Elite Colleges Seem Like A Rat Race to Nowhere

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With the exception of a few elite schools like Princeton and MIT that still give actual grades it is the only place where students compete.

Everybody gets As and A-s, so the average GPA for the school is a 3.8 and it becomes the future employers job to sort out the wheat from the chaff.

Genuine question: Elite schools take students with excellent track records of doing well in school. If “Everybody gets As and A-s” by meeting the — presumably high — standards set by the professors, why is that an issue for you? Does someone have to fail for you to value the relative “success”?

At least at the elite school that I attended, I was able to take graduate level seminars — a potentially risky move, if my focus had been solely on my gpa. Would you have been more impressed by better grades — say: a 3.9 — if I had decided instead to take easier courses, with easier course requirements, in an easier major?

[Anonymous]

My reaction when I hear people got into YALE and then started crying because they didn't get into the special club they wanted.

[Anonymous]

NP. Why is anyone surprised? These schools are filled to the brim with little Tracy Flicks. That’s how they got into those schools in the first place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My reaction when I hear people got into YALE and then started crying because they didn't get into the special club they wanted.

Makes sense that this asinine whining is coming from Yalies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. Why is anyone surprised? These schools are filled to the brim with little Tracy Flicks. That’s how they got into those schools in the first place.

Damn now I’m going to have to hunt down Election on whatever streaming service has it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are any of the T25…T50 schools not like this for clubs? Have a smart thoughtful kid who isn’t looking for competitive club culture

don’t know T25 but from the T15 probably only Vandy and Rice

[Anonymous]

My kid goes to Cornell. Some clubs are not competitive—anyone can join. There are some clubs you have to apply to and interview. Some of those are engineering project teams.

My son joined non competitive clubs. Then later tried some that he had to interview for. He was not accepted into one club. Then he was accepted in a project team. It was all fine. He didn’t take it personally. Some kids don’t join any clubs and do very well.

It was no harder than getting cut from the soccer team in high school!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With the exception of a few elite schools like Princeton and MIT that still give actual grades it is the only place where students compete.

Everybody gets As and A-s, so the average GPA for the school is a 3.8 and it becomes the future employers job to sort out the wheat from the chaff.

Genuine question: Elite schools take students with excellent track records of doing well in school. If “Everybody gets As and A-s” by meeting the — presumably high — standards set by the professors, why is that an issue for you? Does someone have to fail for you to value the relative “success”?

At least at the elite school that I attended, I was able to take graduate level seminars — a potentially risky move, if my focus had been solely on my gpa. Would you have been more impressed by better grades — say: a 3.9 — if I had decided instead to take easier courses, with easier course requirements, in an easier major?

The standards aren't high. Grades have been inflated since the Vietnam War.

If a Harvard A is the same as a State College A, the Harvard education has no more educational value than State College. Harvard students, if they are extra talented, should be earning better than State College A.

[Anonymous]

Free ripoff version:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nationalreview.com/corner/the-ivy-league-elitism-of-student-clubs/amp/

Anyway, it's stupid. The author is telling on herself. Everyone wants to join a club but almost no one wants to run a club, so the clubs fill up.
My college had a dozen "competitive admission" a capella clubs, because 20 members is enough for one a capella club.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With the exception of a few elite schools like Princeton and MIT that still give actual grades it is the only place where students compete.

Everybody gets As and A-s, so the average GPA for the school is a 3.8 and it becomes the future employers job to sort out the wheat from the chaff.

Genuine question: Elite schools take students with excellent track records of doing well in school. If “Everybody gets As and A-s” by meeting the — presumably high — standards set by the professors, why is that an issue for you? Does someone have to fail for you to value the relative “success”?

At least at the elite school that I attended, I was able to take graduate level seminars — a potentially risky move, if my focus had been solely on my gpa. Would you have been more impressed by better grades — say: a 3.9 — if I had decided instead to take easier courses, with easier course requirements, in an easier major?

The standards aren't high. Grades have been inflated since the Vietnam War.

If a Harvard A is the same as a State College A, the Harvard education has no more educational value than State College. Harvard students, if they are extra talented, should be earning better than State College A.

And you’re backing this up with actual data, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Well, the socially savvy almost always do better in life than the awkward and socially clueless.
As PPs state, the social competition is ruthless. If you don't want to participate, then it's best to focus your efforts on fields that are more data-driven and analytical, even if social skills are needed there too.

Well, there’s always the guillotine. A girl can dream.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With the exception of a few elite schools like Princeton and MIT that still give actual grades it is the only place where students compete.

Everybody gets As and A-s, so the average GPA for the school is a 3.8 and it becomes the future employers job to sort out the wheat from the chaff.

Genuine question: Elite schools take students with excellent track records of doing well in school. If “Everybody gets As and A-s” by meeting the — presumably high — standards set by the professors, why is that an issue for you? Does someone have to fail for you to value the relative “success”?

At least at the elite school that I attended, I was able to take graduate level seminars — a potentially risky move, if my focus had been solely on my gpa. Would you have been more impressed by better grades — say: a 3.9 — if I had decided instead to take easier courses, with easier course requirements, in an easier major?

The standards aren't high. Grades have been inflated since the Vietnam War.

If a Harvard A is the same as a State College A, the Harvard education has no more educational value than State College. Harvard students, if they are extra talented, should be earning better than State College A.

What's your source that a Harvard A is the same as a State College A?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid goes to Cornell. Some clubs are not competitive—anyone can join. There are some clubs you have to apply to and interview. Some of those are engineering project teams.

My son joined non competitive clubs. Then later tried some that he had to interview for. He was not accepted into one club. Then he was accepted in a project team. It was all fine. He didn’t take it personally. Some kids don’t join any clubs and do very well.

It was no harder than getting cut from the soccer team in high school!

Unrelated to this topic but.. Is your son an engineering major? Which particular major?
Does he feel like the kids are generally collaborative and study together etc?
Mine is applying there for engineering. Thanks!!

[Anonymous]

This is sometimes how I feel about the FCPS HS my kids go to which is very competitive for a number if activities. In some cases maybe you technically are in the group but you are never going to get to go to a competition or event unless you’re one of a few elite kids. This includes both non-athletics and a lot of the athletics. It’s a shame because I think it prevents some kids from trying and experiencing things they’d be good at and enjoy.

I’ve heard UVA is difficult in this way. I would guess it’s a problem at larger and competitive schools. You are only going to have so many spots for students to do a particular activity. Correct me if I’m wrong but I would imagine the smaller the school this is less of an issue regardless of how many Tracy Flick types there are around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are any of the T25…T50 schools not like this for clubs? Have a smart thoughtful kid who isn’t looking for competitive club culture

top SLACs, like OP said. Outside of CMC and Wellesley.