Am I the Only One Thrilled to Have an Average Child?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry to rain on your parade but your child is not average at all; he's above average just not outstanding or exceptional. You don't know what an average 18-yo HS kid has in front of them.

Really? I may have used the wrong term. What does an average 18 yo have ahead of him?

I was under the impression there are two types of teens these days: AMAZING and EVERYONE ELSE which =average. There seems to be no gray areas anymore. You're a superkid or headed for skid row.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of these threads make me wonder if there's something wrong with me being okay that my child is quite typical and average.

DS is wonderful, smart, funny, socially adept but somewhat lazy both academically and personally. He half-asses his chores; his cleaning never measures up to my standard of cleanliness. He gets good grades but won't overexert himself. AP? What's that? IB? Why?

In short, he's that typical lazy teen boy you see on sitcoms. He was accepted at several state universities with merit scholarships to boot. But there was no way the Ivies were going to target him in their mailings.

He needs to get on the ball with some things for sure. But he's 18 and will grow into greater maturity and responsibility just like I did. Truth is, he's light years ahead of where he was at my age. And I turned out quite well.

I realize this is a different time. College admissions is a cut-throat game, etc. But some on his board seem to promote the notion that a child must be enrolled in all APs, play sports every season on top of a ton of ECs and a part-time job. Then said child must major in STEM. Anything else will produce an unproductive lazy ass who ends of living in his parents' basement.

I'll add to my DS's list of failings: He's planning to major in Art. He's an unbelievable talent and I advised him to follow his passions.

Is there something wrong with me?

Then he's not "average." What is this, a humblebrag?

A "humblebrag"????

A humblebrag is my kid only getting into 2 ivies or just 1.

A humblebrag is my kid only graduating in the top 10 or 20%...My kid just made it into the top 50!

No humblebrags going on here PP. Not after shelling out tons of money on private tutors over the years just to keep him in the top 50!

Many schools allow students to submit art work for consideration. Others are so happy to have applicants with more than a 2.5 that they'll offer money. So, um...Think in those terms. LOL

[Anonymous]

^ so getting merit scholarships is just "average"? O.k.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As the parent of a SN kid I would say I would love to have an average kid! Sounds like you guys are in a good place. Enjoy it.

Thank you for sharing.

Posts like this are so humbling.

Appreciate your kids guys. Even those who do not currently have the work ethic or sensibilities of 40 year old driven men.

[Anonymous]

Do they give merit scholarships to "average" kids? Seriously, I'd like to know because I have a real one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^ so getting merit scholarships is just "average"? O.k.

See my posts about the belief that it's IVY or SKID ROW.

FINANCIAL NEED AT IVY or MERIT AT LESSER SCHOOLS THAT LEAD TO SKID ROW.

But you do have a point. He could have a GPA that makes merit aid a complete impossibility.

It's not a 5 or 4.0, but its good enough!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do they give merit scholarships to "average" kids? Seriously, I'd like to know because I have a real one.

Must EVERYTHING around these parts turn into a competition??!!!

Are we now competing to see whose child is more average????

Is this thread going to become "No, my child is more average than yours. Ha!"

I am curious though. What is your child's GPA and what makes yours more average than mine.

I really can't imagine it gets lazier than what I have at home. I just can't.

Was your child's only question on every college tour about where the best parties take place? How often? And is drinking allowed? See. This is what I'm dealing with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do they give merit scholarships to "average" kids? Seriously, I'd like to know because I have a real one.

Must EVERYTHING around these parts turn into a competition??!!!

Are we now competing to see whose child is more average????

Is this thread going to become "No, my child is more average than yours. Ha!"

I am curious though. What is your child's GPA and what makes yours more average than mine.

I really can't imagine it gets lazier than what I have at home. I just can't.

Was your child's only question on every college tour about where the best parties take place? How often? And is drinking allowed? See. This is what I'm dealing with.

OP here again.

And did your child ask if room service and housekeeping is included in the price of tuition?

This kid really thought he was headed off to a freaking resort for 4 years!

Not one question about academics or his major.

[Anonymous]

^ sounds like Penn State would be right up his alley.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^ sounds like Penn State would be right up his alley.

It was during a Penn State tour.

They accepted him anyway.

*lowers head, walks backwards out of the thread and goes to pick up the silly little goose*

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree. My parents don't get it at all-- they think I need to push my dd more in everything. She's 8 and doing really well, but (in their minds) not as well as she *could* be doing. Sigh.

I think she'll be awesome at life because she enjoys herself so much.

She's 8! EIGHT! E-I-G-H-T!!! Sheesh!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ sounds like Penn State would be right up his alley.

It was during a Penn State tour.

They accepted him anyway.

*lowers head, walks backwards out of the thread and goes to pick up the silly little goose*

PSU stats

Test Scores -- 25th / 75th Percentile
SAT Critical Reading: 530 / 630
SAT Math: 560 / 670
SAT Writing: 540 / 640

55% admit rate

would assume this to be higher for OOS and receiving merit aid

definitely not an "average child"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ sounds like Penn State would be right up his alley.

It was during a Penn State tour.

They accepted him anyway.

*lowers head, walks backwards out of the thread and goes to pick up the silly little goose*

PSU stats

Test Scores -- 25th / 75th Percentile
SAT Critical Reading: 530 / 630
SAT Math: 560 / 670
SAT Writing: 540 / 640

55% admit rate

would assume this to be higher for OOS and receiving merit aid

definitely not an "average child"

When will people stop throwing out numbers as if they're gospel? There are so many other factors that come into play.

An art portfolio could be one. Secondly, I didn't say they offered him merit aid. I said that many state unis did. I did not say Penn State was one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree. My parents don't get it at all-- they think I need to push my dd more in everything. She's 8 and doing really well, but (in their minds) not as well as she *could* be doing. Sigh.

I think she'll be awesome at life because she enjoys herself so much.

She's 8! EIGHT! E-I-G-H-T!!! Sheesh!

My sentiments exactly!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ sounds like Penn State would be right up his alley.

It was during a Penn State tour.

They accepted him anyway.

*lowers head, walks backwards out of the thread and goes to pick up the silly little goose*

PSU stats

Test Scores -- 25th / 75th Percentile
SAT Critical Reading: 530 / 630
SAT Math: 560 / 670
SAT Writing: 540 / 640

55% admit rate

would assume this to be higher for OOS and receiving merit aid

definitely not an "average child"

When will people stop throwing out numbers as if they're gospel? There are so many other factors that come into play.

An art portfolio could be one. Secondly, I didn't say they offered him merit aid. I said that many state unis did. I did not say Penn State was one.

Furthermore, what's with the Bah Humbugs whose sole purpose in life (and on this board) is to be disagreeable??

A person says WHOO My Superkid got into an Ivy with a 5.0! The Miserables come out with "Yeah, but your kid's not happy...your kid is stressed....your kid will have a nervous breakdown in college from being so 'perfect' and being challenged...blah blah blah.)

A person says My kid is average and I love him for it. And The Miserables actually pull up stats for one of the schools that accepted your child with "Your kid's not average...blah blah blah". LOL!! Unbelievable!

This board has truly helped me to understand why so many kids struggle with life. Some of the parents would on here would make me rebel and start cutting too!

Lighten up!

Let a mom bask in the glory of her ridiculously silly, non-ivy bound, unbothered son.