How much does geographic diversity help?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You sound jealous, OP.

Yes, I am. My nephew for example is the oldest and with his stats, really similar to my kid, I think he is in the top few kids at his school. It also just seems easier for him in terms of stress and competition versus the close in dmv schools. It also is just so different culturally… where most kids in my child’s peer group are wanting to go to these top most selective schools my nephews peer group is mostly aspiring to go to Ute, byu, Arizona or maybe one of the uc schools.

So? I bet your nephews friends are great kids who will all do well in life. Does that annoy you too?

I just wish my kid could be psyched or have it feel normal that going somewhere like u del was “great”. I hate the college culture in dc.

[Anonymous]

Based on my college experience (decades ago), kids coming from places like like MT, WY, and AK were definitely given a boost.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You sound jealous, OP.

Yes, I am. My nephew for example is the oldest and with his stats, really similar to my kid, I think he is in the top few kids at his school. It also just seems easier for him in terms of stress and competition versus the close in dmv schools. It also is just so different culturally… where most kids in my child’s peer group are wanting to go to these top most selective schools my nephews peer group is mostly aspiring to go to Ute, byu, Arizona or maybe one of the uc schools.

So? I bet your nephews friends are great kids who will all do well in life. Does that annoy you too?

Jeez. OP hates the game, not the players.

[Anonymous]

The geographic preference may even outweigh the other factors. I was an Asian student from rural Louisiana and got into an Ivy with "sub-Asian" (by current DMV standards) SAT and GPA.

Nowadays, an Asian in the DMV with my stats would probably end up at JMU or UMBC.

[Anonymous]

There is no question that being from an “underrepresented” state can get you in.

Example 1:
Student from our NYC school with Bs moved to Utah before junior yr. Student with straight As, all-around brilliant kid, stayed at our school. Both legacies to Ivy. Utah kid got in, NYC didn’t.

Example 2:
Friends who are both HYP grads recently moved to Maine for this purpose - to best position their kids for college acceptances.

[Anonymous]

It would probably help more if they weren’t full pay. My nephew from middle of nowhere Oklahoma got into Colorado college basically with a phone call. Applied in February or March of his senior year. He was valedictorian and my idiot brother and his wife were pretty much living on welfare at the time too, so I’m sure that helped as well (he had a full ride scholarship)

[Anonymous]

You can play this game too, OP. Your kids from DC suburbs might be more desirable to a college or university where they would represent the geographic diversity. If cost is a factor, look at schools that offer a lot of merit money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You sound jealous, OP.

Yes, I am. My nephew for example is the oldest and with his stats, really similar to my kid, I think he is in the top few kids at his school. It also just seems easier for him in terms of stress and competition versus the close in dmv schools. It also is just so different culturally… where most kids in my child’s peer group are wanting to go to these top most selective schools my nephews peer group is mostly aspiring to go to Ute, byu, Arizona or maybe one of the uc schools.

So? I bet your nephews friends are great kids who will all do well in life. Does that annoy you too?

Different poster - WTF is wrong with you? OP is reasonably concerned realizing her kids are facing an unfair disadvantage. I have come to some of the same realization over the past year - that we may not have done our HS kids any favors locating in this area. There are probably mean, taunting people like you in other areas but somehow these large, hypercompetitive areas also seem to really aggravate and inflame jerks like you.

[Anonymous]

Someone will always get a better deal than you, make more money than you, have a nicer house than you, drive a better car than you. This is a great time to teach your child that comparing themselves to others is a green headed monster that will get them nowhere in life. Put your head down and do the work and you’ll be fine. I would hope for all our kids that they have bigger goals in life than getting into an Ivy.

[Anonymous]

Of course geographic diversity matters. If you have two kids with the exact same stats and one is from rural Idaho and one is from the DMV, guess who will more than likely be selected? Have you been living under a rock?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You sound jealous, OP.

Yes, I am. My nephew for example is the oldest and with his stats, really similar to my kid, I think he is in the top few kids at his school. It also just seems easier for him in terms of stress and competition versus the close in dmv schools. It also is just so different culturally… where most kids in my child’s peer group are wanting to go to these top most selective schools my nephews peer group is mostly aspiring to go to Ute, byu, Arizona or maybe one of the uc schools.

So? I bet your nephews friends are great kids who will all do well in life. Does that annoy you too?

Different poster - WTF is wrong with you? OP is reasonably concerned realizing her kids are facing an unfair disadvantage. I have come to some of the same realization over the past year - that we may not have done our HS kids any favors locating in this area. There are probably mean, taunting people like you in other areas but somehow these large, hypercompetitive areas also seem to really aggravate and inflame jerks like you.

NP here. They’re not at an unfair disadvantage. The schools in this area provide huge advantages in terms of range of courses and activities available, as well as diversity of people and cultural experiences. Sure, when it comes to college admissions they are in a more competitive environment, but based on all of the complaints about this area and its competitiveness, would you want your kids to attend a college full of kids from the DC area? No, because then it would just be a continuation of their current experience. One reason colleges care about geographic diversity is to ensure students don’t just continue their high school experiences.

There are trade-offs in every decision we make for our families. If your only concern is where your kid gets into college, then by all means move somewhere for that advantage. But know that you’re giving up other advantages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is no question that being from an “underrepresented” state can get you in.

Example 1:
Student from our NYC school with Bs moved to Utah before junior yr. Student with straight As, all-around brilliant kid, stayed at our school. Both legacies to Ivy. Utah kid got in, NYC didn’t.

Example 2:
Friends who are both HYP grads recently moved to Maine for this purpose - to best position their kids for college acceptances.

how can they afford that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no question that being from an “underrepresented” state can get you in.

Example 1:
Student from our NYC school with Bs moved to Utah before junior yr. Student with straight As, all-around brilliant kid, stayed at our school. Both legacies to Ivy. Utah kid got in, NYC didn’t.

Example 2:
Friends who are both HYP grads recently moved to Maine for this purpose - to best position their kids for college acceptances.

how can they afford that?

What do you mean? The Utah family is extremely wealthy - they have been living in their Park City ski chalet and they still have their NYC penthouse.

The Maine family lives near Portland, which is a really nice small city. They also bought a ski house further north.

No financial issues for either.

[Anonymous]

Sour grapes from folks who made the decision to raise their kids in DC. You made your choices. My kid is 7 and I know how our geography will affect college (worse than DC). It is my choice to move or not, just like it was yours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no question that being from an “underrepresented” state can get you in.

Example 1:
Student from our NYC school with Bs moved to Utah before junior yr. Student with straight As, all-around brilliant kid, stayed at our school. Both legacies to Ivy. Utah kid got in, NYC didn’t.

Example 2:
Friends who are both HYP grads recently moved to Maine for this purpose - to best position their kids for college acceptances.

how can they afford that?

What do you mean? The Utah family is extremely wealthy - they have been living in their Park City ski chalet and they still have their NYC penthouse.

The Maine family lives near Portland, which is a really nice small city. They also bought a ski house further north.

No financial issues for either.

PP is if the mistaken belief that there are absolutely no well-paying jobs outside major urban areas.