For purposes of college admissions, should I have raised my child elsewhere?

[Anonymous]

Yes. Move to Wyoming. My Ivy was always short on Wyoming - the stats would be "this class contains 49 states - no Wyoming!" They were always looking for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's no question that for purposes of college admissions, we could not have chosen many worse places to raise our kids.

+1
Thinking seriously of moving far, far away for just this reason.

+2 much better to be a big fish in a small pond. Multiply that by 1,000 if your DC would ever consider a military academy.

[Anonymous]

Yes and no.

You can't just move to bum-f$ck ND and expect to get in to Ivies or where ever. More and more colleges expect IB or AP and a rigorous course background. If a small town or suburb of a major city has that then there are admits. If not, the school takes a risk because even "top" students from McLean, IL may not be prepared for college at MIT or Harvard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Move to Wyoming. My Ivy was always short on Wyoming - the stats would be "this class contains 49 states - no Wyoming!" They were always looking for that.

Funny story, met a guy competing for a scholarship from WY. He said he fenced and I say, "me too!" Only he meant he builds fences. Haha awkward.

[Anonymous]

OP, yes you should have. But it's not too late -- please go ahead and move, now! On to Yale!

Jeez.

[Anonymous]

Its an excellent idea to move your entire family somewhere in order to enhance your child's applications. It will make your DC not feel nay pressure or anything. Its not like his family revolves around him.

Seriously, what are you thinking?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, yes you should have. But it's not too late -- please go ahead and move, now! On to Yale!

Jeez.

Alas it is too late for that, as my DC is already at one of the top 10 universities. I posted this in earnest to generate positive discussion about whether the pressure we/the schools/the students apply during the high school years in this extremely competitive and driven region is humane, or whether some children might be better served by a less stressful, more beneficial environment. Unfortunately, I clearly titled this thread the wrong way to generate that sort of introspective discussion, and I regret that. So no, I will not be moving away to get my child to X, because they are already there.

[Anonymous]

I've been on DCUM for a while since I found it while googling for something. This thread caught my attention since I am from Wyoming.

I don't build fences though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, yes you should have. But it's not too late -- please go ahead and move, now! On to Yale!

Jeez.

Alas it is too late for that, as my DC is already at one of the top 10 universities. I posted this in earnest to generate positive discussion about whether the pressure we/the schools/the students apply during the high school years in this extremely competitive and driven region is humane, or whether some children might be better served by a less stressful, more beneficial environment. Unfortunately, I clearly titled this thread the wrong way to generate that sort of introspective discussion, and I regret that. So no, I will not be moving away to get my child to X, because they are already there.

Are you trying to improve your commute with this thread? I'm stunned that you sit around thinking about this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, yes you should have. But it's not too late -- please go ahead and move, now! On to Yale!

Jeez.

Alas it is too late for that, as my DC is already at one of the top 10 universities. I posted this in earnest to generate positive discussion about whether the pressure we/the schools/the students apply during the high school years in this extremely competitive and driven region is humane, or whether some children might be better served by a less stressful, more beneficial environment. Unfortunately, I clearly titled this thread the wrong way to generate that sort of introspective discussion, and I regret that. So no, I will not be moving away to get my child to X, because they are already there.

Actually, you did get some very thoughtful responses -- e.g., 19:30 and 19:55 -- but I'd agree that your original post seemed to be just about how best to play the game, rather than whether to play it or what the rules should be.

[Anonymous]

Yes. This is just fact. But don't worry about it. Chances are your kid will do will from here too

[Anonymous]

I grew up in such a state. Even 20 years ago it was not a breeze or even seemingly thatch easier to get in to top schools. The college advising at my school was abysmal. I had no idea how to prepare for the SAT subject matter tests that were only required by elite colleges. I took only one AP class and I don't think there were others. I think whatever benefit my geographic diversity got me was cancelled out by the lack of guidance in the process. (And my parents were well educated but just didn't know much about the process).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes and no.

You can't just move to bum-f$ck ND and expect to get in to Ivies or where ever. More and more colleges expect IB or AP and a rigorous course background. If a small town or suburb of a major city has that then there are admits. If not, the school takes a risk because even "top" students from McLean, IL may not be prepared for college at MIT or Harvard.

This isn't actually true. Colleges strive for geographic diversity, so you absolutely can expect Harvard et al to accept a few kids from "bum-f$ck ND" for purposes of balancing out all of the schmucks from McLean. Believe me, having gone to one of these schools, I was grateful for the folks from North Dakota and Kansas who seemed far more down to earth than the jackasses like you. Of course, they're not going to accept idiots, but as hard as it may be for you to believe, there are plenty of poor, smart kids from rural and inner city urban areas who would flourish given an opportunity like this.

[Anonymous]

Many kids would undoubtedly flourish if given a chance, although some would not. The issue is getting there. With worse college counseling, less overall guidance about what tests and courses you should take and how to write your essays and apply for financial aid, and less of a peer group where striving is seen as a normal thing to do, for most kids in bumfuck ND it is just harder to be in a position where you figure out how to get to Harvard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Couldn't you just move to a DC Public High School? I would think that would raise your chances over area privates and suburban publics?

Or PG County.