't going to change anything about their life and professional trajectory.

[Anonymous]

Are your kids married?

[Anonymous]

Correct. Ambitious kids become ambitious adults.

[Anonymous]

Lol. Sounds like wishful thinking to me, from a parent with a chip on their shoulder. Most-likely-to-fail hs student here, and I've been much more successful than the top students in my hs class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Correct. Ambitious kids become ambitious adults.

+1
You’ll never convince me that top schools matter.

[Anonymous]

Another narcissist posting on dcum. I call them dcum scum.

[Anonymous]

Smart kids become smart adults. That’s the sort of searing insight that can only have come from a not so smart HS kid who turned into a not so smart parent. Bravo

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Correct. Ambitious kids become ambitious adults.

+1
Wow! This sounds like ground breaking rocket science! I wonder how OP came up with such unique insight that no one ever could have predicted.

[Anonymous]

Being a great student is not the same as being a successful businessperson or professional. Many other skills come into play beyond test-taking skills.

[Anonymous]

If you are going to depend on anecdotal evidence, then I will add that I was a late bloomer. Barely slogged through high school and a non-stellar state university. But then I got myself together and I am very successful as an adult.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The most successful young adults who are now 27 or 28 years old were the top students in their high school class, no matter where they went to undergrad. From Ivies to tiny liberal arts college to fairly regional public universities, they all zoomed through undergrad, sometimes in three years, many went to grad or professional school, and they all have great careers. It seems all of them are married.

The handful of middle of the pack students and student-athletes who surprised everyone when they got into elite T20s regressed to their mean and have totally normal careers, at best.

It seems smart ambitious highly-motivated teens become smart ambitious highly-motivated adults. And if your teen is not those things, Tiger Mom'ing them into an elite college probably isn't going to change anything about their life and professional trajectory.

All of them are married at 27? Do you live in the deep south or Pakistan?

Most high school class of 2014 are age 28 right now. And yes, high value smart couples are marrying in their early and mid 20s. We know a Yale '23 & Harvard '23 couple who got married last fall.

[Anonymous]

You are making stuff up. And you sound awful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Correct. Ambitious kids become ambitious adults.

+1
Wow! This sounds like ground breaking rocket science! I wonder how OP came up with such unique insight that no one ever could have predicted.

This forum and others like it and also travel sports forums are full of parents who think prestige colleges are going to change their kids' lives. It is delusional. Your teen either has "it" or they don't by the time they leave your nest. You put a kid ambitious and smart enough for UVA, Duke or Penn into some regional degree mill and they will graduate with a 4.0 GPA and have their pick of jobs and grad schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Being a great student is not the same as being a successful businessperson or professional. Many other skills come into play beyond test-taking skills.

This is true. Ambition is key.

My sibling went to a public ivy (STEM major); I went to a no name state. I make almost double my sibling. My sibling has no ambition and likes coasting through life. They have no kids, no real responsibilities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Correct. Ambitious kids become ambitious adults.

Yet you read college forums and it's full of fake anecdotes about all the smart kids cracking and bombing at college. It's all such a transparent cope from parents with average drifting kids.