Stand out in weak peer group or blend in?

[Anonymous]

We are visiting a school with a very high acceptance rate and an academically weak cohort of students.

DC is a very strong student and will possibly get in into a T20.

In this school, however, DC will stand out and be on top academically.

Does it make sense to go to this low ranked school and be on top of class, get all research and internship placement opportunities, etc.

In top 20 DC will just blend in with other academic overachievers.

[Anonymous]

What does the student want?

[Anonymous]

This depends a lot on your kid’s personality. Some get energized in a more competitive environment and may slack off among kids who are generally weak. Others do well only when they’re above average or better and would be discouraged in a more competitive environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This depends a lot on your kid’s personality. Some get energized in a more competitive environment and may slack off among kids who are generally weak. Others do well only when they’re above average or better and would be discouraged in a more competitive environment.

This. I have one of each kind of kid.

[Anonymous]

I guess the question is why did you decide to visit?

- as a safety?
- as an option your kid really likes?


how did it end up on the list of ones you are actually seeing?

[Anonymous]

Top companies and top grad rarely select from weaker schools. Go to the best school even if they will be average

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Top companies and top grad rarely select from weaker schools. Go to the best school even if they will be average

T20 are weak schools? Seriously.

[Anonymous]

OP why are you selling out your own kid? Your kid could be near the top of T20. Competition will bring out the best and can learn from each other.

[Anonymous]

My kid was at a 100-ranked school for freshman year. Had a transfer option to Cornell which is basically a guaranteed entrance sophomore year. She had fun and made some good friends at her freshman school. Did extremely well in her classes. But the academics were abysmal compared to what she’s now getting at Cornell. Loves her professors and is excited about her classes. She had a somewhat rough fall semester adjusting as a transfer student. However she never complained about her classes.

She’s all set with an internship this summer that I don’t believe she would have got if she were at her first school.

[Anonymous]

It's a good question, but don't worry about it yet.

At that stage, encourage your kid to identify schools in BOTH categories that they genuinely love and could see themselves going to. Two different experiences, for sure. But encourage them to stay open to both options.

(This is a version of the standard wise advice re falling in love up front with the safeties as well as the reaches. If your kid does that, the safeties will bring their own excitement and upside when they get in, rather than feeling like a disappointment if the reaches don't work out.)

Then, in late summer or fall of senior year, have DC apply with gusto to both types of schools. This means individualized essays tailored to each school, consistent demonstrated interest for schools that consider it, etc. Don't let them phone it in on the high acceptance rate schools - you'll want them to position themselves for merit money in case they end up going that route.

Then wait to to learn two things: (1) Which schools accept DC; and (2) How DC feels at that point (spring of senior year) about the various schools to which they have been accepted.

If your kid is a junior right now, know that they will likely learn and mature A LOT in the coming year. Enjoy the ride!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid was at a 100-ranked school for freshman year. Had a transfer option to Cornell which is basically a guaranteed entrance sophomore year. She had fun and made some good friends at her freshman school. Did extremely well in her classes. But the academics were abysmal compared to what she’s now getting at Cornell. Loves her professors and is excited about her classes. She had a somewhat rough fall semester adjusting as a transfer student. However she never complained about her classes.

She’s all set with an internship this summer that I don’t believe she would have got if she were at her first school.

OOS or IS? Ag School?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Top companies and top grad rarely select from weaker schools. Go to the best school even if they will be average

T20 are weak schools? Seriously.

You seem to have misunderstood OP, and therefore also the PP.

[Anonymous]

My kid is doing this, but only because (a) has a full ride and (b) is in a BS/MD program. Straight As freshman year, has a great group of friends, is having a great time. But for (a) and (b) we would have never taken this route.

You have to weight the pros and the cons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid was at a 100-ranked school for freshman year. Had a transfer option to Cornell which is basically a guaranteed entrance sophomore year. She had fun and made some good friends at her freshman school. Did extremely well in her classes. But the academics were abysmal compared to what she’s now getting at Cornell. Loves her professors and is excited about her classes. She had a somewhat rough fall semester adjusting as a transfer student. However she never complained about her classes.

She’s all set with an internship this summer that I don’t believe she would have got if she were at her first school.

+1 Ask professors who have taught at both, or other transfers. We know many who have gone from 50-60 ranked unis and 20-35LACs to Vanderbilt, Duke, Cornell, Chicago and it has been a huge step up in academics: faster pace, 1.5x the reading per week, exams that test well beyond recall-level, p-sets that take hours even collaborating as recommended. It is a big adjustment

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are visiting a school with a very high acceptance rate and an academically weak cohort of students.

DC is a very strong student and will possibly get in into a T20.

In this school, however, DC will stand out and be on top academically.

Does it make sense to go to this low ranked school and be on top of class, get all research and internship placement opportunities, etc.

In top 20 DC will just blend in with other academic overachievers.

There are many schools that are between these extremes: look for those if the student does not get into T20.